Pubdate: Thu, 11 Feb 2010
Source: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)
Copyright: 2010 The Craig Daily Press
Contact: http://www.craigdailypress.com/site/feedback
Website: http://www.craigdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2334
Author: Brian Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

CRAIG MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY SEES EXPANDED CLIENT
BASE

Craig -- In a time when many local businesses are  struggling, Craig
Apothecary has quadrupled its  business.

Since opening in August 2009, Craig's only medical  marijuana
dispensary has seen its client base jump from  20 to 60 individual
patients.

Owner Shaun Hadley said the success has been spurred by  the popular
business model of helping patients receive  recommendation cards
online from an out-of-state  doctor.

"Once we got that going, that's when the numbers really  started to
stack up," he said.

Hadley said local doctors weren't waiting with open
arms.

"There is not a whole lot of compassion from the  doctors in this
area," he said. "We spent a lot of time  trying to find a doctor that
would give recommendations  to only very ill people. We weren't all
for the 'rubber  stamp' doctors."

Craig Apothecary hasn't seen any crime since opening,  Craig Police
Chief Walt Vanatta told the Craig City  Council during its meeting
Tuesday night.

Council member Jennifer Riley expressed concern about  the store after
hearing reports of dispensaries in  Denver being robbed or
burglarized.

Vanatta reassured Riley that police are keeping watch  over the
shop.

Hadley and shop assistant Jessica Asplund attribute the  increasing
business and lack of crime to changing  attitudes in the community
toward their product.

"It was only at the first city council meetings that we  had a lot of
negativity," Asplund said.

Since that time, a growing number of patients from  Hayden, Meeker and
the rest of Moffat County have kept  the two occupied.

"It's busy but not too busy," Hadley said. "The  location allows us to
give more individualized care and  spend more time with patients."

Hadley said that unlike other dispensaries, Craig  Apothecary "doesn't
sweep the customer in and out."

"We like to be there for the client to answer any  questions and see
if the type of strain they have been  using is working for them,"
Asplund said. "We want to  keep the care on the patient as much as
possible.

"There is a real medical need for this in the  community."

Hadley considers Craig Apothecary unique in that "the  police have
kept their distance from the business," he  said.

"It's really weird, actually," he said. "In Denver, the  police have a
big presence in the stores, coming in,  checking things out and see
how it's going, but the  Craig police have been very hands off."

Between running their business and personal lives,  Hadley and Asplund
also keep watch on current  legislation swirling in Denver regarding
medical  marijuana.

As more people apply for cards and dispensaries spring  up around the
state, specific issues such as dispensary  regulations and
qualifications of recommending doctors  are garnering attention and
potential legislation.

"We have to keep up with it everyday," Asplund said.

But despite controversy and stigma that sometimes come  with operating
in a highly-criticized industry, Hadley  said he is proud to be a
business owner.

"We're happy to pay taxes and do our part," Hadley  said. "I feel like
it legitimizes us." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D