Philly’s first medical marijuana dispensary is officially in business.
Restore Integrative Wellness, in Fishtown at 957 Frankford Avenue, opened its doors to roughly 20 eager patients at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
The shop joins around two dozen other medical marijuana dispensaries that have opened since Pennsylvania legalized medicinal cannabis in 2016. While some of those businesses are located within a short drive of Philadelphia (like Keystone Shops in Devon and King of Prussia, and Terra Vida Holistic Center in Sellersville), Wednesday marks the first day that patients with one of more than a dozen qualifying conditions for the state’s medical marijuana program no longer have to leave the city to get treatment.
Like other dispensaries, Restore will sell a variety of supplies (like cannabis concentrates, tinctures, capsules, and vape pens and cartridges) from five of the state’s certified marijuana growers. Products range in price between $20 and $90.
Keith Bell of Broomall visited the shop on opening day. He said he uses medical marijuana to treat his fibromyalgia, a condition associated with widespread muscle pain and tenderness. Until this week, he said, he was frequently traveling to the Pittsburgh area to get treatment. Now, his drive will be much shorter.
Restore, which is located steps from popular dance and music venues like the Fillmore and the Barbary, features simplistic decor and a large foliage backdrop behind the front desk. Christina Casile, who designed the dispensary, said she added greenery to help the shop feel relaxing.
“We wanted the facility to be warm and inviting,” Casile said. “This is a place we want parents to feel comfortable bringing their kids to.”
A number of caregivers were situated inside the business, and staff pharmacists offered free 30-minute consultations to first-time patients to help them find the best medical marijuana strains and administration methods for their conditions.
Vipul Patel, Restore’s chief operating officer, was on hand at the opening celebration.
“We feel fantastic – we made history today,” Patel said. “It’s a great day for us. We hope it’s a great day for Philadelphia.”
