New medical marijuana dispensary opening will ‘amplify’ the vibe in Coventry Village

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — From a licensing and preparation standpoint, the buzz has already been going for about five years leading up to last week’s grand opening of the Amplify medical marijuana dispensary.

Some might argue the vibe has been in Coventry Village a lot longer than that, with an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, cafes, book and record stores and yes, a few head shops. It all made for a good fit that Buckeye Relief company owners recognized when they first applied for a local license in 2017.

Throughout the process, they stuck with their original location, the century-old building that was previously home to American Apparel, which Amplify spent the past nine months rehabbing to state requirements after receiving a provisional license last May.

“Amplify Coventry Village is the flagship retail location for Buckeye Relief, a licensed, ‘Level-1′ medical marijuana cultivator and processor,” stated a Cleveland Heights city press release issued March 18, the day the doors finally opened.

City officials further noted that the company has the largest overall market share in Ohio, based on the number of products sold in dispensaries since the state’s medical-marijuana program started.

“Buckeye Relief has proudly served Ohio’s patients since dispensaries opened their doors in early 2019, and we’re thrilled to bring our experience and leadership to the retail level, connect with patients in a new way, and become a part of the vibrant Coventry Village neighborhood,” company CEO, co-founder and Shaker Heights resident Andrew Rayburn added in a separate press release.

Job numbers up

Currently employing more than 130 at its 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Eastlake, which cultivates all things cannabis from the flower buds to the synthesized gummy candies, the Cleveland Heights job numbers are already up from last year’s projections.

There are already about 25 employees at Amplify Dispensary Coventry Village, up from the initial estimates of 10-15 workers, and more hires are still expected.

The goal of Amplify’s staff is to provide assistance to clients with state-issued medical cards through “every step of the process,” with a menu of products among the largest in the state, noted key employee Shawn Kingery, who assists with coordination in all phases of the retail operation, from secured entries to purchases.

“Amplify’s leadership team is comprised of registered pharmacists whose vision for the retail space relies heavily on staff training to provide expert patient guidance relying on the best available cannabis research,” the press release added.

“Many of Amplify’s team members are also patients in the program and helped to curate a menu of quality, variety and integrity,” also providing capability to place orders online through Amplify’s website and mobile app.

The dispensary’s interior design remains a work in progress, with a musical motif that denotes the “Amplify” brand name.

“It’s all geared toward music — with the interior resembling a recording studio,” Kingery said, noting plans to decorate the front desk with actual record albums. “We want to ‘amplify’ the good vibes through music.”

Local artists have also assisted with the decor, including a metal wall sculpture that evokes Picasso’s “Three Musicians” painting.

“We want to facilitate each patient’s ideal experience – a first-time patient can consult with a registered pharmacist for as long as they need,” Amplify General Manager Michael McCall stated in the company press release.

“And a patient who knows exactly what they want can be assured of an efficient and enjoyable shopping experience as well,” McCall added.

Filling a void

Although there was no ribbon-cutting on March 18, Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren attended the opening, saying earlier that he viewed the location as a public service as much as a sound business decision for the city.

City Business Development Manager Brian Anderson noted earlier that the Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s issuance of an operational license would close a major gap in the Cuyahoga County’s dispensary network, with two having gone in closer to downtown Cleveland, two closer to Lakewood and one in Garfield Heights.

“There was a hole on the east side of the county,” Anderson said.

Amplify’s opening comes at a time when the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program’s registered patient population exceeds 220,000 and continues to grow, Buckeye Relief Marketing and Communications Director Leslie Brandon noted.

“Our new location will fill a gap in the region’s dispensary landscape by providing access to patients on the east side of Cleveland, some who have been traveling close to an hour to purchase medical marijuana,” says Rayburn.

Working with Buckeye Relief for more than two years, Coventry Village Special Improvement District (SID) Director Mallory Phiilips Kent earlier toured the Eastlake growing facility and came away favorably impressed, not only with their “impeccable processes,” but also the community commitment and the hardworking staff’s vibrant energy.

“I am confident they’ll be a huge asset to Coventry Village and we welcome the opportunity to serve our neighborhood in this unique way,” Kent announced earlier on the district’s website.

Read more from the Sun Press.