Ravenswood Mayor Expects Economic Boost

RAVENSWOOD — Mountaineer Integrated Care will open a medical cannabis dispensary in Ravenswood after gaining approval last week to grow, dispense and process medical marijuana.

Although a timeline is not official, Ravenswood Mayor Josh Miller said it’s possible the dispensary could be up and running in the former City Hall building within six months.

Last year, Ravenswood City Council approved the lease to Mountaineer Integrated Care and Miller said everything is put into place for the business to use the building.

About 15 jobs will be created for the dispensary but Miller said it will go beyond that number.

“They have to have 24/7 security, distribution of that product, security with the distribution of that product and construction jobs,” Miller said. “I can’t even estimate how much revenue (it’s) going to bring into this community.”

The amount of economic impact will be unknown until about a year after the dispensary opens its doors, Miller said.

Growing is going to take place in Mineral County and the product will be brought into Ravenswood, according to Miller.

“It’s a great thing. I think people need to separate medical cannabis conversations from the recreation conversation,” Miller said. “With the activity we have here, this will be a destination for folks who need it. We need to focus on medicinal (aspect).”

The following are a few of the medical conditions deemed “serious” that would allow for the use of medical marijuana: cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, Parkinson’s Diseases, Crohn’s Disease, epilepsy, a terminal illness or chronic pain.

Doctor’s offices in Ravenswood will be able to prescribe medical marijuana which would also bring in advertising revenue, Miller said.

“As this continues to grow, it’s going to be a big change to Ravenswood. This is something that this state and this area has never had obviously,” he said. “It’s going to bring new people, new investments and new monies. That’s something we haven’t seen in a while since Century Aluminum closed.”

Miller has confidence that the dispensary will not cause a problem with theft or other unlawful acts with the medical marijuana.

“I really don’t foresee that happening. We’ve got great law enforcement here in Jackson County,” he said. “I think people for the most part are going to be respectful of this. I think this is going to be a lot more positive than negative.”

--Candice Black, Parkersburg News & Sentinel