Verdant Creations Columbus LLC may possibly open a dual use marijuana dispensary at the site of the former EZ Credit Auto Sales on Pike Street. (Photo By Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA — A second medical and adult use recreational marijuana dispensary may be opening in Marietta.

During a special Marietta City Council meeting Aug. 22, City Law Director Paul Bertram mentioned there is a company interested in opening an adult recreational use marijuana dispensary on State Route 7 (Pike Street) across from McAlarney’s Pools, Spas and Billiards.

During the meeting Bertram said the location meets the state requirement that dispensaries must be at least one mile apart. According to Google maps, the location is 2.1 miles from Marietta’s only medical and recreational adult use marijuana dispensary, Columbia Care, which is located at 414 Greene St.

During the special council meeting, three ordinances related to adult use recreational marijuana held first readings. One would limit the number of adult use marijuana dispensaries in Marietta to two. If the dispensary is opened, it would be the last one allowed in Marietta if the ordinances are passed by council.

The city received a zoning use permit application from the company, Verdant Creations Columbus LLC, in August, according to the application, which was obtained through a public records request.

Verdant Creations wants to operate a marijuana dispensary at 903 Pike St., which used to be a car dealership, according to the application.

The property is owned by Pottmeyer Auto Sales Inc., according to Washington County Auditor records and the location used to be EZ Credit Auto Sales, according to the EZ Credit’s old Facebook page.

The application lists the retail square footage as 3,000 and the number of staff as 15. It is not clear if the 3,000 square feet of retail space is what is already at the property or if Verdant Creations plans to build a property that size. Marietta City Zoning Enforcement Officer Jim Caldwell said during the Aug. 22 meeting that the company contacted him about getting a demolition permit for the site and he referred them to the correct department.

Verdant Creations has dual use medical and adult recreational use marijuana dispensaries in Columbus and Marengo, Ohio, and it has a medical marijuana dispensary in Parkersburg, according to its website.

Verdant Creations is based out of Columbus and its owner is Kelly Hondros, according to her LinkedIn page, and Hondros is the one who signed the zoning use permit application Aug. 2.

While the status of the dispensary is not known at this time, the city of Marietta did issue a notice of property zoning form that was signed by Caldwell on Aug. 6. And the form states that 903 Pike St. has no zoning in place regarding dual use dispensaries at this time.

Specific information about how much money the city of Marietta will receive for its portion of the 10% excise tax imposed on medical marijuana at the current dual use dispensary in the city is not available, but the state of Ohio is putting 36% of the tax collected on recreational marijuana sales across the state into the Host Community Cannabis fund that will be used to help municipalities and townships that have an adult use recreational mairjuana dispensary.

Adult use recreational marijuana sales started Aug. 6 and as of Aug. 17 there has already been $22,473,262 in sales of adult use recreational marijuana products in Ohio.

Requests for comment by Verdant Creations Columbus LLC were not returned as of press time.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com