Twenty After Four, a new shop on the north side of downtown, features locally produced crafts and food items, as well as lines of cannabis oil and hemp honey.

CANTON A new downtown retailer is stocked with locally sourced clothing, jewelry and art work, along with cannabis oil and hemp honey.

Twenty After Four opened Wednesday morning, on April 20, the date pegged as a holiday by marijuana users because of the numbers "four twenty." One urban legend attributes use of the numbers to the time 4:20 p.m., when students at a California high school would meet and smoke marijuana after school.

Business owner Nolan Klein said the store's name is an artistic spin on the phrase four twenty. It also fits with some of the store's products.

CannaFX is a line of oils made from cannabis by a Florida-based company. Cannabidoil, or CBD, is found in cannabis and is used for pain relief, or to stop spasms and reduce inflammation. Colorado Hemp Honey also has CDB.

Neither of the products contain THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the drug that causes marijuana users to become high. So users don't become high and should pass a drug test if required to take one, Klein said.

CDB products are used by placing drops under the tongue or inhaling through an electronic cigarette. The oils and honey also can be mixed in beverages.

Other products

Denise Flitcraft, a representative for CannaFX products, said the oils have been used by patients who suffer seizures, have epilepsy or experience other health issues. She began researching the products after her mother died from cancer, and believes they would have helped her.

Klein's shop is the first Ohio location to offer CannaFX. Flitcraft said the company is looking at other Northeast Ohio locations as potential outlets.

Twenty After Four also carries a line of glassware that includes assorted pipes. Signs in cases note the pipes are meant to be used with tobacco products.

Curious customers flocked to the store at 604 Sixth St. NW to check out merchandise. They also watched glass making and got to look at the murals painted by local artists. Several local bands were set to perform Wednesday evening in parking area behind the store.

Klein, a 28-year-old GlenOak graduate, said he modeled the business after the vendor and merchandise stands he would see at music festivals he attended. Music fans would shop for hand-crafted clothing, jewelry and other items.

"It was kind of like a hippie flea market," Klein said of the music festival vending area. "I thought if they could do well there, it could do well here."

He considers the business a boutique and outlet for the wares and crafts or area artists. He has tried to source most of his products from artists in the Canton and Akron area, or from around the state.

Arts scene

Klein said he doesn't want the business to be seen as a head shop because he doesn't identify with the drug culture.

"We offer healthier options for lifestyle choices," he said.

Klein said that he's had problems, including misdemeanor arrests, because of drug use, but he's worked to separate himself from his past. Using natural remedies has helped, he said, noting his preference is Colorado Hemp Honey.

A life-long resident of the area, Klein said, he likes becoming part of Canton's downtown arts scene. He had seven area artists paint the walls in the shop, with each doing a different mural. Klein wants to tie in with First Friday events, opening the store later and and having live music.

He also wants to open space for more artists. Glass blowing burners and a kiln were installed just before the store opened and several artists were working on glass products Wednesday. In addition to pipes, they make glasses, display bowls, figurines and ornaments.

The stores hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Reach Edd Pritchard at 330-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @epritchardREP