Ohio Ag Connection - Commerce Issues Cultivation Area Expansion Guidance

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Commerce Issues Cultivation Area Expansion Guidance
Ohio Ag Connection - 09/17/2021

The Medical Marijuana Control Program (MMCP), pursuant to authority in Ohio Revised Code/Ohio Administrative Code 3796, is providing guidance to licensees regarding the timing, process, and evaluation criteria for cultivation area expansion requests.

The director of the Department of Commerce has the authority to approve an initial expansion of marijuana cultivation area for licensed cultivators in the MMCP. The initial expansion authorizes a total marijuana cultivation area of up to fifty thousand square feet for Level I cultivators and six thousand square feet for Level II cultivators, based on cultivator compliance with licensure requirements and other factors related to the program.

On Oct. 1, the Department will begin accepting and reviewing licensee applications for the initial marijuana cultivation area expansion. The Department has developed evaluation criteria to review licensee cultivation area expansion applications, including rule requirements for expansion plans, compliance with licensure requirements, and other factors related to the program. The Department will review and respond to licensee cultivation area expansion applications on a rolling basis.

The Department encourages cultivator licensees to carefully review the evaluation criteria to ensure that they meet the criteria before submitting a cultivation area expansion application. Licensees are prohibited from submitting more than one cultivation area expansion request during any twelve-month period.

Cultivation Area Expansion Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically to the MMCP at MMCPLicensing@com.state.oh.us with a subject line, "Business Name -- Cultivation Area Expansion Application." Please also copy your assigned compliance agent.

If you have general questions about the criteria or the application process, please submit them in writing to Greg Mcilvaine, senior policy advisor, at Greg.Mcilvaine@com.state.oh.us.

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