Walking into The Green Halo is like walking into a dream—a well-appointed dream stocked with a broad array of medications in various forms to meet your every need.
It’s like a poppy field leading to Oz, but there’s no snow to put you to sleep and no flying monkeys. The Green Halo is all Glenda the Good Witch and Lollipop Guild.
Finding Tucson’s only walk-in dispensary is super-easy. It’s about 200 yards south of Interstate 10 on Wilmot Road. That seems like a bit of a haul for town folk, but since it’s right next to the interstate, it’s a trade-off. It’s only about a 15-minute trip from downtown. I’m going to say they picked an excellent spot. Easy in; easy out. They close earlier than the caregivers where I usually get meds, but I don’t have to call Green Halo to see if they’re home. If it’s between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., they’re home.
Be advised—when you go to Green Halo, your every move is being captured on security cameras. I couldn’t care less who shoots video of me; some folks might not like that. Nonetheless, the staff is checking you out before you get inside.
The first thing you notice as you walk up is a huge sign on the door: No cameras, no smoking, no weapons. Check, check, check. Hitting the intercom gets you a cheerful welcome and a buzzer for entry.
The waiting room—expanded at the last minute to allow access to the restroom—is clean, tidy and outfitted with a few comfy chairs and a big red-leather couch. A bank-style window separates the staff from the patients they serve, and there is a sort of overflow waiting room with more seating. There is no need for magazines (though there are some), since the walls are covered with posters offering information about cannabis. There is plenty to read, including an extensive chart showing which cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN) are good for what ailments. There is a large copy of the U.S. government’s patent for medical cannabinoids. Interesting, since the same government claims cannabis has no medical value.
After a brief wait, the staff buzzes you through an interior door into the inner chamber. The articulate guy who helped me was friendly and informative. He told me (I already knew) that CBD counteracts THC, allowing me to get maximum pain relief with minimum rainbows and fluffy clouds flying through my head.
The selection at the Green Halo is impressive. There were about a dozen strains ranging from heavily sativa to heavily indica. They had a full line of edibles.
Every strain is tested at a lab in Phoenix and labeled with THC, CBD and CBN percentages. This was my second visit to the dispensary. The first time I grabbed a sativa strain with close to 18 percent THC. Yikes—that made me anxious. This time I got Strawberry Blue, a hybrid with about 12 percent THC and more of the other cannabinoids. I like it. My heart isn’t racing.
The downside to all of this is prices. Their eighths started at $45 ($12.85/gram) and topped out at $65 ($18.57/gram) last week. The first time I went, I paid $70. They didn’t have that top-shelf strain. That’s pretty pricey. A caregiver can give you prices around—or even below—$10 per gram.
Other than prices, I couldn’t see much to complain about. The Green Halo is fast, easy and convenient, and there’s a HUGE selection of everything you need including cakes, cookies, spices, tinctures and candy. They have pipes and vaporizers and storage vessels and more.
Mr. Smith approves, duh.
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2013.
Victory is in the eye of the…lol;)
The Green Halo is legal… and the meds are tested! Safe access for patients and a friendly, educated staff!!
I was there yesterday, picked up some ointment for Arthritis. It seems to help with the joint pain for $40. bucks you hope it does. The candy didn’t seem to do much of any thing.
I hope they can make a go of it and stay in business….it’s a 65 mile round trip for me, but I prefer it stays that way.
Last Thursday Jan the 24th in Phoenix AZ. A public relations firm (Rose +Moser + Allyn Public & Online Relations) hired by the same people that brought us the 25 mile rule asked the AZ. Legislator to shut down all the wellness/care center in the state to protect their monopoly.
They want to use the funds that we the patients have paid to AZDH MMJ program to enforce these monopolies.
These greedy dispensary owner also want to create a new tax to strap on the patients back. They want to raise 40 million a year which at present count would amount 1200.00 a year per patient.
If you see anything labeled Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Medical Marijuana Patients please be cautious, this is just a front for dispensary owners to hide behind.
One, Ken Sobel of Green Halo, “Ken Sobel says he plans to set up his dispensary at the same location where the Green Halo Caregiver Collective was raided by Tucson Police in July for it’s allegedly illegal pot shop operations. http://www.kvoa.com/videos/marijuana-dispensary-owners-prepare-to-open/
has now got a permit from the state and seems to have forgot where he came from. At first he was one of these clubs and now he is on the band wagon to shut them down and tax us to death. This is on top of the outrageous prices they are already charging ( 20.00 a gram or 560.00 an Oz).
Does Mr. Smith Still approve????????
Patient Relief. Program Reform. Voter Respect.
Key Messages To Discourage A Re-Vote & Repeal by the Arizona State Legislature
****DRAFT****
*The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act was the third time Arizona voters have endorsed medical marijuana. It passed in 2010, the “best” Republican year since 1994. 2014 is unlikely to be as favorable to the GOP as 2010, strongly suggesting yet another loss for opponents of medical marijuana. Furthermore, a PPP poll released January 14th indicated support for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act has increased since passage in 2010, from its narrow victory to a sizeable 59-37 margin today. PPP was recently recognized as one of the most accurate pollsters during the 2012 presidential campaign.
