Backroad Wellness, a new Ohio dispensary chain, recently opened in Lima and Cambridge with another opening soon in New Boston. Their patient-focused dispensaries feature Ohio-Proud products and offer a fresh, local approach to the experience of purchasing cannabis in the Buckeye state.
Backroad Wellness: The Hennesseys
Brian Hennessey of Zanesville, Backroad Wellness’ Founder, learned about the Ohio lottery-style application process initiated by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program introduced in early 2021. He approached his parents Pat and Deb about partnering with him, and they were on board. The Hennesseys worked in the trucking industry for many years.
“I started working on this in May of ‘21,” Brian explains. “My family sold a trucking terminal in Columbus. The company had extra money and of course I’m a huge cannabis advocate. I convinced my parents to let us put entries into the lottery and here we are now. Pretty crazy.”
The state received 1,462 applicants for 73 dispensaries. Together, Brian and his parents submitted just five of those applications. But their incredible luck resulted in three successful bids. Lima and Cambridge were first, then they picked up New Boston later via a provisional application.
The three locations make it easier for patients to access medical marijuana products and provide greater convenience and options for those who live in more remote parts of the state. The OMMCP attempted to address these very concerns with their controversial lottery process.
Proudly Ohio: 30 Percent Off Local Suppliers
Backroad Wellness owners believe strongly in supporting their fellow local businesses and suppliers. Their current “Proudly Ohio” sale offers 30 percent off products by makers that are based here in Ohio. (Proudly Ohio Sale: 30% off Ancient Roots, Butterfly Effect, Certified Cultivators, Diamond Science, Kiva, Klutch, Lighthouse, Ohio Clean Leaf, Pure Ohio Wellness and White Label products)
Backroad Wellness’s focus on Ohio-based medical cannabis products does not necessarily mean that their products will be superior to the products of multi-state operators (MSOs). However, it does offer patients the opportunity to support local businesses while still accessing high-quality medical marijuana products.
The Stores
The Hennesseys noted that they hope their three stores in Ohio remedy the need to travel for hours to access cannabis medicine. They also didn’t want patients to have to buy from large corporate cannabis companies whose owners were disconnected from the communities they served.
The family took great care in assuring the stores themselves reflected the areas, especially as their staff is all local. In Lima, where the team held a Media Day last month, you could see these small but intimate touches throughout the store.
The Patient Experience
Jonathan Mayle, Retail Operations Manager for Backroad Wellness, looks forward to assuring each store exceeds patients’ highest expectations. “As for the patient experience, we’re going to be very involved and very attentive. Everyone’s going to be greeted with a smile. We’re going to listen to the patients’ needs and let them know what we think will help them, if they need it.”
Payment Options: Cash, Spendr
In addition to cash, patients can pay for their purchases at Backroad Wellness with Spendr, the first mobile payment and rewards app for cannabis. Learn more about Spendr here.
Brian notes they are also working on a PIN debit payment system for patients.
Discounts
Patients who qualify as a veteran, indigent, or are badged workers in the Ohio industry receive a 25% discount.
Locations
Cambridge
Lima
New Boston
Lima and Cambridge are open now, New Boston will open soon. The hours for the dispensaries will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Get in touch with Backroad Wellness via phone at (567) 525-4059 or visit their website at http://www.backroadwellness.com.
MedicateOH Partnership
Patients can donate all month long to MedicateOH at dispensary registers. The MedicateOH team will be in store in Cambridge on Wednesday, May 24th from 12.-3 p.m. to talk about the non-profit work we do and about our experiences as medical marijuana patients and caregivers. We’ll also be talking about some of the latest products we’ve tried and written about recently, including Ancient Roots Live Rosin Gummies. Come out and see us!
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