By Brooke Curley
THATCHER – Seeing a need, one woman created a solution.
Green Mountain Wellness is a newly founded company specializing in medical cannabis exams, certifications and card filing. Co-owner Alissa Stockton told Gila Valley Central that she had already been seeing patients and advised them herbal remedies, however, the patients needed something for the pain they were experiencing.
“I’ve had a lot of patients who I have on herbal medications and they just need a little bit more for pain control,” Stockton said. “I was referring them to a doctor in Bisbee and it was a long way to travel. Finally, I just worked it out to so a doctor can come here.”
The clinic provides the doctor’s exam and all the paperwork involved. According to Stockton, Green Mountain Wellness is the only clinic in the Gila Valley specializing in medical cannabis exams.
“We take care of everything all the way from the doctor visit to the uploading of the cards because they’re sometimes complicated to upload,” Stockton said. “We’ve had a lot of people tell us thank you for finally doing this because no other doctors do it.”
Although there is a stigma surrounding medical cannabis, Stockton reiterated that she doesn’t see many individuals attending the clinic just so they can legally use cannabis to get high.
“A lot of people don’t realize what the medical need is for it,” she said. “People think it’s just a bunch of drug addicts who want to fool around and do it for free and not get in trouble, and that’s not what I see in the clinic. Ninety percent of the people are just normal people who do not want to be on OxyContin or any kind of pain medication that’s a pharmaceutical.”
Personally, Stockton said what she appreciates most about medical cannabis is how it can help hard drug addicts.
“The thing that I like about the medical marijuana is that they can get off of their heroin and whatever it is they’re on,” Stockton said. “We’ve had a drug councilor that came and brought his patients basically, and he has them get on the medical marijuana so they can get off the harder other drugs.”
Green Mountain Wellness holds medical exams twice a month on the first and third Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of the exam and paperwork processing is $325. If an individual is on SNAPS benefits the cost is $250. Stockton stresses that all accounts are confidential.
The clinic is located at 1059 N. College Avenue in Thatcher. To schedule an appointment call or text (480)-708-4849 or (928)-965-9545, email greenmountainwellness@yahoo.com or visit GreenMountainWellness.org.
Conditions that qualify for Arizona Medical Marijuana card
- Chronic Pain
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- AIDS or HIV
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Seizures
- Hepatitis C
- Nausea
- Persistent Severe Muscle Spams
- Crohn’s Disease
- Alzheimers’s Disease
The legal benefits of being a card holder
- Access to a wide range of high quality medical-grade products
- Legal possession of 2.5 oz. of marijuana
- Tenant medication rights
- The right to use marijuana even if on probation
What to bring to your Appointment
- An Arizona state issued identification card or passport
- If you have a progress report from a doctor within the last 12 months (not necessary for chronic pain conditions)
- Cash or credit card for payment
- Expect the office visit to cost $150 and the state fee to be $150 ($75 for state food assistance recipient)
Source: http://greenmountainwellness.weebly.com
This article is sponsored by Green Mountain Wellness
