Akron’s first marijuana dispensary opens to line of customers

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS Chief Operating Officer Kate Nelson demonstrates how to use a medical marijuana vaporizer at the The Botanist medical marijuana dispensary, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

A line of customers standing on a sidewalk on a sunny, below-freezing Friday morning greeted the 10 a.m. opening of Summit County’s first cannabis pharmacy in downtown Akron.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS A variety of edible gummies available for patients at the The Botanist medical marijuana dispensary, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

Among the customers were cancer survivors, veterans, grandmothers and others, all wanting to buy legal medicinal marijuana at The Botanist Akron to treat pain and ailments tied to cancer, arthritis, war injuries and more.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS Medical marijuana grinders for sale at the The Botanist medical marijuana dispensary, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

“I have prostate cancer,” said Russell, 63, an Akron resident.

Marijuana helps ease pain related to the cancer and to other surgeries he has had, he said.

“I’m doing good. I’m going to live,” he said.

Russell said he so believes in the usefulness of marijuana that he invests in stocks of marijuana-related companies.

“It will be great when they make it legal for everybody,” he said.

Russell was among many of the customers at The Botanist who spoke to the Beacon Journal but declined to give their full names because they don’t want people to know they use medical marijuana. He and the other customers have physician approved, state-issued medical marijuana cards that allow them to make legal purchases at state-regulated dispensaries.

Russell and others said they were happy with the purchasing process inside The Botanist. The business is owned by Greenleaf Apothecaries, which has licenses to run five dispensaries in Ohio.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS Patient intake forms at the The Botanist medical marijuana dispensary, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

As The Botanist staff allowed five people at a time inside the pharmacy, a man who said he owned a retail “head shop” elsewhere in Akron gave samples of products to the waiting Botanist customers on the sidewalk. When the Botanist staff learned he was there, they asked him to leave, with the man heading off in a Porsche Cayenne SUV he had parked in the pharmacy’s lot.

Cindy Kaleal, a 58-year-old Parma resident, drove with her sister to Akron for The Botanist’s opening day, getting there about 10 minutes after the pharmacy opened.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS Dannie, 39, of Akron, shows the cannabis flower he purchased at The Botanist, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

She said she uses medical marijuana to help with pain caused by a deteriorating spine. Her adult children (she also has a grandchild) know she uses medical marijuana, she said.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS Cindy Kaleal of Parma smiles as she talks about her first trip to The Botanist, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

“I am allergic to all medications,” Kaleal said. And the Akron pharmacy is a closer drive than the other place she had been going, she said.

“I like The Botanist better,” she said. “It’s wonderful. They’re so friendly in there.”

Dannie, a 39-year-old Akron resident, said medical marijuana helps him manage pain. He said he was happy a dispensary opened close by.

“They have a nice selection in there,” he said. “Nice set up. Very professional.”

Robert Gervius, 44, said he uses medical marijuana to help with pain caused by a Humvee accident while he was in active duty with the Marines. The accident, among other things, caused him to temporarily lose the ability to walk, he said.

© Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Akron Beacon Journal/TNS A line forms outside The Botanist, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, in Akron, Ohio. Customers of the medical marijuana dispensary received a 15% discount on their orders in celebration of their grand opening. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]

Marijuana helps ease his pain without the need for opioids, he said.

“It allows me to work and not be loopy,” Gervais said. “I’m here to see basically what these guys got and check out a few of their products. It’s nice to have something in the city that’s close.”

Linda, 62, said medicinal marijuana helps with pain from rheumatoid arthritis. The Akron resident said she does not want to take opioids.

“I’m a mom and I’m a grandmom,” she said. “I want to function.”

Jim Mackinnon covers business. He can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ

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