It’s taken seven years from the time the Georgia legislature created the Access to Medical Cannabis Commission for medical THC to be sold at an independent pharmacy in Augusta. Living Well Pharmacy, 3736 Mike Padgett Highway, is the first.
Part of the holdup was that the licenses were granted only to authorized dispensaries or independent pharmacies. When Vic Johnson started as a pharmacist 40 years ago in Richmond County, there were 25 independent pharmacies, now, there are only four.
“There were hoops to jump through. We just got licensed in late August to provide medical use products which can include gummies, tinctures, cremes, or capsules. They are classified as low THC products, containing 5% THC or marijuana compound,” explained Johnson.
To buy it, you must have a card issued by your physician or a telehealth doctor. There are 600 cardholders in Richmond County. Before Living Well was licensed to fill their prescription, the only option was a dispensary in Evans or a handful of other locations across the state.
“To help those who need medical THC is a blessing. There are 20 conditions which the state recognizes for issuing a card including cancer, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, chronic pain, and severely autistic patients among others.”
From a business perspective, Johnson has already seen an uptick in customers and believes offering medical THC could increase his business by as much as 50%, even if it takes a year or so to realize those additional profits.
“I think our customers feel more comfortable buying this product through a pharmacy where records are kept, and we know their medical history. The other benefit is that the purchases for these products are kept separate from other prescriptions we fill.”
That paper trail could also prove beneficial in the future to patients waiting to get approved for medical THC. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to move medical-grade marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug, illicit use only, to a Schedule 3 drug. That could expedite research of the benefits of products being sold by Johnson at Living Well and other pharmacies in Georgia.
“Right now, the only research being done regarding the benefits of medical THC is in Canada and Europe. If trials and studies are done in this country to prove medical benefits, it would be a game changer for patients and pharmacies like ours who sell the products,” said Johnson.
Living Well Pharmacy is hosting an educational event on September 26, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with Elevated Health. Doctors will be present to explain the application process for those in need of medical THC.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means! If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
