Meet RISE Dispensaries' Cannabis Pharmacists

As National Pharmacist Day approaches, it's the perfect opportunity to honor and recognize the specialized role of cannabis pharmacists. Today we want to celebrate the professionals who navigate the complex world of medical cannabis, offering guidance, safety, and support to patients seeking alternative therapies. Cannabis pharmacists are pivotal in shaping patient experiences and outcomes, providing a bridge between traditional healthcare and holistic wellness with their expertise. 

Who Are Cannabis Pharmacists? 

Cannabis pharmacists are a unique blend of healthcare professionals and cannabis experts. They specialize in the medicinal aspects of cannabis, understanding the intricate balance of cannabinoids and terpenes, and how these interact with the human body. Their role is crucial in educating patients about the safe and effective use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, managing dosages, and providing advice on different consumption methods. They stand at the forefront of a new era in healthcare, combining medical science with natural remedies

Understanding the Landscape: Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis

In the evolving landscape of cannabis legalization, it's important to distinguish between medical and recreational use. Medical cannabis states require patients to have a qualifying condition and often a medical card, with pharmacists playing a crucial role in defining the best treatment for each patient. They work within a regulated framework to ensure patients receive quality care and accurate information. On the other hand, recreational cannabis is available to adults in certain states without medical justification. Here, the role of the cannabis pharmacist is different, focusing on education and safe use among a broader population.

Introducing Cannabis Pharmacists at RISE Dispensaries 

RISE dispensaries are proud to have a team of dedicated cannabis pharmacists who are passionate about patient care and education. These individuals have specialized knowledge in medical cannabis, ensuring that every patient's journey is safe, informed, and tailored to their needs. Our pharmacists are not just providers; they are advisors, educators, and advocates for health and wellness.

“Cannabis pharmacists are real, live pharmacists available to consult with our medical patient community on the following: The basics of the human endocannabinoid system, types of products available in medical dispensaries, proper product selection, proper product usage & safe storage.

GTI pharmacists are passionate about helping others find their well-being through the power of cannabis and take the time to ensure each medical patient is comfortable with the products they use. GTI pharmacists are always available for follow-up conversations. Our medical patients in PA, OH, NY, CT, VA, and MN can pre-schedule time to speak with a GTI Pharmacist via phone, video, or in-person by visiting their local RISE website page and clicking on the “talk to a pharmacist” button.” - Elizabeth Ardillo, PharmD, pharmacist for RISE Dispensaries in Pennsylvania

As we celebrate National Pharmacist Day, we invite you to meet the professionals who make RISE dispensaries a trusted name in the cannabis world.

Deborah Nguyen

Pharmacist

How long have you worked at GTI and in the cannabis industry?

GTI Pharmacist since November 20, 2023; Cannabis Industry Experience 4+ years!!

What sparked your interest in becoming a Pharmacist in the cannabis industry?

My journey into the cannabis industry started quite serendipitously. It all began when a friend introduced me to the most delectable magic snickerdoodle cookies. Following a visit to my local dispensary with friends, I was personally invited to join the team. The fortuitous start led me to explore various roles, eventually shaping my path to becoming a Pharmacist in the industry.

What inspires you about the cannabis industry?

The cannabis industry's ability to constantly evolve and break barriers is truly inspiring. Witnessing its growth from various perspectives – as a receptionist, medtender, packaging specialist, brand ambassador, and delivery manager – has fueled my passion. The industry's commitment to innovation, education, and fostering a sense of community is what continues to drive me.

How has cannabis made an impact on your life?

Cannabis has not only been a pivotal part of my professional journey but has also made a profound impact on my personal life. It has provided me with a unique lens to understand the diverse therapeutic benefits of the plant. This experience has not only broadened my knowledge but has also allowed me to contribute to the well-being of others, making my connection to cannabis both professional and deeply personal.

Can you tell us a little about what it means to be a Pharmacist in cannabis?

Starting in the cannabis industry by chance, I initially embraced various roles like reception, medtender, packaging, brand ambassador, and delivery manager. Today, as a Pharmacist, I find immense fulfillment in ensuring patients receive personalized and informed care, blending my love for the industry with a commitment to health.

