Cannabis dispensaries in Ohio and across the U.S. face a unique challenge—municipal moratoriums that restrict adult-use sales, even when facilities are licensed and fully compliant with state regulations. This is precisely the situation for A Cut Above (ACA) Dispensary in Hubbard, Ohio. Despite meeting all state requirements and being designed for both medical and adult-use cannabis sales, the dispensary continues to grapple with a city-imposed ban on adult-use operations.
Over 100 Moratoriums Still Active in Ohio
According to Ohio State University, 111 municipalities across Ohio still have active moratoriums against cannabis businesses. However, MedicateOH knows of only one medical cannabis dispensary that is still unable to convert its current medical operation to adult-use. The City of Euclid suddenly decided on Day 1 of adult-use sales in August that per zoning regulations, the community’s two dispensaries would not be able to open despite being awarded a state license to do so. Nectar and Good River Wellness have now been given the green light, but lost thousands in sales during those days. The City of Hubbard appears to be the only holdout left, denying access to residents who need it and costing the business gobs of money and time lost to fighting city council.
A Dispensary Built for Growth
ACA Dispensary stands as a massive, state-of-the-art facility, having transformed an old Dollar Store into a cannabis hub with 12 point-of-sale stations, ample parking, and even a drive-through window to better serve patients, explained ACA Dispensary General Manager Dustin Crites. After securing both medical and adult-use licenses from the state, ACA was prepared to serve the whole community.
Crites notes that they were particularly looking forward to serving the area’s veterans that don’t want to sign up for the state’s MMJ program due to the handgun restriction. He also mentioned how important he feels it is to serve those in Trumbull county and surrounding areas seeking cannabis as an alternative to narcotics in the wake of the opioid crisis.
ACA opened to medical cannabis patients on December 28th, 2023. The store’s impressive footprint stands as testament to their hopes to offer products to all adults, not just those with a medical card. As of October, Hubbard’s City Council continues to stymie ACA’s effort to open to serve the public. In an emergency meeting last week, the council voted again to ban adult-use cannabis sales within city limits. This came despite the dispensary’s compliance with both state and local laws.
The ban leaves ACA in a precarious position—able to operate only for medical cannabis patients and uncertain about its future. Crites noted that management would have to consider closing the store if they aren’t able to serve the public, as the medical patients don’t generate enough income to keep the lights on. “We don’t want to leave,” he said. “We know what can happen to a smaller, little rural town when input money like this comes to you. We want to make the partnership work. We want to be here in the city. We want to grow here in Hubbard.”
The Economic and Community Impact
Municipal moratoriums like the one in Hubbard do more than restrict cannabis access; they harm local economies. ACA employs 8-10 staff members, providing stable jobs in a community that needs them. About 7,500 people live in the 4 sq miles that incorporate Hubbard, a suburb of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area.
Due to the moratorium, ACA has already reduced its hours and may face further cutbacks if adult-use sales continue to be blocked. So this is not just an issue for the business—it’s a community problem, affecting local job security and economic development. Said Crites, “I can have anywhere from 50 to 100 employees in here when we’re ramped up and really going, I’ve went from 15 down to about eight.”
What makes it even more difficult for ACA is competing with local vape shops that sell THC products illegally and quasi-legally, putting a legal, state-approved business at a disadvantage. One even calls itself a dispensary. Crites said this inconsistency in regulation is frustrating for dispensaries like theirs that are operating in good faith and within the bounds of the law. Allowing ACA to commence adult-use sales would not only level the playing field but would also generate significant tax revenue for the city, which could be reinvested into local services. The adult-use measure that Ohio voters approved last November directed 36 percent of tax revenue generated for adult-use sales to the communities that host them.
Overturning the Ban: A November 2024 Vote
The road to lifting the adult-use ban in Hubbard isn’t without hope. A petition to overturn the ban garnered 194 verified signatures, a remarkable feat in just five days. The issue will now be put to a vote on November 5th, 2024, giving the community the chance to decide whether to allow ACA to fully operate as intended.
This vote is critical—not just for ACA Dispensary, but for the patients and residents of Hubbard. The initial statewide vote on cannabis legalization passed with a slim 52-48 margin, showing that there is substantial support for adult-use cannabis in Ohio. With education and outreach, there is a strong belief that the vote in Hubbard will favor lifting the ban.
The Call to Action
The upcoming vote is about more than just allowing a dispensary to operate; it’s about supporting a cannabis business that contributes to the economy, provides jobs, and offers a legal alternative to opioids. Municipal bans like the one in Hubbard reflect a lack of understanding and education about the cannabis industry, its benefits, and its regulatory framework. The future of legal cannabis in Hubbard hinges on this November vote, and the dispensary is calling on the community to make their voices heard.
If you’re a resident of Hubbard, the vote on November 5th will determine whether ACA Dispensary can expand its services to all adults. If you’re not a resident, sharing this story can help. Not only does it bring awareness about this issue to the people in Hubbard who will need to vote, but it can spread more information about cannabis moratoriums in general which have slowed the growth of the industry due to misinformation.
###
