Ohio Cannabis Retail: A Market Still Up for Grabs

Key takeaways

• Ohio retail cannabis barely moved last month, up a flat 0.2%, a sign of a young market still finding its feet.
• No chain dominates: the top chain holds only about 14% of tracked revenue, and it fell 47.3% month on month.
• Challengers are surging, with CERTIFIED up 145% and Trulieve up 116.6% month on month.
• Loyalty stays thin: just 22.9% of shoppers reach three or more visits, despite a 54.3% repeat rate.
• Flower drives more than half of category revenue (around 56%), with vapes a clear second near 30%.

Who leads Ohio cannabis retail right now?

No one runs away with it. RISE topped the Ohio chain rankings last month, commanding a 93.3% share of wallet among its shoppers, but it slid 47.3% versus the prior month. Zen Leaf ranked second and was heading the other way, up 29.9%. Sunnyside* took third with the steadiest demand of the leaders, a 75% repeat rate. The headline is simple: even the number one chain holds only about 14% of tracked Ohio revenue, so this market has no entrenched king.

Why is Ohio dispensary retail still up for grabs?

Because momentum, not market share, is deciding the table. CERTIFIED surged 145% month on month and locked in a perfect 100% share of wallet among its shoppers, while Trulieve more than doubled, up 116.6%. Premium-leaning chains are pulling baskets higher too, with Ascend and Verilife ringing up the market’s biggest average orders, well clear of the typical Ohio basket. With Ohio adult-use sales still young, rankings reshuffle fast and a single strong month can move a chain several places. For how another fragmented market is shaking out, see our read on Pennsylvania cannabis retail.

Are Ohio cannabis shoppers loyal yet?

They come back once, but rarely three times. The market repeat rate (two or more visits) sat at 54.3%, yet loyalty (three or more visits) was only 22.9%. Shoppers here are still light and infrequent, and monthly spend per shopper stays modest. A few small operators showed what is possible, with Nectar and Klutch both posting 100% repeat and 100% loyalty among their shoppers, although at low volume. The gap between a first repeat visit and a true habit is the single biggest opportunity in Ohio right now.

Which brands and products win in Ohio?

Brand share is wide open. Certified led with 8.0% market share, a whisker ahead of Seed and Strain at 7.9%, then Rythm at 5.3%. On the shelf, flower is king, driving more than half of category revenue (around 56%), while vapes claimed roughly 30%. Edibles, pre-rolls and concentrates trailed far behind. For Ohio dispensaries, that means flower and vape promotions move the needle fastest.

What does this mean for Ohio dispensaries?

In a market this fragmented, the win is not a one-off visit, it is the second and third trip. That is exactly where HighRewards helps. The points-based shopper-marketing app rewards shoppers for checking in and buying at partner dispensaries, then hands operators 360 retail intelligence, including Share of Wallet, cohort tracking and retention, so they can spot who is drifting to a competitor and win them back. Cannabis brands cannot run ads on Google, Meta or TikTok, which makes owned loyalty channels essential. See why cannabis advertising is so restricted and what actually works instead. In Ohio, the chain that converts a 54.3% repeat rate into real three-visit loyalty will be the one that pulls ahead.

Frequently asked questions

How is Ohio’s cannabis retail market shaping up?

It is young and wide open. Last month the market grew a flat 0.2%, and no single chain held more than about 14% of tracked revenue, with rankings shifting sharply month to month.

Which dispensary chain is biggest in Ohio?

RISE led last month with a 93.3% share of wallet among its shoppers, although it fell 47.3% month on month as challengers like CERTIFIED, up 145%, closed in. No chain holds more than about 14% of tracked revenue.

What sells best in Ohio dispensaries?

Flower is the runaway leader at more than half of category revenue (around 56%), followed by vapes near 30%. Certified is the top brand with 8.0% market share.

How can Ohio dispensaries build customer loyalty?

With only 22.9% of shoppers reaching three or more visits, loyalty programmes that reward repeat trips, such as HighRewards, are the clearest route to turning one-time buyers into regulars.

Who are the runner-up chains behind RISE in Ohio?

Zen Leaf ranked second and was climbing, up 29.9% month on month, while Sunnyside* took third with the steadiest demand among leaders, posting a 75% repeat rate.

Which Ohio chains have the biggest average orders?

Premium-leaning chains Ascend and Verilife rang up the market’s biggest average orders, well clear of the typical Ohio basket.

Turn your dispensary runs into gift cards

Earn gift cards by earning rewards at any dispensary — and even liquor stores! Every purchase earns points you can redeem for gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks and more with the HighRewards app.