What are some of the challenges Pharmacists face in your state?

In Virginia, Pharmacists in cannabis encounter challenges related to regulatory frameworks evolving rapidly. Adapting to and staying compliant with ever-changing state laws, while maintaining high standards of patient care, can be demanding.

What is a part of being a Pharmacist in cannabis would surprise people?

A surprising aspect of being a Pharmacist in cannabis is the multifaceted nature of the role. Beyond traditional pharmacy duties, I engage in education, advocacy,

and community outreach, fostering a holistic approach to cannabis wellness that goes beyond the typical expectations associated with the profession.

What is your favorite GTI product or strain?

Dharma Lemon Lime Tincture and Dogwalker 5 Packs!!

Tell us about sleeper strains - what is great strain and that no one knows about?

GRAPE APE but probably everyone knows about this one.

Elizabeth Ardillo

Manager, Pharmacist Telemed Services

How long have you worked at GTI and in the cannabis industry?

Will be 6 years in March!

What sparked your interest in becoming a Pharmacist in the cannabis industry?

I was working as a traditional retail pharmacist and loved interacting with patients and consulting them on how to properly and safely use their prescription medications and vitamins & herbal supplements, as well as introducing them to the idea of alternative therapies to explore as add-on options to their existing treatment plans. When I heard that there was a medical cannabis dispensary opening close to home and saw an opportunity to expand my knowledge on another tool for medical patients to add to their existing toolbox of symptom treatment & support, I knew I had to apply! Helping others find well-being through the power of cannabis in my community while teaching about safe and effective product usage?! YES, sign me up!

What inspires you about the cannabis industry?

Our consumers, period. Their drive and curiosity to find an improved quality of life through utilizing cannabis is so inspiring. Whether it's someone trying to decrease their pain symptoms to a level where they can comfortably play with their children/grandchildren, or someone trying to elevate their mood to find enjoyment in reading or hiking, or their artwork again, I am inspired by our consumers daily.

How has cannabis made an impact on your life?

Working in the cannabis field has helped me to become a more vocal, confident professional. After having the privilege of speaking with a variety of patients over the years, I feel so passionate about advocating for them, as well as our adult-use consumers and the products we safely and confidently dispense.

Can you tell us a little about what it means to be a Pharmacist in cannabis?

Pharmacists in cannabis have the opportunity to counsel consumers on the products available to them; how to choose the best option(s) for their symptoms & lifestyle, how to properly self-titrate to find their optimal dose, and how to safely use and store their products.

What is a part of being a Pharmacist in cannabis would surprise people?

Cannabis pharmacists are REAL pharmacists! We have a solid understanding of the human body & how medications (including CANNABIS!) interact with each other and with our bodies' endocannabinoid system.

What is your favorite GTI product or strain?

Dr. Solomon's Rollerball Transdermal Product.

Tell us about sleeper strains - what is a great strain that no one knows about?

Transdermal Products!

Casey Corbridge

Pharmacist, He/Him

How long have you worked at GTI and in the cannabis industry?

3 Months.

What sparked your interest in becoming a Pharmacist in the cannabis industry?

I graduated from pharmacy school in 2010. Since then I have certainly found aspects of my career to be rewarding. I especially love counseling patients and gaining a personal connection with them, and I feel it a great privilege to be able to help and have a role to play in their healthcare.

However, over these past 13 years spent in community practice, I have felt my career satisfaction waning. Most of my time in retail pharmacy was spent working long stress-filled hours weighed down by unreasonable expectations with inadequate staff support. I was getting burned out and wanted to start looking for a more fulfilling direction to take my career.

I obtained a Medical Cannabis license in 2021 to manage symptoms following a traumatic brain injury. I had a phone consultation with a dispensary pharmacist

who helped me structure a care plan, guiding me on where to start with product, dosing, and scheduling to best suit my medical conditions. Before this consult, I had little to no knowledge the Cannabis industry had much use for pharmacists as a career path, and I became intrigued. I inquired but was told the dispensary was fully staffed and nothing on the horizon, so I put it in the back of my mind and moved on.

