How dispensaries can support medical users

We continue to hear reports in the media about the number of registered medical cannabis patients in Canada declining each year. This is technically true, but it doesn’t show the whole picture.

Yes, it is true that the number of patients registered in the medical system in Canada is dropping, but it is not true that the number of people using cannabis for medical purposes is dropping. It’s an issue of access.

There are still many perks to going through the medical channels in Canada, but since legalization, access to product has really increased, and Licensed Producers are innovating and releasing more health and wellness products through recreational channels.

In many jurisdictions, most dispensary consumers are purchasing at least a portion of product for medical or wellness purposes.

What is the problem with purchasing medical product in dispensaries?

The biggest challenge consumers will have with purchasing medical or wellness products in dispensaries in Canada, is that they cannot access proper guidance or education on using the products. This is not the fault of retailers or budtenders, it’s because the regulatory environment prohibits educating on medical uses in recreational spaces.

The issue we face now, is that more and more people have medical or wellness product in their hands than ever, but we are not arming them with the information they need to use these products safely and effectively.

The problem is obvious for consumers, but it also creates challenges for retailers because they cannot properly guide their clientele. Further, the result is that these innovative products and wellness-focused categories are not getting the market share they deserve in the recreational market, because there is essentially no way to market these products in retail environments.

How can budtenders and retailers support medical users in stores?

The reality is, even without these regulations in place, only a segment of the population with the proper medical expertise are really qualified to give guidance to consumers on medical uses of cannabis.

This is because cannabis is as diverse as the people who are using it, and education cannot be generalized. There are hundreds of cannabinoids, thousands of products and a myriad of ways to interact with and use the plant. The individual user's medical history, genetic makeup and overall lifestyle will impact their experience and ultimately, their results.

Even if we know this, consumers will come into dispensaries asking for recommendations on products for arthritis, chronic pain, help with sleep or other symptoms. So, how can you combat these questions?

Firstly, do not answer them as they are asked.

You can say things like:

• “I’m not able to give you medical advice but tell me how you’d like to feel, and I can recommend something for that”.

• “I’m not able to give you medical advice, but we have a resource we can recommend for that which is entirely online—DeMonet.”

How can DeMonet help?

This is really where we come in to support retailers and customers. We offer private, virtual appointments with a reputable doctor who specializes in cannabis applications in science. In a 15- or 30-minute appointment with Dr. Ife Abiola, clients will walk away with personalized education and guidance that is specific to them.

Customers who come in looking for topicals, capsules, oils, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC or THCV are good candidates for a consult with us, as well as those who ask direct medical questions.

If you would like information on how to access retail support materials from DeMonet, please contact us.