High times in Norwalk: Cannabist Rolls Into Town

NORWALK — Cannabist, a national cannabis retailer, has opened a new dispensary in Norwalk, marking the city's first regulated site for recreational and medical marijuana sales. The store, located at 383 Milan Ave. (U.S. 250) in Norwalk, began serving customers last week without a formal ribbon-cutting or grand opening. Mayor Dave Light confirmed, during a recent council meeting, that the business is fully licensed and has cleared all required state inspections, even though the state's website had yet to update. "They did say they had 60 customers the first day that they had opened," Light told the council, noting that the city will continue to monitor operations and report back any issues. Customers must show identification upon entry, sign in and out and place orders on computer terminals. Products are secured in a vault and dispensed through a drawer system similar to a bank drive-through, with a security officer stationed at the entrance. Warm reception inside Staff members said the community response has been encouraging. "A lot of people have been receiving us really well," said Joe Jones, a full-time budtender. "They love how the building looks, they love the friendly and knowledgeable staff, and they absolutely enjoy the fact that they don't have to drive all the way up to Sandusky or out of state to find the right product." Jones described his role as "essentially a pharmacist for cannabis," trained to guide customers toward products based on their needs. He and his colleagues receive training through Seed, a national cannabis education program that covers terpene and cannabinoid science as well as brand knowledge. Since opening, popular strains have included Cuban Links, Super Buff Cherry, and Urban Bubble Shine, according to Jones. Business and Safety Eric Rodriguez, the company's retail vice president, said about 70% of sales so far have been recreational with the remaining 30% medical. He compared the Cannabist structure to national retailers like Gap Inc., which operates multiple brands under one corporate umbrella. Rodriguez, who grew up in Ohio, said Norwalk was chosen because it filled a geographic gap in access. "Before us, it was probably a 30- to 40-minute drive in any direction to get to the nearest dispensary," he said. "We were looking for where we wanted to go, and Norwalk really stood out," he said Keri Stan, director of retail operations, underscored the educational and safety role the dispensary aims to play. "We want people to feel comfortable and have a safe environment when they come in," Stan said. "Everything is tested in third-party labs — pesticides, heavy metals, all of it," she added. "Laboratories are regulated by the (Ohio) Department of Commerce. What you purchase here is quality. Elsewhere, you don't know what you're getting." Stan added that legalization has reshaped cannabis use from whispered advice to more open, science-based recommendations. "Thirty years ago, people said it didn't work for them," she said. "Now with education and different strains, people come back and find what helps. They don't have to whisper to their neighbor anymore — there's openness and better information," he said. Economic impact still developing Rodriguez said it is too early to project how much the store might generate for local government. Ohio levies a 10% excise tax on adult-use cannabis sales with a portion potentially shared with municipalities. He suggested Norwalk could look to Marietta, Ohio, as a comparable community for early benchmarks once numbers are available. For now, he said, the company's priority is building trust and stability. "We take a lot of pride in our retail setting," Rodriguez said. "We're excited to get settled here and then look for ways to be partners in the community as well."