Over the next two years, ongoing frustration at work gave me enough curiosity to take a glimpse online for alternative career paths other than retail. I was both surprised and thrilled to see Green Thumb had just posted a position! I immediately applied and was beyond ecstatic when an offer was extended! I had experienced life-changing benefits from Medical Cannabis, and I was excited to start sharing both my story and passion with patients so they can discover how Cannabis can help them as well. The choice to apply to GTI is emerging as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

What inspires you about the cannabis industry?

The Cannabis industry is inspiring because I get to witness firsthand the benefit it has had for my patients, and indeed for myself as a patient. Additionally and importantly, I find the industry inspiring because we are seeing the sacrifice made by some very dedicated people beginning to reverse the horrible stigma over some substances that have been fogging the minds of our society for far too long.

It was put there by some very ignorant destructive ideas and some insidiously motivated and misguided acts of legislation. The “war on drugs” has had unimaginable costs in dollars, pain, bloodshed, prison time, and the destruction of families and communities. It has also cost us dearly in the loss of otherwise readily available medical treatment approaches.

The ignorance of lawmakers in the past and present has taken off the table the ability to even properly research the most promising and powerful treatments we could have at our disposal. The list of conditions that could be improved by Cannabis alone is purely impressive, but it doesn’t end there. We also lost the benefits of certain psychedelics such as psilocybin and others that have

demonstrable clinical benefit for depression, anxiety, PTSD, coping with end-of-life issues, addiction treatment, etc.

Changing course away from this terrible path our society has been set on has been painfully slow and difficult - but it is inspiring that the Cannabis industry is growing due to the efforts of dedicated individuals who are willing to go against the grain to help make some hard fought societal changes to everyone’s benefit, and I’m happy to be a small part of that.

How has cannabis made an impact on your life?

I mentioned before that I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in 2021. The brain damage from the accident left me with neuropathy and worse – a devastating permanent and total loss of all smell and most taste. Combining some major life stressors in addition to the fact that all food had become completely bland, my appetite tanked and I started dropping a concerning amount of weight.

Of course, from my pharmacy practice, I already knew about the appetite-stimulating pharmaceutical Marinol, and we’re all familiar with Cannabis induced “munchies,” which had me wondering if perhaps Medical Cannabis might help me with my appetite (and perhaps even neuropathic condition as well). After starting to use Cannabis as a medical approach I became ecstatic at the impact it had on my wellbeing. I had come up against some catastrophic life-changing losses, and it was amazing to finally have a win. Cannabis allowed me to begin eating regularly again and it calmed my neuropathy to tolerable levels.

I became passionate about the medical utility Cannabis had to offer me, and I am now so thrilled to find myself in a professional role where I can help bring that relief and increased quality of life to others.

Can you tell us a little about what it means to be a Pharmacist in cannabis?

The level of career satisfaction I’ve experienced at RISE even in such a short amount of time is what I had always hoped for and had been missing. Direct patient consults have always been the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences

of my career, and at RISE I get to spend much more of my time doing just that, and at a much deeper level. I get to sit down with new patients and spend 30 to 60 minutes reviewing their history and teaching them about Cannabis, and helping them find the right fit for their needs.

As I’ve gotten to know my patients, the amount of suffering some of them are going through with their health is very intense and even sometimes jolting. Patients come in who are in hospice, some have stage 4 cancer, others have seizure disorders, mood, and sleep disorders, debilitating severe chronic pain, etc. It is often hard and even sometimes rattling to hear the difficult realities people are living through.

But it is incredibly fulfilling to be able to show them some kindness and empathy, as well as to be in a position to teach them about how Cannabis may restore some quality of life and ease some of these very difficult-to-manage disorders. I absolutely love and am proud to be a Cannabis pharmacist!

What is a part of being a Pharmacist in cannabis would surprise people?

I think the biggest surprise is that a "Pharmacist in Cannabis" is even a thing – it was the demographic groups of most patients I counsel with, it’s not quite as expected. I think this shows there remains stigma, stereotypes, and prejudices that people continue to hold about Cannabis, even in people who wouldn’t guess they actually have such underlying thoughts and assumptions – as I discovered this about myself.

