Utah Medical Marijuana Dispensary: Richard & Chris from WholesomeCo | Utah in the Weeds Episode #20

Join us today from one of Utah’s Medical Marijuana Dispensaries!

Connect with us at: UtahMarijuana.org and IAmSaltLake.com.

Who are Richard and Chris? [00:57]
Richard Maloney and Chris Jeffery run WholesomeCo, a Medical Cannabis dispensary in Bountiful. Chris has a background in cannabis and served as the CEO of Leafly in 2017. Chris met Richard after a move to Seattle.

Richard’s thoughts on Utah’s medical classification of cannabis vs recreational [05:12]
Richard likes the medical classification of cannabis. He sees cannabis as a way to improve well being and have a better way of life.

The biggest challenge Chris and Richard have faced since opening WholesomeCo [5:51]
Much of the difficulty has come with connecting dispensary point-of-sale systems to the state’s seed-to-sale tracking, MJ Freeway. The API integration for this system is not robust and makes it difficult for dispensaries to create an automated online ordering solution.

How WholesomeCo’s dispensary is designed [11:04]
During his time at Leafly, Richard had the chance to travel to a number of dispensaries around the country. This experience showed him how important the user experience is for dispensaries.

More about WholesomeCo’s products and the grow operation [13:10]
WholesomeCo has a retail license and a cultivation license. Patients will start seeing the WholesomeCo products on shelves in about two weeks (at the time this podcast was recorded). They will then begin ramping cultivation efforts over the next four to six months to really expand their cultivation production, not only for the dispensary but also for the wholesale market as well.

Richard’s thoughts on beverages as a consumption option [15:53]
Richard would love for WholesomeCo to be the company that brings beverages to the Utah market. He believes that, from a dosing perspective, beverages are one of the best methods for a patient to consume cannabis because dosing is easier to manage.

WholesomeCo’s vision for technology and user experience [21:29]
The dispensary is focused on upholding a promise to improve the registration and purchase experience for WholesomeCo customers. This involves taking a digital, technology-first approach to building the dispensary.

How patients can prepare for their visit to WholesomeCo [23:06]
Richard and Chris recommend patients register at WholesomeCo.com before visiting the dispensary. WholesomeCo then has to verify that this is a legitimate letter. This information will allow the team to set everything up so that, when the patient arrives, they get them straight into the shop. They ask that even cardholders register online before arriving to keep their records accurate.

How UtahMarijuana.org will help patients get from letters to cards [30:08]
The team at UtahMarijuana.org can work with the state and your Qualified Medical Provider and walk you through the process of getting your Medical Marijuana card. This will be a free service to Medical Marijuana patients. We understand how confusing the system can be and we want to ensure patients do not lose access to the medicine they need at the end of the year.

More of Tim’s thoughts about the difficulty of patients moving from letter holder to cardholder [33:36]
One of the biggest issues Tim sees is that only a small percentage of Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) in the state understand the process of getting their patients’ cards. The few that do, including the team at UtahMarijuana.org, have worked to bring QMPs up-to-speed with the process.

Richard’s thoughts on the Utah cannabis community [42:49]
Compared to some of the other markets that he has worked in, Richard believes that the community in Utah seems very willing to work together. In other states such as California or Oregon or Washington, everyone acts as a competitor. However, in Utah, he has experienced a more collaborative, team effort.

WholesomeCo’s diverse product line [46:17]
WholesomeCo will be the first medical cannabis pharmacy in Utah to have a hash rosin product. They will have limited quantities (about 100 units available), so sales will be a first come first serve basis.

Time Stamps:
00:00- Intro
00:57- Who are Richard and Chris?
05:12- Richard’s thoughts on Utah’s medical classification of cannabis vs recreational
05:51- The biggest challenge Chris and Richard have faced since opening WholesomeCo
11:04- How WholesomeCo’s dispensary is designed
13:10- More about WholesomeCo’s products and the grow operation
15:53- Richard’s thoughts on beverages as a consumption option
21:29- WholesomeCo’s vision for technology and user experience
23:06- How patients can prepare for their visit to WholesomeCo
30:08- How UtahMarijuana.org will help patients get from letters to cards
33:36- More of Tim’s thoughts about the difficulty of patients moving from letter holder to cardholder
42:49- Richard’s thoughts on the Utah cannabis community
46:17- WholesomeCo’s diverse product line

Posted in Dispensaries