CRAIG MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY SEES EXPANDED CLIENT
BASE

Craig -- In a time when many local businesses are struggling, Craig
Apothecary has quadrupled its business.

Since opening in August 2009, Craig's only medical marijuana
dispensary has seen its client base jump from 20 to 60 individual
patients.

Owner Shaun Hadley said the success has been spurred by the popular
business model of helping patients receive recommendation cards
online from an out-of-state doctor.

"Once we got that going, that's when the numbers really started to
stack up," he said.

Hadley said local doctors weren't waiting with open
arms.

"There is not a whole lot of compassion from the doctors in this
area," he said. "We spent a lot of time trying to find a doctor that
would give recommendations to only very ill people. We weren't all
for the 'rubber stamp' doctors."

Craig Apothecary hasn't seen any crime since opening, Craig Police
Chief Walt Vanatta told the Craig City Council during its meeting
Tuesday night.

Council member Jennifer Riley expressed concern about the store after
hearing reports of dispensaries in Denver being robbed or
burglarized.

Vanatta reassured Riley that police are keeping watch over the
shop.

Hadley and shop assistant Jessica Asplund attribute the increasing
business and lack of crime to changing attitudes in the community
toward their product.

"It was only at the first city council meetings that we had a lot of
negativity," Asplund said.

Since that time, a growing number of patients from Hayden, Meeker and
the rest of Moffat County have kept the two occupied.

"It's busy but not too busy," Hadley said. "The location allows us to
give more individualized care and spend more time with patients."

Hadley said that unlike other dispensaries, Craig Apothecary "doesn't
sweep the customer in and out."

"We like to be there for the client to answer any questions and see
if the type of strain they have been using is working for them,"
Asplund said. "We want to keep the care on the patient as much as
possible.

"There is a real medical need for this in the community."

Hadley considers Craig Apothecary unique in that "the police have
kept their distance from the business," he said.

"It's really weird, actually," he said. "In Denver, the police have a
big presence in the stores, coming in, checking things out and see
how it's going, but the Craig police have been very hands off."

Between running their business and personal lives, Hadley and Asplund
also keep watch on current legislation swirling in Denver regarding
medical marijuana.

As more people apply for cards and dispensaries spring up around the
state, specific issues such as dispensary regulations and
qualifications of recommending doctors are garnering attention and
potential legislation.

"We have to keep up with it everyday," Asplund said.

But despite controversy and stigma that sometimes come with operating
in a highly-criticized industry, Hadley said he is proud to be a
business owner.

"We're happy to pay taxes and do our part," Hadley said. "I feel like
it legitimizes us."