AUSTINTOWN — Township officials now know who will operate Austintown’s single permitted recreational marijuana dispensary.

On Thursday, Terrell Washington, owner of Leaf Relief on Market Street in Youngstown, announced that the Ohio Board of Cannabis Control has granted permission for him to open a second location in Austintown.

Washington’s father, Herb Washington, owned and operated several McDonald’s stores in the area for more than 30 years, including the stores on Mahoning Avenue, Raccoon Road and at the Pilot truck stop on state Route 46.

Leaf Relief opened its medical marijuana dispensary in 2019, and has secured approval in a separate application to begin recreational sales at the Youngstown location.

The state opened up the application window at the beginning of June. Washington said the process has gone on for the past 45 days, and likened it to the NBA draft, with companies “drafting” their desired locations.

Washington said he hopes to have the Austintown location open in early 2025.

“We still have some details to work out with the state,” he said. “Then it will take time to get the necessary permits and complete any construction, but we’ve lined up a lot of the same vendors to get the work done in a timely manner.”

Austintown trustee Robert Santos said the township is pleased to have a local operator opening up the lone dispensary there.

“The township is excited that we were one of those selected to receive a license from the state to operate a dispensary, and it’s someone from around here,” he said.

“We are eager to welcome them and we will work with them to ensure that all Ohio and township criteria and guidelines are met.”

Santos said the township’s next meeting to finalize the zoning specifications for the dispensary is Aug. 5.

Washington and Santos said a specific property has not yet been identified, but both parties should have more clarity in the coming weeks. Washington said he has not yet had an opportunity to speak with trustees, but he is happy to open up another dispensary in a local community.

“I’m excited to be doing business in Austintown again,” he said. “Hopefully sometime next week we’ll get a chance to send them a thank you for being forward thinking and opening up the opportunity to operate a cannabis dispensary in the township.”

Washington said the dispensary will be for both medical and recreational use customers.

“It’s our goal to serve as many residents of the Mahoning Valley as possible, in any capacity that we can, out of our Austintown location,” he said.

BACKGROUND

On June 14, township trustees unanimously amended the township’s zoning ordinance to allow for recreational marijuana sales, but limiting any prospective dispensaries to a strictly enforced area along the state Route 46 corridor near Interstate 80.

At their regular meeting June 3, trustees voted to allow a recreational marijuana dispensary in the township, but capped it at one. That came less than a month after trustees Robert Santos and Bruce Shepas voted 2-0 to impose a moratorium on dispensaries. Both later reversed course.

Zoning Inspector Darren Crivelli said the area was selected for its low residential density and the same area was designated more than 20 years ago for sexually-oriented businesses, for the same reason.

Crivelli said that while there are some residentially zoned areas — along Lou Ida Boulevard, Liberty Street and County Line Road — the area is the best option for businesses that the township prefers to keep separated from its neighborhoods.

Such a business also may not open within 500 feet of religious establishments, schools, parks or family-oriented businesses. State law also prohibits townships from permitting more than one dispensary within a mile of another.

In June, Gov. Mike DeWine — after months of uncertainty — issued the state’s final guidance following the passage of Issue 2 in November. That guidance allows for a 35% share of the 10% additional tax Ohio will place on recreational marijuana sales to go to local governments.

With that provision in place, trustees say the decision is a financially sound one for Austintown. Santos said estimates of potential revenue for townships are based on sales trends from dispensaries operating across the country.

In addition to the standard sales tax rate in Ohio, the state has placed an additional 10% on marijuana sales, part of which will be used for drug treatment services, and some of which will benefit the local communities where dispensaries are located.

Assuming a dispensary does $20 million in annual sales, the township could see $720,000 in tax benefit, Santos said. He said trustees expect to see at least $200,000 a year.

Santos said township officials have not yet had a chance to review Leaf Relief’s business profile.

“We just found out (Wednesday) and (Township Administrator) Mark D’Apolito is compiling information, as is (Zoning Inspector) Darren Crivelli and our chief of police (Robert Gavalier),” he said.