Pat and Debbie Hennessey hope to open Backroad Wellness in Lima sometime in April.
Dean Brown | The Lima News
LIMA — Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since 2016, when the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program was established. The program allows patients with qualifying medical conditions to purchase and use medical marijuana with a recommendation from a certified physician. The closest facility for medical marijuana currently is in Wapakoneta.
Now a new medical marijuana dispensary is preparing to open. The dispensary’s owners plan to open in mid-April after passing an inspection last week. Backroad Wellness is located at 1503 Harding Highway. Based in Zanesville, Ohio, Pat and Debbie Hennessey want to provide a trusted and reliable source of information about medical cannabis. They will also provide a variety of products including flowers, vaporizers, edibles, concentrates, tinctures and topicals.
Debbie Hennessey at first wasn’t convinced that getting into the cannabis business was a good idea. But working through the lengthy application process she has “talked to a lot of different people who are using the products a lot of different ways and being very successful.”
Store manager Sarah McCullough anticipates a strong business. “I think we’re going to be pretty busy. I think we’re definitely going to fill the gap here. I think we’re just going to be super busy. I have a fantastic staff. They’re super friendly. They’re knowledgeable.”
There are limits on the use of products which is part of the education that Backroads Wellness provides. Possession of marijuana is still illegal under federal law. There can be side effects. Medical cannabis may impair your ability to use and operate a motor vehicle. It may affect your ability to care for children and it can disrupt job performance. Medical cannabis can interact with some prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and even some supplements.
To be eligible for the program, patients must have a qualifying medical condition such as AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, or chronic pain. Patients must also be Ohio residents and have a recommendation from a certified physician who has completed the required training.
Ohio has licensed a limited number of dispensaries to sell medical marijuana products. Patients can purchase up to a 90-day supply of medical marijuana with a valid recommendation from a certified physician.
It is important to note that while medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, recreational use is still illegal. It is also illegal to drive while under the influence of marijuana, and patients should always follow their physician’s recommendations for safe and appropriate use.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-424-0409
