Three companies are seeking to open Hamilton's first marijuana dispensary, proposing locations on the city's west side that could bring new jobs, investment and hundreds of customers daily. But there's a catch: All three proposed locations are within a mile of one another, and Hamilton's recently adopted zoning regulations prohibit cannabis dispensaries from operating within that distance. That means only one of the three businesses is likely to receive the city's final zoning certification. The applicants are UpLift Dispensaries, RISE Dispensary Hamilton and BEYOND HELLO, all established operators in Ohio's cannabis industry. Hamilton City Council is scheduled to hold public hearings on all three applications Wednesday, October 28, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at 345 High Street. The proposals follow City Council's July decision to permit medical and adult-use marijuana dispensaries as conditional uses in certain commercial zoning districts, ending the city's longstanding prohibition on the businesses.
UpLift Dispensaries — 877 NW Washington Boulevard
Cascade Southern Ohio LLC proposes opening an UpLift dispensary in an existing commercial building at 877 NW Washington Boulevard, Suite C, immediately west of Shooters Bar & Grill. The company plans to renovate approximately 5,809 square feet of space formerly associated with the property's movie theater operation. UpLift describes itself as a locally owned, family-operated cannabis business that began operating in 2021. The company says it already operates two dispensaries in Ohio, with two additional locations under development. The proposed Hamilton location would become its fifth store.
Of the three proposals, UpLift projects the largest workforce, with 35 to 45 employees. The company estimates between 350 and 400 customers daily. Proposed operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The plans include 46 parking spaces, surveillance cameras throughout the building, armed third-party security during operating hours, silent alarms and secure vaults for cash and cannabis products. A fenced delivery area would be established at the rear of the building.
The company says its existing state dispensary license and experience operating other locations would allow it to move forward quickly if approved.
RISE Dispensary Hamilton — 845 NW Washington Boulevard
GTI Ohio LLC is proposing a new dispensary at 845 NW Washington Boulevard, on property behind the veterinary hospital and near El Mariachi restaurant. The company operates under the RISE Dispensary brand and already has six licensed dispensaries in Ohio, according to its application. Unlike UpLift, which would renovate existing space, RISE proposes constructing a new retail building on the approximately 2.41-acre property. The Hamilton location would employ approximately 20 people and could attract between 200 and 300 customers on busy days. Proposed operating hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The company's plans call for extensive security measures, including around-the-clock video surveillance, restricted-access areas, covered windows and state-required tracking of cannabis products. The property currently shares driveway access with neighboring businesses, including the veterinary hospital, Legacy Martial Arts and El Mariachi. Traffic circulation and access arrangements would be subject to city review. The RISE proposal is especially close to UpLift's proposed location, putting the two companies in direct competition under Hamilton's one-mile separation requirement.
BEYOND HELLO — 1520 Main Street
Jushi RJK OH LLC, a subsidiary of Jushi Holdings Inc., proposes constructing a BEYOND HELLO dispensary at 1520 Main Street, immediately north of the intersection with Northwest Washington Boulevard. The property is currently an overflow parking area associated with the nearby Applebee's restaurant. Jushi proposes investing approximately $2.5 million to construct a new, single-story, 2,400-square-foot retail building with 33 parking spaces.
The company operates cannabis businesses in several states and says it already has seven dispensaries in Ohio. Its Hamilton location would serve both medical marijuana patients and adult-use customers. The project would employ approximately nine to 14 people, with an estimated 200 to 300 customers daily.
Recommended operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Jushi describes the development as an opportunity to transform an underused paved parking area into a new commercial business without displacing existing buildings or businesses.
How Hamilton will choose
All three proposals received recommendations for approval from the Hamilton Planning Commission following its September 17 meeting. However, those recommendations do not guarantee that any applicant will be permitted to open. Under Hamilton's zoning ordinance, cannabis dispensaries must be separated by at least one mile, measured in a straight line between the nearest points of the properties involved. When multiple applications fall within that distance, the city will certify only one location as complying with local zoning requirements. Priority generally goes to the first applicant receiving City Council conditional-use approval. If multiple applicants receive approval at the same Council meeting, priority goes to the application that was first submitted and accepted as complete by the city's Planning Department. The city also makes clear that Council is not required to approve any particular application. Even if multiple conditional-use requests are approved, only one applicant within the restricted area can receive the city's required zoning certification for state licensing. Hamilton's regulations also prohibit dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, licensed child-care facilities, youth centers or preschools, and within 500 feet of churches, public playgrounds, libraries and opioid treatment programs. On-site consumption is prohibited, and cannabis products cannot be visible from public streets or sidewalks.
Decision approaching
The applications represent three different approaches to entering Hamilton's newly permitted cannabis market: renovating an existing commercial space, developing vacant commercial property, or replacing an underused parking area with a new retail building. Together, the applicants project dozens of potential jobs and hundreds of daily customer visits, although those estimates are contingent on approval and operation. Council's first readings and public hearings are scheduled for October 28, with second readings scheduled for November 11. The outcome will determine which, if any, of the three companies gets the opportunity to establish a dispensary in Hamilton.
(Editor's Note: AI-Assisted Copy)
(Image Courtesy: City of Hamilton)