*On a local level this notion of “re-voting” controversial matters was attempted. In 2010 Paradise Valley, Arizona voters narrowly passed the direct election of the Town’s mayor. The mayor was previously appointed by the Town Council. After a contentious mayoral election a majority of the council – opposed to direct election – asked Paradise Valley voters to again consider the measure. They did. And passed it by an even wider margin than the first time. The arrogance of elected officials was a key argument then, and would be in the future should this matter again be subjected to a statewide vote.
*Referring the matter to the ballot in November, 2014 is likely to hurt Arizona Republicans in other ways too. Voters typically unfriendly to the GOP will likely turn out in greater numbers to defend the program, potentially hurting Republicans in close legislative races.
*Based on numerous national polls public opinion appears to be shifting swiftly towards more liberal use of marijuana. The response to denying a well-regulated medical marijuana program may be an unintended consequence—and effort –as took place recently in Washington and Colorado, to completely legalize the use of marijuana.
*Proponents of re-vote and repeal cite supposed conflict with federal law. They are the very same voices who argued passionately in support of SB 1070’s anti-illegal immigration provisions because, they said, the federal government had failed to secure the border and the state should be allowed to take matters into their own hands. Now, they argue just the opposite, deferring to the federal government rather than Arizona voters.
*Ironically, the use of marijuana by Arizona youth since the passage of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act is down. (SOURCE?)
*What problems that have occurred with the program are the result of the legal and political challenges by the very people who now use them as an excuse to kill the program. How? As approved the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act provided a strictly regulated and limited dispensary program. But due to such challenges tens of thousands of people were allowed to grow marijuana in their own homes and so-called “compassion clubs” emerged. They are unregulated, untaxed, unzoned, irresponsible operations that law enforcement has failed to shut down. The problem lies with “clubs,” not dispensaries.
*As of January 18, 2013 Arizona only had three operating dispensaries. Another ten may be open by the end of February. They have reported no problems. The program should be allowed to emerge and evolve as voters envisioned not short-circuited by disrespectful politicians.
*Instead of 2014 any re-vote should be considered for 2016, if at all, and certainly after the regulated, voter approved measure has had a chance to operate.
*In the meantime there are several steps the Arizona Legislature can and should take to advance reform, not repeal. They include:
-As the Arizona Department of Health Services sanctioned dispensaries themselves are doing, call for and compel the end of the unregulated and irresponsible “clubs” that are problematic. They were not provided for in the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.
-To the extent additional resources are necessary for such enforcement action permit the Arizona Department of Health Services to use money – or assign such dollars and authority – for this purpose.
-An Arizona Attorney General opinion provided for the taxing of medical marijuana. The Arizona State Legislature should pass a uniform tax policy that could lead to some $40 million in new revenue for the State of Arizona.
-Increase criminal penalties for patients that provide marijuana to minors.
*The abuses of the “clubs” should not shut down the voter-approved rights of legitimates patients – and there are many – who are safely and responsibly using the state system for pain relief and ailments.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Mike Scerbo
Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations
mscerbo@rosemoserallynpr.com
Cell: 602 615 6523
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Medical Marijuana Patients To Call For Reform and Enforcement and Closure of Illegal, Unregulated “Clubs” At Thursday Press Conference
State Legislature Should Focus on Improvements Not Elimination of Voter Approved Measure
(PHOENIX) In the two years since medical marijuana was approved by Arizona voters, a handful of responsible business owners established dispensaries carefully following rules laid out by the State of Arizona. Unfortunately, unregulated ‘marijuana clubs’ have sprung up. These ‘clubs’ are not regulated and do not represent responsible, regulated efforts. They should be shut down while the voter-approved measure be allowed to proceed.
Without understanding the difference some members of the State Legislature are calling for a repeal of Arizona’s medical marijuana laws, without understanding the whole story.
Licensed medical marijuana dispensaries are devoted to serving patients living with pain. These patients live in fear of losing medication that eases their suffering. For many, state regulated dispensaries are their only option.
On Thursday, January 24 at 10am medical marijuana dispensary operators from Glendale and Tucson and the patients who rely on them for relief will be at the State Capitol to spell out differences between legitimate medical marijuana dispensaries and unregulated ‘clubs’ and to discuss the necessity of keeping medical marijuana available in a regulated and secure environment.
Who: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Operators and Patients
Where: House Lawn at the State Capitol
When: Thursday, January 24th at 10am
Why: To outline key new steps, short of insulting voters with a repeal
Media planning on attending please contact Mike Scerbo at mscerbo@rosemoserallynpr.com or at 602 615 6523
Shirley you meen Green Dreem, one of Sobel’s other DBAs? Speaking of which, what’s this I heard about Sobel joining the board of Kittrell’s Purplemed operation?
Old Man, Thanks for visiting us. We appreciate you traveling so far! I’m sorry if the edible you purchased didn’t quite work for you. If you have any unused portion, bring it in and we’ll be happy to refund your purchase. Ask for the dispensary manager and mention your Tucson Weekly name “Old Man”. Thanks again. -TGH