{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/industry-spotlight/6","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1939-markdown","title":"Meet HelloMD Doctor, Sharon Olson D.O.","slug":"meet-hellomd-doctor-sharon-olson-do","content":"Dr. Sharon Olson grew up in Texas during the resurgence of Reefer Madness and in the era of questioning authority, the 60s. Olson was driven to achieve in school and stayed away from the drugs that were constantly being scrutinized during the time. She began to question the war on marijuana in her mid-twenties. She started asking people, like her friends and her husband, if they had ever smoked marijuana, and the resounding answer was *“yes”*. She saw a clear discrepancy between the conflicting cultures and opinions on drugs at the time, which led her to dig deeper into what cannabis had to offer. Dr. Olson truly began to dive into the world of medical marijuana in the 80s and 90s when the efficacy of the plant to treat various ailments became more well-known across medical communities. \r\n\r\nDr. Olson sees medical marijuana as a safe alternative to many of the formal pharmaceuticals that are on the market today, \r\n\r\n>“There are expected negative effects of taking traditional medication and people who have these negative effects are just given another western pharmaceutical drug to treat those side effects.  Scientists working with marijuana have extracted over 100 medicines, that when properly combined, can nullify the negative effects of cannabis while delivering the desired response.  So patients are more likely to receive exactly what they want from marijuana without added side effects. ”\r\n\r\nDr. Olson’s knowledge of the medical marijuana field sets her apart from many of her counterparts.  She has been involved in the field for many years and has kept up with the fast changing pace of the industry. Above all, Dr. Olson sees that her job is, \r\n\r\n>“to let people know health and wellness, this is the one life we have to live and everyone deserves to have the best experience they can have.  That doesn’t mean a long broken down life due to western drugs.”\r\n\r\nDr. Olson has been able to follow the medical marijuana industry from its humble beginnings to the highly scientific breakdown of the plant that we see today.  She sees the best advance in the industry as the ability to pull specific cannabinoids out of marijuana to be used to treat specific conditions.  She also applauds the purity of new extraction methods, *“When cannabinoids were first extracted the extraction methods were solvents that left contaminants in the medication, but the new level of purity with CO2 extraction will revolutionize the way the industry continues.”* Just because the industry is advancing positively and quickly doesn’t mean Dr. Olson doesn't have specific recommendations for her patients.  She is a huge advocate for organic (pesticide-free) and mold free strains of medical marijuana, \r\n\r\n>“The way the marijuana is grown and handled is critically important because we are administering medication to the blood stream.  Chemicals that are being used, such as pesticides and herbicides, attach directly to fat molecules. That means that they can attach to the fat molecules in the medical marijuana and they can be a carried from the plant into our bodies. We don't want those chemicals in the medicine or our bodies.  In pushing the industry for higher standards, we are coming up with improved and well screened medicines that can be used with surety.”\r\n\r\nWhats one thing that Dr. Olson sees lacking in the industry? A TV commercial. \r\n\r\n>“I look forward to the day when we have a commercial on TV.  Thats the only way I think we can overcome bad publicity, when patients see a commercial on TV and realize that we’re not having to list 20 or 30 bad side effects with medication.  As a physician, I was horrified to find out we are not given all the information about what medication we choose to use for ourselves.  In other words, a common medication is non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.  It was the Lancet in England that came out with the finding that if you ever take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, ibuprofen, aleve, or even aspirin, you may have increased your chance for a stroke.  Most people would think twice, knowing that what we have been told is a benign medication could cause a stroke. People are looking for less dangerous medicines that they can take and feel safe about.  The regulation of the cannabis industry is more strict, so it has to be much more honest about its products compared to the pharmaceutical industry.”\r\n\r\nDr. Olson sees the importance of medical marijuana being compared with all the medications we take on a regular basis so people can get an unbiased view of how medical marijuana really affects our bodies compared to everything else we take. Dr. Olson is concerned about the medical industry as a whole, she wants people to be educated and understand that patients should have the ultimate say in what they are allowed to do with their body. People should look into every product they are putting into their body and not just default to what is the normal course in the medical industry. \r\n\r\nDr. Olson also had a few words of advice for people who are new to medical marijuana, *“Start low and go slow. I think most people in the industry are going to caution all patients to start with a low dose and go very slowly administering higher doses.  