New dispensary aims to educate the community on what Marijuana can do
Fifteen years ago preacher and Christian singer Josh Smith probably never would have thought he would soon be opening a legal marijuana dispensary in Waverly.
However, an idea and lots of hard work have led him to become the CEO of Southern Ohio Botanicals. The store, which opened on June 2, aims to normalize the use of medical cannabis in the area and help those with qualifying conditions.
According to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, there is only one dispensary location in Ross County with a certificate of operation. Southern Ohio Botanicals recently became the only certified dispensary in Pike County.
In 2015 Smith was involved in a bad wreck that resulted in him being in the hospital for a long time and being unable to walk. As a result of his pain from the incident, he was prescribed an opiate by his doctor. Throughout his physical rehab and learning how to walk again he realized he was getting addicted to the drug and knew he needed to stop, but it was the only thing that eased his pain.
"Unfortunately it's the way medical science is, if you take opiates for a while you are going to be addicted," said Smith. "I realized 'Hey I got a problem here.'"
After doing some research Smith found out about medical marijuana, how some states were legalizing it and the steps Ohio was taking in that direction. He began talking with Bryan Roberts, now COO, and Art Robbins, now owner, about his idea.
"The planets just aligned and here we are," said Roberts of the partnership.
Soon they were traveling and learning all about medical marijuana and what it can do. Smith, who has a pharmaceutical background, said there are so many things he learned during this process that he never knew about the plant.
Roberts said it was a lot of work, over two years, preparing the operation and getting all the required licenses. He said the application itself was over 150 pages long. Since winning the lottery hosted by the state to select dispensaries the group has had to work even harder to prove that they can create a business with the opportunity they have been given. Luckily, the trio has been able to work together and play off each other's strengths to get where they are today.
"It is a lot of work, it is a lot of regulations, it's hoop after hoop after hoop," said Roberts. "But at the end of the day, it gives us an opportunity to help our community."
Smith said unlike some companies Southern Ohio Botanicals has a "family atmosphere" and is run by local people who want to help.
"We're not some big outside entity," said Smith.
The group is also working with Patient Care Technicians to help educate customers and the community on the product. Smith said he used to call marijuana the "devil's lettuce" so he knows there are many misconceptions about using marijuana in any capacity.
Each customer will be able to talk with a technician about what problems they have and what they hope the marijuana will help them with. Technicians then take this information and help them pick the specific products that will best help them.
All of the products in the store are also locally grown and checked so customers know exactly what they are getting in a product. This process helps ensure that the product is safe and is not cut with anything that would harm the user.
The store is also has a security guard on site, cameras inside and outside and a concrete safe that all of the materials go in at the end of the day. Customers are not even allowed to step foot onto the sales floor without being checked in with an ID and a medical marijuana card.
"We probably have one of the most secure buildings in Pike County," said Roberts.
