Alex Mayer, a former Athens resident, wants to open a marijuana dispensary in Athens.
Though marijuana legalization in Ohio failed to pass Tuesday, former Athens resident Alex Mayer is hoping the drug will be legalized in the next few years.
That’s because Mayer is working with a group called Sohigho to launch a chain of marijuana retail stores in the state, one of which will be in Athens.
“Having been around some of these startups that they have in Washington and how these successful ones are doing it, we think we have a good plan,” he said. “And we’re confident that Ohio is going to have a change of law in 2016.”
In a news release last week, Mayer said the group is planning to open three stores in late 2017 — one in Athens, Fairfield and Franklin County.
He said the group planned to open their stores even earlier, but pushed its timeline back another six months when Issue 3 — a ballot issue that could have legalized marijuana — failed.
In the news release, Mayer said the stores will have a drive-thru and offer a variety of edibles, flowers, and oils. The stores would serve as the “Wendy’s of marijuana,” he said in the release.
But Mayer said the group would have to wait and see what sort of regulations there are on the drug once legalized, before it can confirm any plans for the stores.
“It’s something that makes good press, and we’ll see how the law goes,” he said of the Wendy’s comment.
Mayer said the group will be reaching out to local governments to discuss the chain.
“We're not carpetbaggers," he said in the release. "Last time I checked, you didn't need a passport or a visa to move to Ohio. Seems to me we should get tax incentives, like the ones local governments hand out to other industries to attract jobs.”
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As of late last week, John Paszke, the Athens city code director, said he had not heard from the group.
“I’m always willing to meet with someone but I have no idea what would come of it,” he said.
Paszke said since marijuana is not currently legal, he didn’t think there was much the city could do.
“I would definitely have a little chat with our police chief,” he said.
Jacob Marshall, an Ohio University freshman studying global studies war and peace, said the chain would probably be good for the local economy, but he was unsure about what other effects the store might have.
"I think the whole situation is kind of confusing because I think it will be good for medical (use), but I think for recreational, it needs to be regulated more than what they're thinking right now," Marshall said.
Don Wirtshafter, a local lawyer and marijuana advocate, said companies like Sohigho might not be able to deliver on all of their promises.
“There are 10,000 entrepreneurs out there flooding these trade shows promising riches,” he said. “And it will come, and there will be riches, but it feels pretty premature to try to be hocking a franchise right now.”
He said the focus should be legalizing marijuana in the first place.
“I think the real question is: Does his promotion at this time help that?” he said. “That’s not the image I like (of) carpetbaggers denying being carpetbaggers.”
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