In Southern Ohio, context matters. History runs deep along the Ohio River: in brick warehouses once built for industry and in floodwall murals that tell stories of labor, sports, and survival. It is here, in Portsmouth’s Boneyfiddle District, that Southern Ohio Botanicals has redefined the term “dispensary” by creating retail elegance inside a historical landmark.

The trust factor

Bridging the gap in a conservative market

For Chief Executive Officer Josh Smith, the vision was never about novelty. His North Star was trust.

“My experience came from being a middle manager at CVS for years, so when I moved into cannabis, I really wanted that convenience and customer service aspect to be the front focus of my company,” Smith said. “But also, it’s cannabis, so you need that cool aesthetic. Then again, Ohio is a very conservative state, so how do you marry both?”

The marriage began with his first dispensary location: a Waverly, Ohio, space with modest ceiling height and the bones of a medical office building. Retrofitting the building required transformation bound by compliance constraints. One of the biggest head-scratchers turned out to be how to elevate a relatively plain hull without alienating a small, Rust Belt village.

The answers arrived at a cannabis industry trade show.

Efficiency by design

Rapid prototyping and custom floor plans

“I met Jack [Rosenberg] and Georgia [Peterman] from Display Dispensary at MJBizCon, and what stood out and made me instantly want to work with them was the immediacy. I think they did the floor plan right then and there at the booth,” Smith said.

Rosenberg, brand manager at Display Dispensary, also fondly remembers the meeting.

“When we first connected, Josh was facing a significant time constraint,” Rosenberg said. “He needed an efficient, turnkey solution, which is precisely what our Dispensary123 concept is designed to deliver. Clients communicate their design direction and need for showcases, point-of-sale stations and accessories based on their merchandising and service needs. Once the direction is defined we quickly solidify the floor plan. In this case, we designed and rendered the entire space in real time.”

For Smith, speed was essential … but so was customization. He didn’t want his first dispensary to look “off the shelf.”

“What they designed just made the process simple,” he said. “The design came together quickly, but it still looked custom — not like a bunch of boxy, awkward shelving that didn’t belong. It was professional and sleek, really made for the space.”

Honoring heritage

Adapting nineteenth-century architecture for modern cannabis

The first location set the tone, but it was Southern Ohio Botanicals’ second store that allowed Display Dispensary to more fully express its innovation and capabilities.

Located in a restored 1800s warehouse once used to repair railroad locomotives, the Portsmouth location sits in an area that holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The Boneyfiddle District’s charming nineteenth-century architecture houses antique shops and boutiques and serves as a hub for local arts and entertainment. Steps from the river, beneath soaring ceilings and historic wooden beams, the design for Smith’s second location demanded restraint and confidence.

“When I started looking at display cases, I told my team, ‘We’re sticking with the same partner,’” he said. “Part of our branding is industrial, and the sleek Display Dispensary aesthetic really works.”

Beyond the basics, Display Dispensary introduced newer, low-profile floor units and museum-style showcases, pairing sleek glass and steel with warm lighting that highlights products without overwhelming the architecture.

“We had just designed the new museum-style showcase prior to Southern Ohio Botanicals’ opening,” Rosenberg said. “The overhead lighting, the building’s rustic architectural character, and the clean, streamlined design of the showcases created a cohesive aesthetic. The lighting, in particular, is intentionally focused to draw the eye directly to the product.”

Functionality mattered as much as form. The layout accommodates a high transaction volume, with ample point-of-sale (POS) stations designed to move customers through efficiently without feeling rushed. For vendors, the displays offer clear sightlines, integrated lighting, and easy signage placement.

“It helps with vendors coming in and featuring their products,” Smith said. “And from a maintenance standpoint, it’s all very easy to clean — and in between, you don’t see dust. That matters.”

Thanks in part to its sophisticated, easy-to-shop design, Southern Ohio Botanicals recently was voted Best Dispensary in Portsmouth, standing out among larger multistate operators.

“People tell us it feels like something they’d walk into in California,” Smith said. “A lot of dispensaries in Ohio don’t have glass display shelving. We’re very visual, so I think we really stand out in that way.”

Visual clarity is especially important in a region that draws travelers, kayakers, and Appalachian Trail hikers from out of state. Recognizable brands, thoughtful presentation, and a welcoming environment help bridge familiarity and discovery.

The mission

Education and advocacy in the post-opioid era

Smith’s background as both a pharmacist and a preacher has shaped Southern Ohio Botanicals’ role in the community. In an area deeply affected by the opioid crisis, he approaches cannabis through a medical, educational lens, working closely with local officials, churches, and healthcare facilities to create awareness.

“There were so many obstacles early on,” Smith said. “But being able to say this is regulated, safer, and more transparent than opioids … that gives people peace of mind.”

A similar sense of clarity and focus extends to his partnerships.

“Display Dispensary’s knowledge and design made the process so easy,” Smith said. “I could hand their plans off to my [chief operating officer], which took the headache out of it. Compliance is such a minefield, but Display Dispensary made the design and build process simple so we could focus on everything else.”

For Southern Ohio Botanicals, the result is a space that reflects its surroundings, honors its history, and meets its community with compassion, intention, respect, and a sense of place that feels unmistakably Southern Ohio.