Ohio Cannabis Prices Could Come Down in 2025

Marijuana remains on par with heroin, legally, in the U.S. Credit: Scene archives

Sales of recreational marijuana began at Ohio’s existing 127 dual-use dispensaries on Aug. 6, with the state’s Division of Cannabis Control approving 117 new retail licenses while capping storefronts in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

The slow pace of Ohio’s rollout has led to inflated prices in the early-going.

Based on data from the DCC website, the average price for a tenth of an ounce of flower is $21.65, meaning customers are paying over $210 for an ounce of product. As a point of comparison, the average cost of an ounce of dried cannabis flower in long-time recreational hotbed Michigan is about $80. Then there’s Pennsylvania, which ranges in price from $350-$500 per ounce.

Ohio’s prices will be subject to change once more dispensaries come online, noted cannabis entrepreneurs and executives interviewed by Scene. Andy Rayburn, owner of Eastlake cultivator and processor Buckeye Relief, said high pricing in the fall – about $250 per ounce – could be attributed to a forecasted shortage in cannabis flower that never materialized.

“Now everyone is utilizing their full square footage, so supply is increasing significantly,” said Rayburn, also owner of Amplify dispensaries in Cleveland Heights, Bedford and Columbus, with more on the way. “That’s one of the drivers for prices coming down.”

Michigan may remain an attractive spot for the canna-curious until prices drop here. Yet, folks seeking relief over the border may be compromising on product quality, particularly with the outdoor-grown cannabis common to the state, noted Rayburn.

Although outdoor-cultivated plants are more energy-efficient, they also have the inherent risks of insects, bad weather and a less controlled growing process, he said.

“That’s the biggest difference in general – people going to Michigan for the lowest price-per-ounce are getting lower quality than what we sell at most of the dispensaries in Ohio,” Rayburn said.

Klutch Cannabis, an Akron-founded cannabis cultivator with dispensary locations in Lorain and Canton, has welcomed hundreds of new customers since Ohio’s recreational debut, said chief compliance and communications director Pete Nischt.

The company’s high-end cannabis products are priced accordingly – although that has not stopped Klutch from selling out every harvest it’s grown since 2019, a period marked by high prices in the medical market, said Nischt.

Klutch consumers pay $48.50 for 2.83 grams of product – equivalent to tenth of an ounce – with occasional promotions aimed at medical patients.

“Adult-use consumers might purchase a different kind of product from a medical patient, but overall, we want to curate a menu that’s easy to navigate, and provides accessibility at every price point,” Nischt said.

As Klutch prepares for expansion in Northfield Village and downtown Cleveland, officials are tracking prices through DCC data or competitor menus. Patron purchasing power depends on location – for example, a Columbus dispensary may have different prices than a storefront in Canton.

Whereas product exclusivity can sometimes influence pricing, it’s not a primary concern for all consumers, Nischt added.

“A medical patient may pay more for an exclusive active ingredient in a vape or edible,” he said. “An adult-use consumer may be less concerned about where that ingredient is coming from. Our goal is to improve access, then develop someone as a consumer who knows what sets these products apart.”

While new customers may be eligible for discounts, recent months have ushered in clientele focused on finding the most potent products at the lowest prices.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, but after we’ve seen you three or four times, we can have conversations about those more premium products,” Nischt said.

Rayburn of Buckeye Relief and Amplify charges $150-$200 per ounce of flower, a price that will decrease apace with additional dispensary infrastructure, he said. However, in the current in-between period, about 10%-15% of would-be customers are deterred by high dispensary prices.

Due to advertising restrictions – for example, Ohio’s pharmacy board outlawed slang words such as “dank” and “haze” from any cannabis promotions – some residents are unaware that the Buckeye State even went legal.

“Awareness of adult-use in Ohio is still below half the consumers of the illicit market,” Rayburn said. “And people are still going to Michigan. With these strict advertising rules, it’s hard to get the word out.”

Listening to customers continues to be Rayburn’s most effective retention strategy – a planned cultivation expansion in 2025, meanwhile, will increase supply and further lower prices.

“With new capacity coming in next year, we simply have to watch the market and stay competitive with state pricing,” said Rayburn.

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