GIRARD  Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo and other dignitaries are expected to be on hand for today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Valley’s newest marijuana dispensary.

Curaleaf, which opened its Girard dispensary in the former Family Video building at 801 N. State Street earlier this month, will hold the ceremony at noon. In addition to the mayor, representatives from the Girard Chamber of Commerce are scheduled to attend.

The Girard location is the company’s first dispensary within the city. Curaleaf’s national store count now stands at 157.

The store's hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The opening follows a process overseen by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, which licenses and regulates all cannabis businesses in the state, including cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and testing laboratories.

The division's primary focus is on consumer safety, with all products and facilities subject to regulation. This includes video surveillance at licensed facilities and multiple in-person inspections each year to ensure compliance.

All licensees are also required to use the state's seed-to-sale tracking system to monitor products. The state program allows licensed dispensaries to sell cannabis to individuals 21 and older.

 Here is a list of other licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Valley, as provided by the Ohio Department of Commerce:

 Trumbull County

  •  Beyond Hello, 2107 Elm Rd. NE., Warren
  •  Cannabist, 2932 Youngstown Rd SE, Warren
  •  AYR Dispensary, 1212 Youngstown Warren Rd, Niles
  •  ACA Dispensary, 437 E Liberty St, Hubbard
  •  Curaleaf OGT, Inc., 801 N State St, Girard

 Mahoning County

  •  Leaf Relief, 4323 Market St, Youngstown
  •  Green Leaf Therapy, 93 S Bridge St, Struthers

 Columbiana County

  •  FRX East Liverpool Craft Cannabis Dispensary, 1865 Dresden Ave, East Liverpool

 The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control is not currently accepting new applications for medical marijuana licenses.