A medical hashish dispensary could also be coming to a vacant Household Video close to you.
A dozen Ohio properties as soon as occupied by the Blockbuster rival are candidates for dispensaries that will likely be chosen by a lottery on Thursday. Nearly 1,500 applications had been submitted for 73 new licenses below the state’s medical marijuana program.
The 12 Household Video shops attracted 192 purposes altogether, together with 43 for a location in Dayton. Mum or dad firm Highland Ventures Ltd. announced the closure of its remaining video shops final yr, however CEO Keith Hoogland mentioned the corporate Legacy Industrial Property division would proceed to function.
Extra: Ohio plans to more than double number of medical marijuana dispensaries
Dispensary candidates additionally sought out empty Household Video storefronts in Coshocton, Springfield, Delphos, Youngstown and Columbus, amongst different places. A Zanesville property managed by the identical firm acquired 18 purposes, though it beforehand housed a distinct enterprise.
Representatives from Legacy Industrial Property didn’t reply to a number of interview requests.
Klutch Hashish CEO Adam Thomarios mentioned they reached out to Legacy Industrial Property early within the software course of to debate potential actual property. Some places are unique to Klutch, Thomarios mentioned, however property managers started giving a number of candidates entry to the identical Household Video shops.
Thomarios mentioned the corporate charged Klutch to carry the places however declined to say how a lot.
“I feel after a sure time period, they realized they might capitalize on the scenario,” he mentioned.
Demand for hashish retail
The Household Video purposes are only a pattern of the 1,456 submitted for Thursday’s drawing, and the state acquired $5,000 from each. The addition of 73 licenses will improve the entire statewide to 130 after years of affected person complaints about excessive costs and lengthy drives to search out merchandise.
“We actually, actually do consider that the market is form of stifled for retail proper now,” Pete Nischt of Klutch Hashish mentioned.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy, which regulates dispensaries, selected to award the licenses through lottery, with a sure quantity allotted for every dispensary district containing a county or group of counties. Officers hope the brand new course of will curb lawsuits from unsuccessful candidates who disputed the earlier, merit-based system. The board has spent over $231,000 on authorized companies for the reason that program’s onset.
The board additionally argued a drawing will stage the taking part in discipline and guarantee small and minority-owned enterprise can compete in opposition to large gamers. Black lawmakers and business owners say this alone will not encourage fairness within the business and known as on state officers final yr to require licensees to decide to numerous hiring practices or spend a specific amount on minority distributors.
After the drawing, the board will decide whether or not the candidates are eligible for licenses and award them from there. It isn’t clear when the winners will likely be introduced.
“They’re all lengthy photographs,” mentioned Brian Wingfield, whose firm put in 19 purposes. “I might not be stunned if we get zero, and I wouldn’t be stunned if we find yourself with a pair.”
Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Community Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 different affiliated information organizations throughout Ohio.