I believe the truth about Cannabis does not track with most people’s notions. People from all walks of life, colors, genders, ages, and communities should have Cannabis available for medical benefit – or simply to just better enjoy life.

What is your favorite GTI product or strain?

We've only recently had GTI products released to our store and so far a limited selection with lots more anticipated to come, but I have really been loving the "Animal Face" Rhythm Flower.

Tell us about sleeper strains - what is a great strain that no one knows about?

I'm still learning the popularity of various strains and observing what are the fast movers, but personally, I really enjoyed "Philospher's Peak" which I haven't seen a lot of.

Katie Ogden

Dispensary General Manager/Pharm D, She/Her

How long have you worked at GTI and in the cannabis industry?

5 Years.

What sparked your interest in becoming a Pharmacist in the cannabis industry?

I was approached with the opportunity and I won't lie, I was skeptical about making the jump from retail pharmacy to cannabis. But it was hard to find the

cons. I have always been a cannabis supporter and the daily push of opioids was wearing me down. I knew there was a place for me in cannabis to truly make a difference in patient's lives.

What inspires you about the cannabis industry?

The tremendous number of positive effects I have been able to have on my patients. To see someone come in for a first-time patient consultation wheelchair bound and to come in several months later walking normally. The life we can give back to patients who have hit a wall with traditional therapy. To know that I have helped the mother whose child has severe autism, the patient who had 10 seizures a day and down to 1 a week…this is why we do what we do.

How has cannabis made an impact on your life?

So many answers to this question...it has given me a new lease on my career as a pharmacist, I have been able to help lift the stigma of cannabis in the real world, expanding my knowledge of alternative therapy outside of traditional medicine, I feel like I can truly help patients.

Can you tell us a little about what it means to be a Pharmacist in cannabis?

Being a pharmacist in cannabis means we're the last credentials this product goes through to get into the hands of the patient. We are here to offer insight into the medicinal benefits of cannabis and teach patients what terpenes are, and what THC and CBD do in the body. We can understand a little more in-depth the potential for medication interactions and the effects of prescription medications on the metabolism of cannabis.

In NYS, the patient certification says "Per Pharmacist Consultation". We, as pharmacists in cannabis, often know more than the certifying practitioner. Many practitioners often rely on us to guide their patients to the product that might best suit their condition or medical needs.

What are some of the challenges Pharmacists face in your state?

Certainly, the stigma of cannabis is still around. We've come a long way in lifting that and we do our part daily to push for open markets and expanding cannabis consumption regulations. I believe that many other facets of the medical world would look at my resume and judge my background because of what I do. I'd go as far as to say that many wouldn't take me seriously or professionally. It's a real shame considering I have knowledge of a whole other world of therapy that many wouldn't even consider.

What is a part of being a Pharmacist in cannabis would surprise people?

I'm not a “pothead”. I think that many people assume those in the industry are all major users. It could come as a shock to people that there are real medicinal benefits from this plant and people use it as a REAL medicine, not just to get high. I still have to maintain my CE's and renew my license every 3 years and I still research new traditional medications hitting the market so that I don't lose my edge. After all, if I am going to sit in consultations with patients, I need to know what meds they list.

What is your favorite GTI product or strain?

I don't currently use any products, but if I had to pick... Afternoon Delight!

As we wrap up our look into the realm of cannabis pharmacists, we want to thank you for your interest and participation. Your engagement is crucial to highlighting the important work these professionals do.

On this National Pharmacist Day, we encourage you to acknowledge and thank your pharmacists for their unwavering commitment to patient care and well-being. Whether they are navigating the complexities of traditional medications or the nuanced realm of medical cannabis, their expertise and compassion make a world of difference in healthcare.

If you're curious about the benefits of medical cannabis or thinking about adding it to your health regimen, consider making an appointment for a medical card. The knowledgeable pharmacists at RISE dispensaries are ready to assist with your questions and concerns, offering a safe and personalized experience. Whether you're exploring cannabis for the first time or seeking deeper insights, our team is here to support your journey. Let's use National Pharmacist Day as an opportunity to engage more deeply with healthcare professionals who enhance our understanding and well-being.