Mold Remediation in Streetsboro, OH

STREETSBORO − Cannabis is now for sale in Streetsboro, with the first dispensary in the city opening its doors Friday.

AYR Wellness, a Florida-based chain that operates in seven states, opened its dispensary at 9800 state Route 14 in a shopping center adjacent to Walmart. The dispensary is the first to open in the city, and the chain's fifth Ohio location. AYR plans to have eight dispensaries in Ohio by the end of 2025, said Carla Davidson, regional director of retail for AYR.

AYR hosted a "soft opening" Friday, and plans a grand opening April 4.

Another dispensary, at 9156 state Route 14 near the center of town, plans to open soon. The dispensary is asking the city's Board of Zoning Appeals for a sign variance on March 18. The Mothership Cannabis Dispensary is under the same ownership as a cultivator in Ravenna Township, according to the application on file with the board.

Once The Mothership opens, the city's zoning code forbids any other dispensaries from locating in Streetsboro.

AYR serves both medical and recreational marijuana customers. Medical customers are prioritized, and can bring home a little more product at a time, based on their prescription, but anyone can shop as long as they can prove they meet age requirements, Davidson said.

The dispensary accepts cash and debit cards, and has an app that takes automatic bank drafts.

Matt Truppo, vice president of retail for AYR Wellness in Ohio and four other states, said the staff is used to adjusting to changes in state laws. However, the company also has roots in Ohio, with processing and cultivation sites in Akron and Parma.

"We pride ourselves in being rooted in our local community," Truppo said. "We've had an outpouring of local support."

There are displays of the product packaging around the store, and brightly colored LED images give details about each product, and any specials the store is running.

Store manager Ariana Ehrhart, a Garrettsville native, said the store employs 18 people, including some with experience in the industry.

"I'm really passionate about the plant and the benefits it can give people," she said.

Streetsboro zoning changes

The city began looking at regulations to the city's zoning code in 2023 after voters agreed to allow recreational marijuana in Ohio. Medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Kent and Ravenna, and they later expanded to sell recreational products.

Streetsboro's Planning Commission said dispensaries must be located in a stand-alone facility and could not be part of a multi-tenant building, such as a shopping center. However, City Council amended that. At-large Councilman Justin Ring said at that time that the ordinance would have a "chilling effect" on adult cannabis, because there were a limited number of stand-alone facilities that were far enough away from schools and churches to meet state regulations.

"I think really what that is doing is essentially creating a way for us to not allow them, while saying we allow them," Ring said, adding that voters in Streetsboro overwhelmingly supported the ballot issue permitting cannabis, and that it passed in every precinct.

The two sites are 1.8 miles apart. The state law requires that dispensaries be at least one mile from one another.

Second dispensary has Portage roots

Tom Hobson, who plans to transform the former leather shop at 9156 state Route 14, had plans for his building approved a year ago, and said at that time he was waiting for a state license to open. Hobson owns Wellspring Fields, a medical marijuana cultivation site at 4000 Lake Rockwell Road in Ravenna Township.

Kevin Murphy, attorney for Hobson, previously said that because the Hobsons have a Level 2 cultivators certificate for their business in Ravenna Township, they are entitled to one dispensary, which is not required to be on the same site as their cultivation business.

"We were the first ones open in the state, the first ones licensed, we have a business in Auburn Township," Hobson told council last May. "We don't skirt the rules, we follow rules."

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

Streetsboro football's returning lettermen (15)

Streetsboro football's impact players

Cohen Klimak decided to give playing quarterback a try last year — and was really good at it. How good? Well, all the Rockets junior did was complete 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,395 yards and three times as many touchdowns (18) as interceptions (six). Oh, and he was a force running the ball as well, with 189 carries for 1,400 yards and 12 more scores. After adding 25 pounds, the senior signal-caller should be as fearsome a runner as ever, but, as a passer, he'll have to adjust to life without last year's leading receiver, Preston Hopperton, who is now at Kent State. ... Part of why Klimak is so hard to stop on the ground is the fearsome line in front of him. Streetsboro's returners up front include all-state lineman Arthur Scott III, who generated multiple Division I offers over the offseason, and Alex Light, who earned all-district honors last year. The Rockets averaged 10.7 yards per carry when running behind the physically dominant Scott in 2023, with Scott grading out as Streetsboro's top lineman in nine of its first 11 games and not allowing a sack all season. Light also didn't give up a sack and made all the calls at the line a year ago. ... On defense, the Rockets have a foundational piece in four-year starter Jackson Gula, an all-state honoree last year after amassing a team-leading 105 tackles. The senior defensive back is nearing 300 career tackles and racked up a career-high three interceptions last year. He's also a highly capable receiver (15 catches for 216 yards in 2023).

Watch Ohio high school football live and on demand with NFHS

What's new with Streetsboro football in 2024

The Rockets have two sophomores to watch in WR/RB/DB Adrian Monroe and RB/DB Marcus Council, the latter coming over from Archbishop Hoban. ... At 6-4 and 250 pounds, freshman lineman Alan Podboy "will push for varsity playing time and is on a trajectory of being a scholarship player," said Streetsboro coach Pete Thompson. ... The Rockets also have a new defensive coordinator: Wezlee Spence. While Spence is taking on a new title, he has been with the Rockets for a few years as their defensive line and strength and conditioning coach, so "we will not change our defensive scheme or terminology," said Thompson. Spence went to North Canton Hoover before starring at defensive end for Baldwin Wallace, and, per Thompson, is "one of the brightest young coaches that I have had the opportunity to work with."

Streetsboro football's outlook

Since putting up back-to-back 4-6 seasons in 2017 and 2018, the Rockets have been one of Portage County's premier programs, going a combined 43-12. That includes a 10-win season last year, with a 6-1 mark in the Metro Athletic Conference. The Rockets' attack has been prolific in recent years, and 2023 was no exception as they scored 44.67 points per game and gained 19.1 yards per completion and 8.3 yards per carry. ... While Streetsboro enjoyed sensational success through the air last year, its offense has long been rooted in its ground game, which will be led this year by Klimak as well as Janiere Cook (42 carries, 233 yards) and Council. All good ground games, of course, start up front. By that measure, the 2024 Rockets have a great chance to be successful. Per coach Pete Thompson, "This has a chance to be one of our best overall offensive lines, if not the best, since I have been at Streetsboro." Junior tackles Cooper Richmond and Arthur Scott hold multiple scholarship offers, Alex Light earned all-district honors a year ago, Jon Ekron adds further experience as another returning starter and freshman Alan Podboy should turn heads. ... As good as the Rockets were last year, their defense hopes to take a step forward after yielding 30-plus points in each of their 2023 losses. Expect Streetsboro's linebackers, led by all-league standouts Janiere Cook, Trace Herman (91 tackles, five TFL) and Ayden Knuebel (92 tackles, nine TFL) to play a leading role while Scott (56 tackles, 10 TFL) wreaks havoc up front and Gula leads the secondary.

Streetsboro football schedule for 2024

Home games in all CAPS. Conference games marked with an asterisk. All games at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.