Sandusky's first cannabis shop opening next month

SANDUSKY — Let's hash out some important details about the forthcoming medical marijuana dispensary in Sandusky.Earlier this week, management representing The Forest Sandusky, 1651 Tiffin Ave. (U.S. 6), across from Dollar General, invited the Register inside for an exclusive tour. While showing off various aspects, they didn't allow for any photography inside the establishment."We are just so excited to be a part of this industry and serve patients in the Sandusky area," company CEO Erik Vaughan said. "It really is about the patients."Among what he shared:The background: In June, The Forest Sandusky learned it received state approval to operate a medical marijuana dispensary. A dispensary allows patients suffering from one of about 20 pre-existing health conditions as approved by the state pharmacy board — such as ALS, Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson's, HIV and more — to purchase medical marijuana in the form of flowers, vapors, tinctures, patches, edibles, oils and other legal substances. In Ohio, it remains illegal for people to smoke marijuana. Before buying medical marijuana, people must first obtain a recommendation, acting similar to a prescription, from a certified doctor.The opening date: Vaughan expects The Forest Sandusky to open sometime in mid-January. Since lawmakers legalized medical marijuana in Ohio about two years ago, numerous decisions by various state agencies have happened months after businesses anticipated them, creating a chain reaction of delays. The Forest Sandusky originally wanted to open before 2018 ended.The location: Vaughan explained why his company wanted to locate a dispensary in Sandusky: "Because of the way the state divided into territories (limiting where dispensaries could legally operate from), we felt Sandusky was the most attractive to us, and the city had a willingness to work with us. We also like the tourist population that comes here. It's a great community, and we're proud to be a part of it."The Forest Sandusky, Sandusky's first medical marijuana dispensary, is slated to open sometime in mid-January. The company will sell legal cannabis products to treat one of 21 predetermined medical conditions, such as forms of cancer.The hours of operation: "We'll be open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m."The staffing levels: "We'll have about a dozen employees to start, and that will grow once the patient registry grows. At the state level, we expect 200,000 patients by the third (fully operational) year."The security: "We can't share any of our security protocols, for obvious reasons, but that was one of the most important parts of the application process in order to win a license. We set the bar very high for security standards. We have invested in high-tech surveillance and security guards during all operating hours to ensure patients are safe and feel safe."The products for purchase: After a patient receives the doctor's recommendation, they can visit The Forest Sandusky to purchase products in hopes of curing their conditions. Upon arriving, patients can speak with a number of representatives to inform them about what products could best suit them. "At first, we'll only sell flower products for vaporization. Processed products, such as oils, lotions, tinctures and edibles, will be available in the March time frame."The cost: While each product greatly ranges in prices, the average customer can expect to spend "less than $100" per visit.The quality of products: "All of the dispensaries in Ohio had to clear a very high bar. It was an intensely competitive, merit-based application system. All the winners in the state are going to be strong operators. Our security, quality assurance and accountability is going to be high across the board. Our advantage is we are the first vertically integrated in terms of being a processor, cultivator and a dispenser in the state. We are able to control the entire supply chain command for our products." The Forest Sandusky's sister company is Standard Wellness Co., out of Gibsonburg, which grows and treats cannabis. "We'll receive products from there to stock here along with other products from other cultivators and other processors throughout the state."The importance of these products: "This empowers patients, and it empowers doctors to have another tool in the toolkit. It will also be a substitute for opiates. Cannabis is not addictive, and no one has overdose from cannabis-based medicines."The Forest Sandusky, Sandusky's first medical marijuana dispensary, is slated to open sometime in mid-January. The company will sell legal cannabis products to treat one of 21 predetermined medical conditions, such as forms for cancer.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.