A Day with TerrAscend: Part 1 – The Apothecarium & Boonton
As a leader in the North American cannabis market, TerrAscend’s expansion into New Jersey has brought much-needed relief to a thinly stretched and rapidly expanding medical cannabis program. With only 11 other Alternative Treatment Centers (ATC) currently serving over 97,500 medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, TerrAscend’s entrance into the state, with a reputation for quality products and operational integrity, is exactly what the Garden State needs right now.TerrAscend’s vertically integrated cultivation and manufacturing facility in Boonton, and Alternative Treatment Center, The Apothecarium, in Phillipsburg, are serving an area of the state which was previously left underserved as other ATC’s placed focus towards the more populated Northeastern part of the state. This forced patients in the area to travel over an hour or more each way to obtain their medication.
Medical Cannabis Greenhouse
The Boonton Facility is an expansive 16-acre site, which includes the state’s first medical cannabis greenhouse cultivation facility, an achievement of which Cultivation Manager Nick D’Amelio is particularly proud. “It has been an awesome experience. There were significant obstacles and overcoming these has benefited us as cultivators individually. And has brought us together as a team. We produce relevant products from our greenhouse and impactful medicines for our patients”.Nick’s passion for cannabis comes from his own personal experiences, witnessing. How cannabis provided relief to ailing family members in particular. “My step-father diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And the only thing that would provide him with any relief was cannabis. At that point, I realized that I needed to do so much more with this plant. ” Nick and his team’s passion are focused on creating high-quality plants that transition into premium medications found on the shelves at The Apothecarium for their patients.
Apothecarium Phillipsburg
Located in the historic National Trust & Bank building, The Apothecarium Phillipsburg sits on a hill leading down to Union Square at 55 South Main Street with a scenic view of the Northampton Street Bridge and the Delaware River. An already well-established name in the industry with dispensary locations in California, Nevada, Pennsylvania. And now an Alternative Treatment Center in New Jersey. The Apothecarium stands out as a national model for providing high-quality products with an emphasis on education in a welcoming environment.“When you walk into our ATC, we want you to feel the warmth from each Wellness Associate you encounter here. They are here to make getting relief comfortable and easy,” Justin Davidson, The Apothecarium’s General Manager, said. Davidson is a veteran who spent years in the healthcare industry working with hospice patients, learning firsthand. The benefits of alternative treatments which ultimately influenced his decision to transition into the industry.A sense of warmth is felt throughout The Apothecarium, from the welcoming faces of the highly trained and informed Wellness Associates to the Assistant General Manager Patrick Kirnan to the tranquil atmosphere created within the ATC from a layout and design perspective. The staff focuses on providing patient support and education through in-depth, one-on-one consultations. The Wellness Associates inform patients about the different types of brands and formats. As well as the effects and benefits of each product.
Medicinal Products
The ATC carries a variety of medicinal products including flowers, tinctures, edibles, and vaporizable. And activated oils to ensure patients’ needs are met. “We listen to you, provide relevant background and education. And strive to provide the appropriate medication to address each patient’s needs,” Kirnan said.The passion to educate goes far beyond the Wellness Associate-to-Patient interaction and reaches into the community. The Apothecarium endeavors to represent the cannabis plant in a new light to new audiences, to reverse the long-ingrained stigma surrounding the cannabis plant. This may be through their outreach programs speaking with seniors at nursing homes. Informing the public of the benefits of alternative treatment, or hosting tours of their ATC for local law enforcement agencies. Expanding these relationships not only builds trust and acceptance in the medical cannabis program. But also in the Alternative Treatment Center as an integral part of the community, similar to the local pharmacy store.“Knowledge is power. The more people are aware of the power behind this medicine and of how the program works in New Jersey. More people are able to step into this program confidently. And get the relief that they desire,” said Justin Davidson, The Apothecarium’s General Manager.Business hours at The Apothecarium Phillipsburg are Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m - 7:00 p.m, Saturday 10:00 a.m - 6:00 p.m, and Sunday 10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. For assistance call (908)-777-7420 or by email at phillipsburgreception@apothecariumnj.com.