The grand opening of Virginia’s first medical cannabis dispensary is set to take place over the coming weekend.
Virginia’s first licensed medical cannabis processor, Dharma Pharmaceuticals (Dharma), on Thursday announced that their medical cannabis dispensary in Bristol would be open to patients on Saturday, October 17.
To help ensure that patients attending the grand opening receive their cannabis medicine, Dharma recommends scheduling an appointment.
While walk-ups will be permitted, Dharma recommends scheduling an appointment as the company does not know how long the wait to receive medicine might be on Saturday.
To enter the dispensary, customers must be registered patients with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy and bring their current photo identification, certification from a practitioner, and Board-issued registration card.
Dharma pharmacists or pharmacy technicians will verify all documentation before dispensing a patient’s medical cannabis.
Children will not be permitted to enter the dispensary unless they are a registered patient.
Dharma began cannabis cultivation operations at the old Bristol Mall earlier this year after receiving a permit in January but needed to search for a new location in June after their landlord opted to end their lease in preparation for the intended installation of a Hard Rock resort and casino on the site.
There is a referendum vote on the Hard Rock scheduled for November 3.
“In June 2020, we received notification from our landlord that our lease would be terminated at the Bristol Mall, so we conducted an extensive search around the area and settled on 26864 Watauga Road,” says Dharma CEO Jack Page. “We anticipate the move, hopefully, before the end of this year or, hopefully, the first quarter of next year.”
According to a press release, the area occupied by Dharma’s operations will become a conference center.
Patients wishing to attend Saturday’s grand opening, which begins at 9:00 a.m., may schedule an appointment at 276-644-6400
The Dharma dispensary is located at 500 Gate City Highway, Suite 460, Bristol, Virginia.
Dharma says patients should look for signage on the road that shows where to enter the parking lot.
