Robert Celt
New Member
The products in Syracuse's newest medical pot dispensary at 2140 Erie Boulevard East sound like cappuccino flavors.
"Dolce," "Forte" and "Balance" are the brand names of three types of medical marijuana Etain LLC will sell to patients at its new location starting Wednesday.
But getting the medical pot will be a lot more complicated and expensive than ordering a coffee.
Etain officials gave the news media a tour today of the new location, the company's third dispensary in the state. They did not have any medical marijuana in stock, so they displayed photos of their products. They expect to have the real thing on hand Wednesday for some patients coming from Buffalo.
"We are really excited to be able to offer patients access to this medication," said Hillary Peckham, the company's chief operating officer.
Patients will pay anywhere from $100 to $250 depending on the product they buy.
The dispensary will accept cash only. Even though medical marijuana is legal in New York, it is still illegal under federal law, making federally-insured banks skittish about doing business with marijuana businesses. Health insurance does not cover medical marijuana.
Etain's dispensary looks like a doctor's office outfitted with surveillance cameras and other security features like a 1,500-pounds safe to store the drugs.
Inside the front door there is a reception desk where patients must present certification from their doctor and show their state-issued medical marijuana card. Without that documentation, no one can get medical marijuana.
Patients who make it past that checkpoint will be ushered into the main part of the dispensary where they will meet with a pharmacist for about 30 minutes. The pharmacist will ask what other medications they use, explain Etain's products and call the patient's doctor to make sure the patient is getting the right type of medical marijuana.
Finding a doctor who will prescribe marijuana is a real challenge for patients. Only doctors who have taken a course and are registered with the state can prescribe it. So far, 331 doctors have registered with the state and they have certified 551 patients statewide for medical marijuana. The state health department has not yet released the names of participating doctors.
In the past month Etain has provided medical marijuana to about 25 patients at its other dispensaries in Kingston and Albany.
Peckham said her company does not have a list of participating doctors, nor is it allowed to refer patients to doctors.
"Patients should approach their doctors and talk to them about this option and talk to the department of health about having more access to physicians," she said. Peckham said she hopes doctors will use medical marijuana as an alternative to prescription painkillers. She thinks doctors are hesitant because the program is new.
Under New York law, dispensaries are not allowed to sell marijuana leaves or buds that can be smoked. They must provide the drug in oils and liquids that can be swallowed or vaporized, and in capsules.
Etain's Dolce brand is an oil-based medicine made from cannabidiol, a marijuana component designed to reduce seizures in patients without getting them high.
Forte is a product with a high level of THC, the component in marijuana that creates a high. This is intended for patients in severe pain.
Balance contains equal amounts of THC and cannabidiol.
New York limits medical marijuana use to patients with these 10 conditions: cancer, HIV or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, and Huntington's disease.
Two other medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Salina last month at 1304 Buckley Road and 642 Old Liverpool Road.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Inside Syracuse's New Pot Shop: Medical Marijuana That Sounds Like Cappuccino
Author: James T. Mulder
Contact: Syracuse.com
Photo Credit: Michael Greenlar
Website: Syracuse.com
"Dolce," "Forte" and "Balance" are the brand names of three types of medical marijuana Etain LLC will sell to patients at its new location starting Wednesday.
But getting the medical pot will be a lot more complicated and expensive than ordering a coffee.
Etain officials gave the news media a tour today of the new location, the company's third dispensary in the state. They did not have any medical marijuana in stock, so they displayed photos of their products. They expect to have the real thing on hand Wednesday for some patients coming from Buffalo.
"We are really excited to be able to offer patients access to this medication," said Hillary Peckham, the company's chief operating officer.
Patients will pay anywhere from $100 to $250 depending on the product they buy.
The dispensary will accept cash only. Even though medical marijuana is legal in New York, it is still illegal under federal law, making federally-insured banks skittish about doing business with marijuana businesses. Health insurance does not cover medical marijuana.
Etain's dispensary looks like a doctor's office outfitted with surveillance cameras and other security features like a 1,500-pounds safe to store the drugs.
Inside the front door there is a reception desk where patients must present certification from their doctor and show their state-issued medical marijuana card. Without that documentation, no one can get medical marijuana.
Patients who make it past that checkpoint will be ushered into the main part of the dispensary where they will meet with a pharmacist for about 30 minutes. The pharmacist will ask what other medications they use, explain Etain's products and call the patient's doctor to make sure the patient is getting the right type of medical marijuana.
Finding a doctor who will prescribe marijuana is a real challenge for patients. Only doctors who have taken a course and are registered with the state can prescribe it. So far, 331 doctors have registered with the state and they have certified 551 patients statewide for medical marijuana. The state health department has not yet released the names of participating doctors.
In the past month Etain has provided medical marijuana to about 25 patients at its other dispensaries in Kingston and Albany.
Peckham said her company does not have a list of participating doctors, nor is it allowed to refer patients to doctors.
"Patients should approach their doctors and talk to them about this option and talk to the department of health about having more access to physicians," she said. Peckham said she hopes doctors will use medical marijuana as an alternative to prescription painkillers. She thinks doctors are hesitant because the program is new.
Under New York law, dispensaries are not allowed to sell marijuana leaves or buds that can be smoked. They must provide the drug in oils and liquids that can be swallowed or vaporized, and in capsules.
Etain's Dolce brand is an oil-based medicine made from cannabidiol, a marijuana component designed to reduce seizures in patients without getting them high.
Forte is a product with a high level of THC, the component in marijuana that creates a high. This is intended for patients in severe pain.
Balance contains equal amounts of THC and cannabidiol.
New York limits medical marijuana use to patients with these 10 conditions: cancer, HIV or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, and Huntington's disease.
Two other medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Salina last month at 1304 Buckley Road and 642 Old Liverpool Road.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Inside Syracuse's New Pot Shop: Medical Marijuana That Sounds Like Cappuccino
Author: James T. Mulder
Contact: Syracuse.com
Photo Credit: Michael Greenlar
Website: Syracuse.com
