With additional fees tacked on the state’s medical marijuana card renewal, an Elmwood Park dispensary is trying to offset the hardship for some, offering a one-time discount.
FloraMedex, located at 7955 W. Grand Ave. is trying to address such situations, teaming with a leading medical marijuana cultivator and processor on a deal that could save patients up to $200 in some cases, said Jared Boyar, agent in charge for the dispensary.
Under the proposal, patients who register for a one-year extension will be eligible to receive a $100 gift card after $100 spent on Cresco medical cannabis products during the first six months after their registration, Boyar said. Those who register for a two-year extension will be eligible for two $100 gift cards after the spending minimum, he said. Gift cards will be honored at FloraMedex only and can be used toward the purchase of any of any medical cannabis products or apparel.
The discount “makes a huge difference,” said Boyar.
Some patients running low on medicine “come in and scrape together $10 to $15 to buy a small quantity to get through. With the renewal process underway, “that’s going to make it even harder for them,” he said. “We just wanted to give back and help out anyone we could, and fortunately we found someone, a partner in this promotion to kick in and make it possible.”
FloraMedex client and patient Ron Maser called the dispensary’s offering “fantastic.”
“The additional fees to renew your card make it difficult for lower-income patients to afford the medicine,” Maser said. “Giving a rebate to people like me will offset the cost of renewing my medical cannabis card. There’s no question this will help a lot of people.”
In addition to the limited-time deal, FloraMedex will continue to offer complimentary patient certification sessions, during which staff members go through the application process step-by-step with patients who want to become eligible for a medical cannabis identification card.
“One of the nice things about our dispensary [is that] we have a public area,” explained Boyar. “Let’s say someone doesn’t have a computer or let’s say their hands are too shaky and can’t write, they can come in – we’re happy to help them fill out applications to get them started.”
Now nearly six months since its April opening, the 5,800-square-foot dispensary, a converted tool-and-die shop, is seeing some trends, Boyar said.
“Without a doubt, traffic is up,” Boyar said last week. “We try to grow by 20 to 30 patients every month – that’s our goal – and so far we’ve been able to do that.”
Most of the dispensary’s patients are women, ranging 25 to 65 years in age, he said. Many are seeking pain management for cancer and fibromyalgia, The state recently added post-traumatic stress disorder and end-of-life care to its list of qualifying conditions, he said.
Meanwhile, the village of Elmwood Park has been very welcoming, he said, adding “we’re just happy to be there.”
Patients can call 708-452-7688 for more information. Details about the program can also obtained by visiting FloraMedex | Illinois’ Premier Medical Marijuana Dispensary.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Dispensary Looks To Lighten Cost Load For Some Medical Marijuana Patient
Author: Staff
Contact: 1-800-874-2863
Photo Credit: FloraMedex
Website: Chicago Tribune