A handful of people near the beginning of the Verilife line Wednesday morning were already talking about how they hoped medical marijuana prices would come down with increased competition. The Cincinnati area's first dispensary just opened on Ridge Road in Columbia Township.
Verilife General Manager Chaz Mize was standing outside doing radio and TV interviews and said there is a general sense of excitement. "We are happy that the citizens of Cincinnati now have a closer location to get their medicine."
Many Cincinnati users had been making the drive to Lebanon to get medical marijuana. Wellness Ohio opened in March. Two other companies, Verdant Creations and Green Rx, have licenses and are planning to open in Cincinnati.
Verilife customer Robbie Alexander says all the competition has to mean lower prices. "The price in Lebanon is very high but the ones that are going to be opening in Cincinnati, I think they are going to drive the price down."
Althea Myles didn't go to Lebanon but she did go to California to get her license because she says she was in so much pain. "So this is more convenient and I think it is beneficial for the city. They'll make a lot of money."
Nearly two years ago three companies were applying for medical marijuana licenses in Columbia Township. That's when Administrator Mike Lemon told WVXU the clinics projected they could do as much as $50 million in business in three to five years, significantly contributing to the economy.
Here is a list of businesses awarded dispensary licenses in Southwest Ohio:
- About Wellness Ohio; 1525 Genntown Dr., Lebanon
- Cannamed Therapeutics; Raydo Circle, Springfield
- Cannascend; 300 North Main St., Monroe
- Cannascend Alternative; 333 Wayne Ave., Dayton
- Debbie's Dispensary Ohio; 1088 N. High St., Hillsboro
- Have a Heart Cincy; 8420 Vine St., Cincinnati
- Harvest of Ohio; 4370 Tonawanda Trail, Beavercreek
- Verilife; 5431 Ridge Rd., Cincinnati
- 127 OH; Village of Seven Mile
- Pure Ohio Wellness; 1711 West Main St., Springfield
- Pure Ohio Wellness; 1875 Needmore Rd., Dayton
- Schottenstein Aphria; 5604 Airway Rd., Riverside
- Verdant Creations; 5149 Kennedy Ave, Cincinnati