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Trumbull County targeting March for marijuana dispensary opening

WARREN — The operators of Trumbull County’s only medical marijuana dispensary are targeting early March to open.

We’re really just down to the door knobs and the details,” said Todd Cain, with Green Leaf Medical of Ohio II LLC, which holds a provisional license for the dispensary.

A final inspection is set for Feb. 25 to secure a certificate of operation from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, which regulates medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.

Cain said the company has worked closely with the pharmacy board to make sure things are being done correctly, but issues that might arise from the inspection is why he is hesitant now to publicly announce a firm first day.

Renovation has been under way to the building where the dispensary will be located, 2932 Youngstown Road SE, the former office of well-known eye doctor Issac Torem.

The inside of the building is being remodeled, aesthetic improvements were made to the exterior and the roof was raised four feet.

Also to the exterior, a 688-square-foot garage was added to the 3,520-square-foot building.

The construction is valued at $250,000.

The provisional license enabled the holders to create dispensaries in compliance with program rules and gave them time to show compliance by completing a successful on-site inspection by board of pharmacy officials. There were 56 provisional licenses granted to dispensaries last year.

Once a dispensary is awarded a certificate of operation, it can begin to sell medical marijuana to patients and caregivers in Ohio in accordance with the state’s rules and laws.

In January, the first legal sale of medical marijuana was made at CY-Plus on Main Street in Wintersville. The village also is home to a second dispensary, Ohio Valley Natural Relief LLC, located on Canton Road. Across Ohio, there is one dispensary each in Stark, Columbiana, Lake and Erie counties.

In Ohio, 97.88 pounds of medical marijuana has been sold since the half dozen dispensaries opened going back to mid-January, according to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. The total sales is just more than $732,000.

People with one of 21 qualifying conditions can buy medical marijuana with a physician’s recommendation. The pharmacy board says at least 17,000 people have received recommendations to buy medical pot.

Only marijuana buds are currently available at dispensaries. Other cannabis products should be ready for sale in March.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

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