Beckley – The legalization of medical marijuana has led to the rise of dispensaries throughout the state.
Beckley has added another to aid those in need.
GreenLight Dispensary opened its latest location on Robert C. Byrd Drive Saturday afternoon, offering a limited array of products including flowers, concentrated oil and cartridges for those with an eligible medical card.
“There’s a huge need,” Shawna Hopkins, the general manager of the Beckley location said. “We look to help out with the opioid crisis and a lot of people need something else to go to other than even medicines that you would get at your pharmacies. Many of them have potentially horrible side effects and medical cannabis is known to be way more natural with less side effects.”
In promotion with their limited opening, the newest location took the opportunity to help interested parties apply for a their medical cannabis card by instructing them on the steps required.
“The very first place I’d go to start for others is our website,” Hopkins said. “They can go there and pick what state they’re from to sign up for their medical card. We partner with Elevate Holistics – a company that provides telemed doctors for those who may not be able to get out to the doctors. We service a lot of cancer patients and the elderly who have horrible arthritis and just aren’t able to get out.
“They also offer a discounted rate where we’re just getting started in West Virginia and we do partner with them. The discounted rate is a $75 office visit and to me that’s incredible because most doctors charge $200 for that visit alone. And after that they also offer a $40 extra add-on where they guarantee you their help in completing your application and they’ll get everything filled out for you and ask you to go in and confirm your information. All you have to do after that is send in your $50 payment to the state and you wait to hear back and you’re pretty much set.”
The company has rapidly expanded since its initial formation two years ago with West Virginia becoming the third state to house the dispensary brand. Even locally it’s rapidly grown with a location in Princeton already open for business and ones in Bluefield and Lewisburg to follow shortly.
Despite the opinions and stigmas surrounding marijuana, the company’s expansion into southern West Virginia has been met with positive reception.
“All we’ve seen are people that are happy we’re here and happy to have a choice to have that means of coping with their ailment,” Hopkins said. “There are 16 ailments and you do have to qualify having one of those ailments in order to get your card. That can also be found on our website.”
The Beckley location is currently open but plans on a grand opening when more products become available.
Those seeking to apply for a medical marijuana card through the dispensary’s partnership or even see if they qualify can do so by clicking here.
