Ohio marijuana regulators have approved dozens of provisional licenses for existing medical marijuana operators to convert to dual-use licenses. This sets the stage for a potentially imminent launch of the state’s recreational market. By Friday afternoon, the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) had approved 62 provisional dual licenses for dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and testing labs. However, those with provisional licenses cannot start selling to adult consumers immediately. They must first meet various requirements, including updating point-of-sale technology to distinguish between medical and adult-use sales, enhancing security, and ensuring an adequate supply for patients. Once the standards are met, applicants can obtain a certificate of operation to begin dual sales. A Department of Commerce spokesperson noted, “There will be no one singular day when sales begin. We will start issuing licenses, and it will be up to the retailer based on staffing, stock, and other considerations as to which day they will begin sales.” Given the rapid issuance of provisional licenses, it is expected that compliant dispensaries could become operational within weeks. As of noon on Friday, regulators had received 235 applications from existing medical cannabis businesses seeking to convert to dual-use licenses. DCC Superintendent James Canepa has said that the exact timeline for approving certificates remains unclear. However, he previously suggested that businesses with dual licenses approved could begin selling to patients and recreational consumers as early as this month.