Green Point Wellness Offers Cannabis As An Alternative Form Of Treatment

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At Green Point Wellness, owner Tony Toskov and his staff have heard startling stories from patients fighting debilitating health issues: the inability to sleep, arthritis and joint pain, even children with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Medical cannabis gives them a medical alternative to consider, one that has been lifechanging for some people.

“We have heard from people that we got them off opioids or alcohol, and that makes you feel good,” said Mandy Jowanowitch, a dispensary agent at Green Point Wellness.

Toskov said, “There was one lady who came in for her son. Once he started using it, he was able to go bowling and got his first strike. It’s really incredible.”

How Does It Work?

Cannabis has many ingredients including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They can alter pain levels, mood, sleep and memory. Both CBD and THC have health benefits, but unlike THC, CBD does not produce a “high” feeling.

Some people will get a blend of CBD and THC to dull the psychoactive factor.

“You still get all the benefits, but you won’t feel woozy or impaired throughout the day,” Jowanowitch said.

Terpenes are organic chemical compounds found in cannabis and other plants. They give cannabis strains their distinct flavor, smell and medicinal properties.

“With terpenes, some are uplifting, some will bring your energy down, some will make you hungry,” Jowanowitch said.

One common terpene is pinene, which boosts energy, improves focus and has anti-inflammatory benefits. Myrcene is good for pain relief and insomnia. Linalool is used for anxiety and pain relief. Humulene is an appetite suppressant and inhibits tumor growth. Caryophyllene is used for stress and pain relief, depression and anxiety. Limonene elevates the mood, and relieves stress and nausea.

People can find a natural remedy for just about any ailment and administer that treatment in a way that best suits them.

“You can use flower and vapes, but we also have a large variety of other products such as tinctures, lotions, patches, capsules and chews,” Jowanowitch said. “It’s not just smoking a bowl or a pipe.”

Why Choose Green Point Wellness?

“Green Point Wellness is one of the few dispensaries in Maryland that is locally owned and operated,” said Sandi Harrison, director of compliance. “We enjoy helping people in our community. We don’t rush anybody out the door.”

Part of helping people is making sure they are educated about the products they are using. Green Point Wellness can provide lab reports for each product to show its potency, the terpenes it has, and that it passed tests for heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides and mycotoxins. Store-bought products do not come with the same certificates of analysis to reassure customers.

“Everything we have here is regulated by the MMCC [Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission] and lab tested. If you buy a CBD product from the gas station, they cannot show you that,” Toskov said. “Everything here, from a flower to a tincture, you can see what’s in it.

“The other products on the market are unregulated, so it could have 1 percent CBD in it, but it says CBD on the label.”

Getting Started

The Green Point Wellness staff will help people register as a patient with the MMCC for free.

Once they are approved by the MMCC and receive their patient ID number, patients must obtain a written certification from a provider that is registered with the MMCC. After the written certification is received, patients can visit Green Point Wellness and consult with a dispensary agent to find a product that not only helps their condition but can also be administered in a way that’s comfortable to them.

Green Point Wellness has two locations. The Linthicum store is located at 823A Elkridge Landing Road and can be reached at 410-553-7171. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am-6:00pm. The Laurel store is located at 116 Washington Boulevard and can be reached at 240-524-4010. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm.

“We focus on every patient and their needs,” Toskov said. “Everybody has a story.

“When we’re sitting there with people, we have to hold back because it can get emotional when we’re talking to an elderly person or a mom whose life has changed because of cannabis,” he continued. “That’s where we get the satisfaction — when they come back and say it worked.”

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