WINTERSVILLE, Ohio — Another marijuana dispensary in Wintersville is on the way to allowing recreational sales.

Greenlight Dispensary is on track to join Sunnyside in this new venture in the state after Ohio Valley Natural Relief owner Mike Petrella transferred the business.

It will continue to be an option for locals as well as people in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“We have a lot of customers from both states, which brings additional revenue to the village,” said Petrella, who is also the village’s mayor. “We help other businesses that are passing through, and it also contributes to tax revenue.”

The village generates 36 percent of 10 percent of all Greenlight and Sunnyside revenues.

Kansas City-based Greenlight is expanding across the country and in Ohio. And it may already be possible in Wintersville.

“The current building we are in is one of our smaller locations,” says Casey Efting, Greenlight’s director of retail operations.

“If we look at the building next door, there’s an opportunity to give us a little more space to add some cash registers, possibly a drive-thru. That way we’ll have enough room to handle the traffic we know we’re going to get.”

Efting says plans for the former Gas Lite Restaurant & Lounge building are not yet finalized, but it will be a brand new building.

“We’ve submitted everything to the state. We’ve passed our audit. At this point, we’re literally waiting for an email with a certificate to operate as an adult retail outlet,” Efting said.

Although it is recognized that there are advantages and disadvantages to establishing dispensaries, village officials believe that it is beneficial and will hopefully continue.

“The tax revenue and the creation of new jobs are definitely beneficial. I know they are trying to hire 20 people,” Petrella said.

“The other company has hired more people, so overall it’s a positive side effect and we hope that more revenue will flow into the village.”