The Ohio Department of Commerce and the state’s pharmacy board – the two agencies in charge of licensing MMJ firms – requested the money.
The commerce department, which will license growers, processors and testing laboratories, requested $923,000. The department will use the money for hiring five additional staffers, training, research,and a new database, according to the Blade.
The pharmacy board asked for $882,400 and will license dispensaries, register patients and caregivers. It also will oversee a 14-member panel that will advise regulators.
The new law is set to go into effect in 2 weeks and the state then has 3 months to put together the new Ohio Marijuana Control Board and have rules on how to obtain licenses by September 8th, 2017.