Steubenville Council Discusses Potential Cannabis Dispensary

Officials see potential revenue boost from licensed dispensary in the city

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:24am

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Steubenville city officials are considering the possibility of bringing a licensed cannabis dispensary to the city, citing the potential for significant tax revenue that could be used for infrastructure improvements and other community needs. Councilman Dave Albaugh pointed to the success of a dispensary in the neighboring town of Wintersville, which has generated $900,000 in tax revenue over the past 14 months. However, the process of obtaining a dispensary license is lengthy and expensive, so the city is exploring ways to attract a business with the necessary financial backing.

Why it matters

Steubenville is currently missing out on the tax revenue generated by cannabis dispensaries in neighboring communities, which could be used to address pressing infrastructure and community needs. Bringing a licensed dispensary to the city could provide a significant financial boost, but the city will need to navigate the complex licensing process and overcome any local opposition to cannabis businesses.

The details

Councilman Dave Albaugh argued that Steubenville should capitalize on the lucrative revenue stream that cannabis dispensaries have become for communities across Ohio. He pointed to the success of a dispensary in the nearby town of Wintersville, which has generated $900,000 in tax revenue over the past 14 months. Albaugh believes the city could use the additional revenue to fund street paving, demolish dilapidated houses, and upgrade parks and recreation facilities. However, incoming City Manager Mike Johnson acknowledged that the process of obtaining a dispensary license is lengthy and expensive, requiring significant financial backing. The city is exploring ways to indicate its willingness to welcome such businesses and see what it can do to attract a dispensary.

  • Wintersville's dispensary has been operating for 14 months.
  • Steubenville's current city manager, Jim Mavromatis, is set to retire in about 10 days.

The players

Dave Albaugh

A Steubenville city councilman who is advocating for the city to pursue a licensed cannabis dispensary.

Mike Johnson

The incoming city manager of Steubenville, who has agreed to explore the possibility of attracting a cannabis dispensary to the city.

Jim Mavromatis

The outgoing city manager of Steubenville, who provided information about the current state of cannabis dispensary licensing in Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“The city needs the money, it's as simple as that. If one came here, it would make that big a difference — Wintersville's had it for 14 months and (already generated) $900,000 (in tax revenues). We could pave a lot of streets with that– we can do a lot of things with a million dollars a year.”

— Dave Albaugh, Steubenville City Councilman

“Right now, they have (paused) issuing any more licenses — it doesn't mean it's going to stop, but right now they're not issuing any more. It's quite a lengthy process and it's also quite expensive to get (a license)…but it's something the city may want to look into.”

— Jim Mavromatis, Outgoing Steubenville City Manager

“We should try to pursue it. It takes somebody with a lot of financial backing to open one of these…(but) we can indicate our willingness to welcome these businesses with open arms, and we can see what we can do to attract one.”

— Mike Johnson, Incoming Steubenville City Manager

What’s next

The incoming city manager, Mike Johnson, has been tasked with staying informed on the cannabis dispensary licensing process and exploring ways to attract a business with the necessary financial backing to open a dispensary in Steubenville.

The takeaway

Steubenville's pursuit of a licensed cannabis dispensary highlights the potential financial benefits for municipalities, but also the challenges of navigating the complex licensing process and overcoming any local opposition. The city's willingness to explore this opportunity could pay dividends in the form of new revenue streams to address infrastructure and community needs.