I tell them the first time they use cannabis is like no other time, so their reaction the first time does not need to be their judgement of how their going to respond to the medication in the future”*. Dr. Olson also advocates for the use of medical marijuana products that do not need to be smoked.  She sees topical products as a great starting point for first time users of medical marijuana, because it will provide pain relief without any physco-active effects. Dr. Olson sees medical marijuana as another aspect of the medical field that can help suffering patients know wellness. \r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.7699115044247788,"src":"/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/ee604/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png","srcSet":"/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/69585/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 200w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/497c6/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 400w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/ee604/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 800w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/f3583/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 1200w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/5707d/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 1600w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/6fb2d/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.png 1820w","srcWebp":"/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/58556/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/61e93/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 200w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/1f5c5/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 400w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/58556/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 800w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/99238/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 1200w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/7c22d/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 1600w,\n/static/8eb9556b85bad9b9563dd1d326304a0d/66257/7a5d317f31e464db11a7bdb5a96529a2.webp 1820w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1899-markdown","title":"Focusing on Quality: An Interview with Sean Killen of Quil","slug":"focusing-on-quality-an-interview-with-sean-killen-of-quil","content":"*What does [Quil](https://www.hellomd.com/dispensaries/quil) do?*\r\n\r\n>Quil is a platform for on demand cannabis delivery. \r\n\r\n\r\n*What gave you the idea for Quil?*\r\n\r\n>I had been paying attention to the cannabis industry for a few years and I saw that we were on a path towards legalization in CA and across the nation. There was also a technology gap that presented itself as an attractive target for business. The idea was to create a platform that would give us the ability to address the many deficiencies in the industry, such as proper testing of cannabis and cannabis based products and proper measurements to ensure proper dosing. We decided to build a system to address where the industry is going, not necessarily where it is now. We believe that more and more people will begin to educate themselves on the science and merits of medical cannabis and will be looking for a trusted source of consistently safe, high quality cannabis products that meet their specific needs. Our platform helps understand and aggregate data from the industry to lead to improvement down the line.  Understanding how the medicine is being used and how it is distributed are crucial to bridging the gap between the patients and the source of their medicine, thus enabling growers and extract producers to better understand how to best meet patients needs and guide the industry toward a much safer and respectable place within the national consciousness. \r\n\r\n\r\n*How is the Quil system different than other delivery services?*\r\n\r\n>At face value Quil is not all that different from other delivery app companies.  We provide an on demand service in San Francisco that enables patients to order and receive their medicine within 30 minutes in most cases. We also have near term plans to serve the greater Bay Area.  It’s our commitment to safe, quality medicine, along with the quality of our partnerships that set us apart.  By taking extra steps to qualify our partner network, we are building the foundation for us to grow into a leadership role within the cannabis market as it continues to grow and mature. For example, our decision to partner with HelloMD ensures our patients are receiving the highest quality medical recommendations in the most convenient and discrete way possible. That commitment to quality extends to everything a patient would find on our menu. We go above and beyond to ensure our flowers, wax, oil cartridges and edible products are free of pesticides, mold, solvents, and chemicals. All of which are unfortunately prevalent in the industry. We have focused on better lab testing for cannabis because there is a huge need for understanding what is in cannabis products beyond just THC and CBD. Instead of trying to mark up the cheapest product for the most profit we want to be a source for quality and trustworthiness in the industry. We want our products to be safe for our patients above all else.  \r\n\r\n\r\n*How does the delivery service vary from a traditional dispensary? Does it offer the same array of products and advice that a traditional dispensary can provide?*\r\n\r\n>Yes and no.  We don’t carry as wide of an array of products as a dispensary does, but we do carry the most sought after product categories a patient would expect to find on a menu.  