BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — It’s been a long process, but the two Butler County medical pot dispensaries are slated to open this week in Monroe and Seven Mile.
Bloom Medicinals, the medical marijuana dispensary in Seven Mile, will officially open for business Thursday. The Strawberry Fields location in Monroe will follow with its opening on Friday.
Andrew Wagner, head of operations at Bloom, told the Journal-News the shop at 403 S. Main St. will open at noon. The new pot emporium will be open on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.
“Opening our dispensary in Seven Mile has been a process more than two years in the making. We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the village of Seven Mile and we look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the village,” Wagner said. “We are pleased to provide access to this alternative medicine to the patients of Butler County and surrounding communities.”
The state approved provisional licenses for 56 dispensaries last summer, including two in Butler County. The other is Strawberry Fields in Monroe.
In June 2016, former Gov. John Kasich signed a bill into law that authorizes use by patients with 21 conditions, including cancer or chronic pain, in the form of edibles, oils, patches and vaporizing. Patients and their caregivers will be allowed to possess up to a 90 day supply. Smoking or home growing it is barred.
Jimmy Gould, CEO of CannAscend LLC, said Strawberry Fields is set to open the 300 N. Main St. shop on Friday with a ribbon cutting 9:30 a.m.
The dispensary will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
“I’m very excited we’re finally opening,” Gould said.
Wagner said Bloom will open with nine employees and he is looking to hire three to five more people. He said the shop will offer all products allowed under the state program and the list will be available on the bloomohio.com website Wednesday. The website lists a number of amenities:
• It is a cash only operation but an in-store ATM is available
• Indigent and veterans pricing is available
• The store is handicapped accessible
• Restrooms are available
Not everyone can shop at the new pot stores because the state has set up strict guidelines for who can purchase the drugs. There is a list 21 qualifying illnesses like cancer and epilepsy; the drugs must be prescribed by an Ohio-licensed medical marijuana doctor and patients must register and be approved by the state to purchase pot.
The Bloom website states the company can help eligible patients through the state process.
Bloom is a family-owned company with more than five years of experience in the cannabis business.
“We take the time to work with each individual patient to help identify products that will work best specifically for them,” Wagner said. “Our goal is to bring safe access to medical cannabis and be a positive addition to nearby communities. Bloom Medicinals strives to be a socially responsible organization with a goal of improving quality of life and well being for our patients and those around us.”
Mayor Vivian Gorsuch said with two stores open in Butler County she doesn’t expect the tiny village to be inundated with traffic and people, but the other businesses should get a boost “it’s just exciting to get it opened after all this time.”
Seven Mile officials were divided on whether to allow medical marijuana in their little hamlet, Gorsuch was a supporter.
“My thoughts were from the beginning was why Seven Mile, is this a scam, there have been so many up and downs, this is a business and there’s not too many businesses knocking on Seven Mile’s door…,” Gorsuch said previously. “It’s a business and I’m excited about a new business coming to town, that’s awesome. I don’t think it’s going to hurt the village at all.”
