“For the patients, by the patients.”
That’s the slogan of Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center, an innovative and progressive medical marijuana dispensary located on Tucson’s east side at 8060 E. 22nd St.
Desert Bloom opened its doors on July 3, 2013, and has lived by a customer-centric philosophy ever since.
In order to do accomplish that, Desert Bloom offers one of the largest inventories in the city with about 35 different strains. It also employs a staff that is made up primarily of individuals who are also medical marijuana patients.
“Our staff is educated on the product, and they’re familiar with alternative health care methods,” said Aari Ruben, Desert Bloom’s director. “This gives them a better basis for in turn educating our patients and directing them toward the right medication.”
The bulk of medical marijuana patients are cardholders due to chronic pain, but marijuana also treats conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and a long list of other issues. Post-traumatic stress disorder will be added to that list as of January 2015, and Ruben said that could alter the demographic of buyers.
“There are currently 60,000 medical marijuana patients in Arizona, but more than a half million people here with PTSD,” said Ruben. “That could potentially be our biggest market. People say marijuana makes you forget, but if you’ve shot 50 people, maybe forgetting that isn’t a bad thing. We are currently working on figuring out the best way to help this demographic.”
For those cardholders who prefer not to smoke marijuana, Desert Bloom offers about 40 edible products including brownies, chocolate bars, juices, gummy bears and Tootsie Roll-style candy.
Desert Bloom’s approach is one that focuses on whole-mind, whole-body, whole-spirit healing. Ruben, who spent much of his working life as a medical administrator prescribing painkillers, said when medical marijuana began passing legislation, he saw it as an improved method of healing patients.
“I just thought there was a better way to treat them, so when medical marijuana made its rounds, I decided to get very involved, follow all the rules, and made the decision to be a part of the industry,” he said.
Ruben has continued his trend of involvement ever since as a member of the National Cannibus Industry Association and the Drug Policy Alliance. His hope is that marijuana, given its positive impact on people’s lives, will eventually be legalized in Arizona.
“We do a lot of social promotion of hippie ideals,” he said. “Eat good, clean air, green energy, take care of yourself. One thing that makes us different is we focus on the emotional side of health. If people come in here, we know them by name. They’re happy, and they’re fostering their own well-being.”
Desert Bloom is in the process of developing its own grow, but until then, they will continue to see that all their product is lab-tested for quality and safety.
Ruben said while the black market continues to thrive, it is considerations such as safety, product knowledge, and comradery that keep people coming through his doorway.
“We are a resource for them,” he said. “We want to do this the right way. We pay lots of taxes to help keep the roads paved and the schools’ lights on. We want to be a productive part of the Tucson community and overcome the stigma that our movement has incurred.”
The company offers incentives to several groups, including 10 percent discounts for veterans, students and seniors. First-time customers receive half off their initial purchase.
Desert Bloom Re-Leaf is open 365 days per year, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit dbloomtucson.com or call 886-1760.
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2014.
Thanks to Chris and the weekly for the great article. We want to announce that we are NOW OPEN from 7am to 10pm in accordance with state law and the new local ordinance. Thanks Tucson! One Love, DBRC
LOL really a great article, Did I read this right ? A paid propagandist right here.
“Our staff is educated on the product, and they’re familiar with alternative health care methods,” What does that mean? Homeopathic , Naturists, or even smoke lodge these all have a endorsing group that make standards and license them for distribution and study.
” marijuana also treats conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and a long list of other issues “. Post-traumatic stress” I have MS and a severe nerve damage I have been to these HMMM Non-Profit never do they have a consistent supply of a phenol cannabis that helps me. But they are happy to help me with pain. I have a care giver that grows for me and has my needs in stock all the time.
There are currently 60,000 medical marijuana patients in Arizona, but more than a half million people here with PTSD,” said Ruben. “That could potentially be our biggest market. Well there you go Market driven economics corner the market and raise the price!
In this case AZDHS has no standard of testing standards, no pesticide standards, no labeling or packaging standards for safety from children. What they do have is inventory control of weight or trying and this is how Dispensaries and the Government want to regulate MMJ.
” People say marijuana makes you forget, but if you’ve shot 50 people, maybe forgetting that isn’t a bad thing” I doubt less than >0001% of the eligible people for PTSB ran around the middle east in a HummVee with a 50 caliber ridiculous.
Ruben, who spent much of his working life as a medical administrator prescribing painkillers, Correct me if I am wrong Administrators don’t prescribe licensed professionals do. List his license professional association.
“”We do a lot of social promotion of hippie ideals,” he said. “Eat good, clean air, green energy, take care of yourself. I was born in 1952 was around the bay area in 67 noting here with MMJ is ever or can be associated with “Hippie ideals” because you have what resembles a ” IRON BUTTERFLY” album don’t make it hippie
We have come along way in so many ways from the 60’s we remember Kennedy raising the troops in Vietnam from 500 to 50,000 Johnson from 50,000 to 500,000 all in an effort to help.
This dispensary route is not what the voter wanted with MMJ like my hippie ideal we have a long way to go.
Legalize having used cannabis for over 42 years it should be decimalized legalize only after the Federal government changes it’s classification. Only then can comprehensive peer structured study can come from this plant. This is just an effort to try and exploit and profit.
I have never written a prescription, I have been administration for organizations that do in the past, I too am a supporter of legalization of cannabis. I am not sure of the motivation behind your comment but can make myself available to discuss. One Love
Really not sure of what is meant by my comment? The story is full of misquotes false elaborations of history. Let me clue you in on hippie was about self reliance self care and living a healthy diet. Not making ones self a tax collection enity for the man. It was stated in the articule the huge amount of taxes paid for your service. Do you think for one minute that I want to pay a huge tax bill for underfunded and undisclose retirement obgligations on a plant that was given to us my nature? Dont state what the tax will pay school and roads history has shown us this has not been the case. ( maybe if smoke more I wont remember is that the idea here )
Make yourself available for what what is the point for talking with you, you have allready endorsed (censored) El Toro pooh pooh
The dispensary route IS ridiculous! 80 small business lottery winners whose self-elevated ego’s are way out of proportion with their purpose. Do dispensary owners really care? Only about how much money they are making off the patients. Most of the cannabis available in Arizona is low-mid grade sold at high prices and never tested for contaminants, grown poorly and harvested before it’s time. The growers suck at what they do. The dispensaries make patients jump through hoops to buy cannabis and it’s always about making money. The very people who promote the “I’m helping” campaign are wolves in sheeps clothing. They really don’t care except how they can get more patient money. The green-rush is a money deal and dispensaries are all too happy to have AZDHS forgo any testing or quality standards. They can literally mow the grass on their own lawn and sell it to patients. No oversight what-so-ever — and are any of the dispensary owners taking action to change that? The answer is of course NO, because they are only concerned about the profits…