People looking to purchase marijuana products line up outside the FRX East Liverpool Craft Cannabis Medical & Non-medical Dispensary in East Liverpool on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales on Tuesday. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL – Jamie Hardman of Wellsville and Cody Crawford of Salem were two of many who lined up to purchase marijuana products outside the FRX East Liverpool Craft Cannabis Medical & Non-medical Dispensary Tuesday morning.

For many dispensaries across the state, Tuesday was the official start date when they became legally allowed to sell marijuana for recreational purposes.

Hardman and Crawford both said legalization had taken too long to happen.

Hardman, who uses edibles as a sleep aid because he couldn’t find an over-the-counter remedy, said he has no problems with it at all.

“It took too long to legalize it in Ohio,” Said Hardman. “I know a lot of people are against it, but I have no problem with it at all.”

Hardman also said he was happy about it because he knows too many people who have died from driving under the influence or have been killed by drunk drivers. There are also people who die from opiates, but no one ever overdoses on marijuana.

“It gives you goosebumps, it relaxes you, and I have no problem with it at all.” Said Hardman. “I think it’s great that it’s finally been legalized for recreational use.”

Crawford said he believes marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and wonders why it hasn’t always been legal.

“I think it’s less harmful than alcohol. So why hasn’t it always been legal?” he said.

Jordan Zimmerman, director of operations at FRX, said the ability to sell craft cannabis (marijuana) outside of restrictions for medical purposes has led to some pretty impressive growth for the company and is an opportunity they are grateful for.

Zimmerman noted that the term “craft cannabis” essentially serves to describe the type of product the company offers.

“We attach great importance to working with producers who make good products and with producers who are smaller and less well-known,” said Zimmermann. “When we talk about craftsmanship, we essentially mean the type of products we offer and the type of partnerships we maintain.”

She also said that recreational marijuana, or the state’s term for adult-use marijuana, means that the state of Ohio allows sales to anyone who has a valid ID and is of legal age. She noted that in Ohio, the legal minimum age to purchase marijuana is 21.

“So anyone who wants to buy something can come in,” said Zimmermann. “Recreational or adult use just means it’s no longer limited to the medical market that we used to be limited to, and it’s manufactured to be of excellent quality by the best manufacturers in Ohio.”

FRX has a cultivation and processing facility near the East Liverpool dispensary, where approximately 50-60% of the products sold are grown and processed.

“We oversee the process and employ people from East Liverpool and the surrounding area. We use organic processes. It is quite rare in the industry to be certified as an organic operation,” said Zimmermann.

FRX also partners with other Ohio-based manufacturers such as Klutch; Firelands Scientific, which primarily produces flower and herbal consumables; Organic Remedies; Green Thumb Industries and others. Prices for flower, sold in 2.83-gram packages, range from $15.40 to $46.

Customers can purchase products in person at the dispensary located at 1865 Dresden Ave. or order online and pick them up. A variety of products are available, including flower, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles and more.

FRX is the only dispensary in Columbiana County where anyone can purchase recreational/adult-use marijuana. The closest FRX location outside of East Liverpool is in Cuyahoga Falls. Other options for purchasing recreational marijuana include dispensaries in Lakewood, Cleveland, Boardman, and Wintersville.

Zimmerman said a customer does not have to be an Ohio resident. As long as they have a state-issued ID or a government-issued ID from the United States or other countries, they can come in and shop.

Zimmerman pointed out that transporting Schedule 1 drugs across a state line is illegal in the United States, so while customers from other states can legally purchase the drugs, they cannot legally take them out of the state of Ohio.

FRX would not market these markets heavily outside of Ohio, Zimmerman said. “We know this is our place and we care deeply about our patients in Ohio.”

Legalizing marijuana for recreational and adult use can benefit East Liverpool financially. According to Zimmerman, the state of Ohio will receive 10% taxes on marijuana sales and the city of East Liverpool will receive a portion of that tax revenue, but she isn’t sure how much.

Bill Jones, director of the East Liverpool Safety Service, said voters approved the law and it will be an economic boost for the city.

Mayor Bobby Smith said he agreed with it and thought it would have been legalized sooner. Smith noted that the city will take the money from the sales and use it properly.