Jul. 18—The first option for Euclid residents with medical marijuana prescriptions has opened in Euclid.
Nectar Medical Cannabis Dispensary is the first dispensary to be licensed in the city.
The new location at 21100 St. Clair Ave., is one of three sites that Nectar has opened in Ohio. The other two locations in Bowling Green and Cincinnati are the start of Nectar's move from its Oregon origins, where it currently has 40 locations.
The opening comes six years after Euclid City Council passed medical marijuana legislation that allowed cultivation and dispensaries in specific locations.
Carla Davidson, the designated Euclid representative for Nectar, said that she hopes the new dispensary will be a safe place for the over 300,000 patients registered in Ohio that have had to look for their cannabis previously outside of the city.
"We're providing properly tested and high-quality products at an affordable price for medical patients," Davidson said. "It is our hope that by doing this, we are further able to deter purchasing from street dealers or other illegal activity.
"We want to be actively involved in the community and have a great relationship with the Euclid Police Department, she added. "Many have even visited our dispensary. The reason we do this is to ensure compliance and make sure we are always able to function so we can provide the necessary shopping for cannabis patients."
The location is cash only, and patients are able to preorder at nectarohio.com where they have a menu which is updated with different discounts depending on the day of the week.
"They go online to our menu," Davidson said. "After they fill their cart, the order is then sent to be fulfilled. The customer will then receive a text that the order is being prepared. Once the order is filled, customers will then receive a text that their order is ready.
"Upon arrival all they have to do is check in at reception, and head to an available register and let the budtender know they are here to pick up an order."
The process for new patients is similar to other dispensaries in the area, with first-time patients having to register with their medical marijuana card and photo identification.
"Upon arrival for first-time patients they would check with reception and present their ID and medical card," Davidson said. "They then complete new patient paperwork and are escorted to the main area by a staff member.
"We have eight registers available to interact with available budtenders," she added. "Once the order is filled, the budtender will then receive the order and check to make sure all the products and information is correct before finally completing the purchase.
The hours for Nectar are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and are closed Sundays.