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Roanoke Valley's First Medical Cannabis Dispensary Ready To Open

Jeff Bossert/Radio IQ

A medical cannabis dispensary is opening in Salem. 

RISE, which operates in multiple states, expects to have medication for registered Virginia patients available within a matter of days. 

Many patients in western Virginia have been buying it at Abingdon-based Dharma Pharmaceuticals.

Jack Page founded Dharma, and also serves as RISE’s market leader for Virginia.  He says a few more locations will be announced soon. “The legislation that was passed last year allows to have five off-site dispensing locations in addition to the dispensary in Abingdon.  So we will be opening a couple more this year," Page predicts, "and eventually we’ll have all five open.”

Dharma’s medications will also be sold in Salem.  Dharma merged with RISE’s owner, Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries, earlier this month.   

Virginia currently has more than 27,000 registered medical cannabis patients, with other dispensaries located in Richmond, Abingdon, Portsmouth, and Manassas. 

Jeff Bossert is Radio IQ's Morning Edition host.
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