Instead of providing a wide selection, we focus on high quality products that meet the price points that patients expect.  We cover all of the bases when it comes to strains of oil, wax, and flowers, and our products are all solvent-free, particularly our completely organic wax and wax derived oil cartridges for vape pens. Many oils are made with additives, sometimes even nuero-toxins, to gain the right consistency in the products.  Our products are organic, pure medicinal cannabis.  \r\n\r\n\r\n*What sets your products apart? Are there any particular standards you have for your products?*\r\n\r\n>All flowers are free of pesticides and mold and grown to meet a set of standards set by our collective partner to qualify for consideration. All wax is produced using a completely organic process, leaving it free of solvents like Butane or CO2 that most other waxes contain. Our oil cartridges are made from the organic wax mixed with a pharmaceutical grade plant based solubilizer that is free of any chemicals that are found in any other oil cartridges. Everything is tested through a full spectrum analysis that provides data on 100% of the organic makeup. Our collective partner ensures every product that would be considered for the menu meets the standard of quality we believe should be the standard of the industry under regulation.  They do quarterly inspections to make sure all protocols are being met in both the growth and processing of medicine, all before the products even meet our own testing phase.  We share a commitment with our partners for quality products from people passionate about making sure our patients are being taken care of. \r\n\r\n\r\n*Do you offer your customers advice on particular products based on their conditions?*\r\n\r\n>We offer advice based on patient preference not their condition.  Our partnership with HelloMD gives our patients access to the people who are best equipped to recommend based on conditions: doctors.  Once people know what they are looking for by what doctors recommend, we can guide them based on their preferences.  For new patients we can help educate them on the differences between methods of consumption, flower types, dosing options, and a general understanding of the science behind the product.  \r\n\r\n\r\n*Do you have any advice or tips for first time medical marijuana users?*\r\n\r\n>Proper dosing for is key, and it is something we at Quil are trying to solve for.  Most new medical marijuana users do not have smoking at the top of their list, however, sometimes vaporizing can fill that gap.  There is a serious problem with the dosing of edibles. We do not have any pre-made edibles on the menu, only medicated olive oil and sugar.  The HBC wax used to make the olive oil goes through two rigorous sets of lab testing, including full spectrum analysis.  The wax tests at over 96% purity, which is the highest you can find, then it is pressed into olive oil.  That way each teaspoon of olive oil can be accurately dosed, unlike many mass produced cannabis butters you find in the market.  Because of the purity of the wax base, HBC edible product doses are extremely accurate so patients can accurately dose themselves.  They can exchange one teaspoon of regular oil for our cannabis oil in a brownie recipe and they will know how many mgs of medicine are in that batch of brownies.  We are looking for confidence in proper dosing because one bad experience can cause people to turn away from medical cannabis for good.  The industry standard, as put forth by medical officials, is starting with a 10mg dose and incrementally moving up from there. When it comes to most edibles, you can’t just trust what is on the bag.  \r\n \r\n\r\n*How do you see the industry evolving over the next five years?*\r\n\r\n>I see the industry marching toward legalization state by state, both medically and recreationally. I see increased regulation across the industry, which is positive because there is so much mystery right now in terms of what patients are getting.  Many people think weed is just weed, but there is a lot of depth and difference to different strains and delivery methods.  Medical marijuana has an unbelievable amount of applications as the industry continues to grow and mature.  More education is necessary and becoming available as more people desire to learn about marijuana as medicine.  I see the industry getting safer, too, which is going to allow it to be more accessible to people who wouldn’t necessarily think to use marijuana as medication. \r\n\r\n \r\n*How will Quil stay relevant in this young and changing industry?*\r\n\r\n>Quil is addressing problems we see for the future, not just looking at todays problems.  We do, of course, look at the small things, like building systems to ensure an “on demand” delivery experience.  That’s important, but it is more important to make sure our products go through proper testing and we’re doing the things behind the scenes to ensure what is being delivered is consistently the highest quality available.  We want to get ahead of the regulations that are going to come with legal cannabis policies so everything is done safely.  We strive to create a foundation for the future over relevance today.  We want to become a trusted source for education and information in the medical marijuana industry.  All of our work is being done safely and responsibly, to build trust in the community and market as a whole. ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/3c17d/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.png","srcSet":"/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/69585/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.png 200w,\n/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/497c6/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.png 400w,\n/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/3c17d/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.png 720w","srcWebp":"/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/2aa8d/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/61e93/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.webp 200w,\n/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/1f5c5/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.webp 400w,\n/static/41ab8c49bc7bfda0cbfce982bd8deb07/2aa8d/d7e2e4360362db8a0b565d0810d800b2.webp 720w","sizes":"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1894-markdown","title":"A Snapshot into the Medical Marijuana Industry: A Conversation with Alicia Rose, the Founder of Herba Buena","slug":"a-snapshot-into-the-medical-marijuana-industry-a-conversation-with-alicia-rose-the-founder-of-herba-buena","content":"*What does Herba Buena do?*\n\n>HerbaBuena is a licensed California Medical Cannabis Collective providing a sophisticated, personalized approach and a curated selection of solution-based functional medicine. We differ from other dispensaries and collectives in a few ways. First and foremost we make and carry only the finest organic and artisan crafted medicine which has been tested for purity, potency and impact. We offer a hands on approach and private consultations for all our patients and are dedicated to helping them find the medicine and delivery methods that suit them best. We also offer our members the chance to gather and experience the medicine in a guided, education setting through our series of [HerbaBuena Social Club events](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/).\n\n\n*What gave you the idea for Herba Buena?*\n\n>Over the last few years it started to become clear that my demographic was being underserved in this new frontier of cannabis. Rather than looking for more potent medicine, I was looking for a refined, sophisticated experience and products that allowed me to be more present and functional in my daily life, rather than less. Because I’m coming from the high-end wine industry I knew that there were many folks out there just like me, looking for the same high-quality, intentionally made products and experiences – including parents and professionals. There are so many parallels between the artisan wine world, and that of cannabis, it was a natural progression.\n\n\n*What drew you to medical marijuana as a cure for ailments?*\n\n>Cannabis has so many incredible therapeutic properties I wanted to create products that were specifically oriented around a particular need or symptom. The endocannabinoid system in our bodies actually helps to regulate many of the other body systems and offers an array of harmonizing and balancing effects – especially when utilized in its whole herb state. In many ways it could be considered the world’s most powerful adaptagen as it helps to balance the body on the physical, emotional and even spiritual level.\n
Cannabis is one of the most complex plants in terms of active components which makes it a medicine chest in its own right. Each component has its own healing properties and acts on different parts of the body. By isolating these components we’re able to treat various ailments. That said, maintaining a balance of the whole plant constituents allows each to be most effective.\n\n\n*Herba Buena promotes its organic, winery like approach to medical marijuana. How do you assure a high quality in your products?*\n\n>Just like a winery, we go out and interact directly with the people growing the raw plant material. We have in-depth discussions with all of our producers involved in our medical marijuana plants and processing, so we can make sure all qualities of our products are up to our standards.  We tour the farms where are products are grown to assure the nutrients that are being used with their plants to assure they are in alignment with what would meet organic standards or better. \n \n\n*How has being a parent shaped your journey in the medical marijuana industry*\n\n>Because I am a parent its critical for me to find and develop products that allow me to be present and functional and to create my own experience, so potency and doses need to be exact. I strive to create products that offer all the benefits of cannabis, like managing anxiety or pain, without having to get super stoned or “checked out”.\nI am also very serious about creating and carrying products that don’t appeal to kids. I think it’s dangerous and unconscionable that so many edible cannabis products are being made to look like treats  – like candy, cookies and sweet drinks – without any child safety measures in place, like special packaging and locking caps. Because of this we currently we only sell one edible product, a chocolate bar which is high in CBD and low in THC, and it is packaged discreetly so it looks less like a candy bar. We’re currently seeking out vendors who are making special, artisan edibles in child proof packaging.\nAs a last step we do everything we can to educate our members about treating their medical marijuana products like they would any other medicine and keep it out of reach of children at all costs.\n\n \n*Do you create products with particular medical conditions in mind?