Recently MedicateOH got a sneak peek at the state-of-the-art new Ohio headquarters for Northwoods Cannabis, a level 2 licensed cultivation and processing operator that’s debuting in the Buckeye state with deep roots in neighboring Michigan.
Michigan Caregiver Market Roots
Leading the expansion into Ohio for Northwoods Cannabis is Brad Schultz, the company’s co-founder and CFO whose journey is as much a personal homecoming as it is a business venture. Schultz started Northwoods with his high school friend Brett and his cousin Nick as participants in Michigan’s caregiver market. Brett Etengoff (CEO) and Nick Napior (Managing Member) are still integral in the day-to-day business operations as well.
“We started in Michigan, way up in Traverse City,” Schultz explained. From founding the company together to finding their way into the licensed market in Michigan, the team continued to expand with integrity. “People always say, ‘Don’t go into business with your friends.’ But it was the best decision we ever made… they’re passionate about the plant and the product.”
Moving into the Ohio Market
Schultz lives in Columbus and attended Capital University, managing the Michigan-based operations for several years while waiting for the right opportunity to expand at home. “They went recreational, built their first facility up there, and expanded within Michigan. As things were starting to progress in Ohio, I told them–we’ve got to get to Ohio.”
The opportunity came for Northwoods in 2024 when a Level 2 license previously owned by Pure OH came up for sale. Ohio’s Level 2 medical cannabis cultivators were originally allotted 3,000 square feet to grow their plants. But since adult-use sales went into effect last year, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) allowed Level 2’s to expand to up to 15,000 square feet for their growing space.
Choosing Clyde, Ohio
The renovated 80,000-square-foot warehouse in Clyde that Northwoods purchased was previously a center for trucking sales. The city of less than 7,000 residents in 5 square miles enthusiastically welcomed Northwoods to town.
Schultz emphasized that the town played a vital role in their decision to relocate from East Palestine, where Pure OH had held the license they bought. Schultz said that the town moved everything to make sure they could operate in Clyde compliantly, which was a welcome surprise.
By October of 2025, the facility was approved by the town of Clyde, ready for occupancy. Schultz and the team in Ohio brought in their first plants in January of 2026 via the “immaculate conception” rule that allows licensed cultivators to bring in their own genetics to get started. The cultivation team at Northwoods uses beneficial insects when they can in favor of pesticides. The medium they chose is rock wool.
First Harvests
This week’s harvest in Clyde is Northwoods’ third since starting up operations late last year. Schultz reports that they’ve sent out their first flower to be tested at North Coast Testing Lab and are awaiting results before packaging and sending to dispensaries–the first Northwoods Cannabis to be available in Ohio.
As Northwoods begins to stock shelves across Ohio, patients and consumers should keep an eye out for signature strains like Triple Beam, Tamalez, Momochi, and Cake Pops. Triple Beam is a balanced hybrid known for its complex profile of sweet fruit and earthy notes, while Tamalez offers a unique indica-dominant experience with a savory and spicy flavor profile reminiscent of its namesake. These cultivars represent years of in-house breeding and selection.
The Science of the Triple-Stack
Technically, the facility is a marvel of agricultural engineering. It utilizes a triple-stacked fixed structure to maximize the 45,000-square-foot canopy, supported by a massive 80-ton commercial HVAC units that manages the complex environmental needs of a vertical grow. Schultz explained that getting a consistent environment all the way through is very difficult because the top is going to get a lot hotter or more humid, so each floor has the ability to independently control the environment.
Beyond cultivation, the site in Clyde houses a sophisticated processing lab focused on solventless products like ice water hash and rosin, alongside an automated kitchen for chocolates and gummies. With brand-new machinery just now being unwrapped and fired up, Schultz noted that the team tried to automate as much as possible. “At the scale we are hoping to get to, it would take too many hands, and automation is cleaner and more efficient.”
Looking Toward the Future
This collaborative spirit at Northwoods has extended to a rapidly growing workforce that now includes approximately 55 full-time employees. While the leadership team includes specialized talent hired from all over the state, the backbone of the daily operations is comprised of workers from Clyde and the surrounding rural communities. “It’s a really cool town,” noted Schultz. “They’ve got a lot of little holes in the wall that you wouldn’t normally find if you’re just passing through. So it’s been a cool new home for us.”
Learn more about Northwoods Cannabis at https://northwoodscultivation.com/.
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