DEPC releases "Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program at Six Years: Evaluating Satisfaction and Perception"

I am happy to highlight the release of this amazing report, titled "Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program at Six Years: Evaluating Satisfaction and Perception," authored by my colleague Jana Hrdinova of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  This latest insallment of DEPC's annual reporting on Ohio's medical marijuana program is showcased on this DEPC webpage which provides this overview:

Since the inception of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP) in 2019, the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) has surveyed medical marijuana patients and potential patients to evaluate their experiences and satisfaction.  These surveys aim to fill in a critical gap in our understanding of the medical marijuana program in Ohio and to find out how the people being served by OMMCP evaluate its performance.

In November 2023, Ohio voters approved a ballot initiative to join 23 other states in legalizing cannabis for recreational use.  The initiative went into effect on December 7, 2023, legalizing possession of marijuana for personal use of up to 2.5 oz and allowing for home cultivation.  Following a licensing process, official recreational sales in Ohio dispensaries started on August 6, 2024, leaving the medical marijuana program largely unaffected in fiscal year 2024 [which ended in June 2024].  This sixth annual report thus provides a unique snapshot of a medical marijuana program on the brink of recreational sales and provides insights into patients’ opinions about the medical program and its future.

Here are just a few of many notable key findings from the report:

1. Increased patient satisfaction: Our survey recorded a considerable increase of patients reporting being extremely satisfied with the Ohio medical marijuana program, increasing by 12 percentage points from 19% in 2023 to 31% in 2024. A total of 74% of respondents reported that they were either extremely or somewhat satisfied with OMMCP, and only 20% reported being either somewhat or extremely dissatisfied....

2. Falling participation for both patients and physicians: Despite high levels of patient satisfaction, this year was the first year that OMMCP recorded a decline in the number of active patients (patients with active recommendation and registration), decreasing by 10% from its peak in October 2023 (184,958) to 165,746 in June 2024....

3. Flat sales receipts and tax revenue despite increases in sales: In a year-to-year comparison, Ohio medical marijuana market continued to experience a robust growth in the number and weight of product sold. In FY24, sales of plant product increased by 30% compared to the previous fiscal year, going from 71,506 pounds sold in FY23 to 92,979 pounds sold in FY24. Sales of manufactured products also recorded solid growth of 20%, going from 6,794,542 units sold in FY23 to 8,182,377 units sold in FY24.... Despite the robust growth in total sales, sales receipts remained largely flat due to declining prices, increasing only by 2% from $478,067,435 in FY23 to $487,589,380 in FY24....