*\n\n>Absolutely, every HerbaBuena product is created with a purpose in mind. For example, Lullaby is one of our elixirs made to aid in sleep, so it’s produced with cannabis strains which are known for aiding in relaxation, and we even extract the herbs in a way to amplify the desired effect. We then blend the cannabis extract with other organic, critically extracted herbs, along with gemstone and flower essences which aid in relaxation and sleep.  Our Rock & Roll elixir was created to ease pain and reduce anxiety, while helping to elevate mood and energy, and increase the feeling of connected creativity. Our topical Body Balm product is specifically formulated to reduce inflammation and ease pain.\n \n\n*How do you distribute your products? Do you sell at dispensaries or directly to your customers?*\n\n>At the moment we sell our HerbaBuena products directly to our members.  As our products have gained popularity, we are working on a plan to expand to being able to sell to other dispensaries and collectives as well. \n \n\n*Do you see the medical marijuana industry merging with traditional pharmaceuticals or do you see them as always remaining as separate entities?*\n\n>I hope the medical industry becomes more involved with the medical marijuana industry because I think it would allow us more access to good research and ways in which to better measure potency and impact of these products. On the other hand, I hope if the FDA does get involved that it doesn't over regulate what is a perfect medicinal plant.  If it becomes over regulated the plant could simply be stripped apart into various compounds instead of retaining the positive benefits of the whole plant. Currently, we work with various doctors with specialty practices, including oncologists, in order to formulate products and regimens which specifically fit their patient’s needs.  \n \n\n*What change, if any, do you see as necessary for the medical marijuana industry to move forward?*\n\n>I think there is already a trend that is moving toward functional and solution-based medicine. To me that is the most important part, as well as making sure the medicine is clean. Another thing we like to advocate is micro dosing, taking small amounts of medicine over more regular intervals to keep the body regulated rather than taking larger doses all at once.\n \n\n*Do you have any advice or tips for first time medical marijuana users?*\n\n>We advise that people who are new to cannabis stay away from edibles because they are unpredictable in potency and effect. We recommend that new users start with our elixirs or by vaporizing whole flower (with a dry herb vaporizer) or with CO2 cartridge vapor pens because the intake can be easily measured. Often we’ll advise a particular strain that is higher in CBD and lower in THC to start as well. Topical treatments are also great for novices because they’re particularly effective in treating pain directly, often without an overt psychoactive effect. \n \n\n*How do you see Herba Buena staying current in the fast changing industry of medical marijuana?*\n\n>I feel that, in many ways, we’re setting the trend with sun grown, organic flowers being the most important and sough after.  Micro-dosing is also a relatively new idea that we’ve been promoting with our members and in the creation of our products since the beginning.  We have a lot of exciting plans moving forward and are excited about being thought leaders in the industry by brining the concepts of holistic and functional medicine into everything we do, and coupling that with the organic, artisan and high-end approach I’ve learned from the wine industry. In fact, we’re in the midst of purchasing our own land which will allow us to be in complete control of every aspect of our products from farming the specific strains to controlling pruning, harvesting, curing and production all the way through to the end product. It’s much like a winery for medical marijuana and the best way to create the finest products, without compromise through every step of the process.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.7094017094017093,"src":"/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/14b42/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg","srcSet":"/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/f836f/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg 200w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/2244e/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg 400w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/14b42/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg 800w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/47498/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg 1200w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/0c4a8/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.jpg 1333w","srcWebp":"/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/58556/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/61e93/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp 200w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/1f5c5/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp 400w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/58556/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp 800w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/99238/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp 1200w,\n/static/dcac2c05261dcc6c309610b6204c0b86/149df/98972f7b276e62cb0b727c4afc04170b.webp 1333w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":60,"numPages":6,"currentPage":6,"id":5383,"name":"Industry Spotlight","slug":"industry-spotlight","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}