Medical pot facility may open this spring

Monroe site set to dispense marijuana in mid-May.

Monroe’s medical MONROE — marijuana dispensary is under construction and could be open sometime in mid-May, according to its owner.

Jimmy Gould, whose company CannAscend Alternative also has dispensary licenses in Dayton, Marietta and Logan, said the foundation concrete has been poured, the temporary electric has been installed, and the plumbing has been roughed in at the Strawberry Fields dispensary in Monroe.

He said the next steps are to install the structural framing, the roofing structure and sidewall sheeting for the 4,100-square-foot building located on a 1.87-acre lot at 300 N. Main St.

Unlike the other three locations that are housed in existing buildings, he said the Monroe site is a new building.

“We’re working with our Ohio communities,” Gould said. “We’re really excited about the location.”

He also said his organization has been working to develop training and operational manuals and that they have received a “fair” amount of resumes and calls from people seeking employment.

“This is a brand-new industry,” he said. “We’re prepared. We’ll have a very strict regulatory compliance and everything is being done to be compliant with the state pharmacy board.”

Gould praised the work of the pharmacy board throughout the process and understands the needs of retail consumers. He said he realizes how important it is for everyone to work together.

“This is something that has a lot of moving parts and you have to get it right the first time,” he said. “Security is the most important component and we have to have a strong, compliant regulatory environment — this is necessary for this industry to succeed. The most important thing is to get it right.”

Gould thinks people in Ohio have been waiting a long time for this and believes they’ll be pleased.

“I know everyone is anxious to get these dispensaries open,” he said. “But they have to be opened in the right way and operated in the right way.”