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RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE DISPENSARY MODEL A 2006 study by Amanda Reiman, Ph.D. of the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley examined the experience of 130 patients spread among seven different dispensaries in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Reiman's study cataloged the patients' demo- graphic information, health status, consumer satisfaction, and use of services, while also considering the dispensaries' environment, staff, and services offered. The study found that "medical cannabis patients have created a system of dispensing medical cannabis that also includes services such as counseling, entertainment and support groups, all impor- tant components of coping with chronic ill- ness." She also found that levels of satisfaction with the care received at dispen- saries ranked significantly higher than those reported for health care nationally. Patients who use the dispensaries studied uni- formly reported being well satisfied with the services they received, giving an 80% satisfac- tion rating. The most important factors for patients in choosing a medical cannabis dis- pensarywere: feeling comfortable and secure, familiarity with the dispensary, and having a rapport with the staff. In their comments, patients tended to note the helpfulness and kindness of staff and the support found in the presence of other patients. Patients in Dr. Reiman's study frequently cited their relationships with staff as a positive fac- tor. Comments from six different dispensaries include: "I love this spot because of the love they give, always! They treat everyone like a family loved one! " "This particular establishment is very friendly for the most part and very convenient for me." "The staff and patients are like family to me!" "The staff are warm and respectful." "The staff at this facility are always cordial and very friendly. I enjoy coming." "This is the friendliest dispensary that I have ever been to and the staff is always warm and open. That's why I keep coming to this place. The selection is always wide." MANY DISPENSARIES PROVIDE KEY SOCIAL SERVICES Dispensaries offer many cannabis-related serv- ices that patients cannot otherwise obtain. Among them is an array of cannabis varieties, some of which are more useful for certain afflictions than others, and staff awareness of what types of cannabis other patients report to be helpful. In other words, one variety of cannabis may be effective for pain control while another may be better for combating nausea. Dispensaries allow for the pooling of information about these differences and the opportunity to access the type of cannabis likely to be most beneficial. "There are legitimate patients in our community, and I'm glad they have a safe means of obtaining their medicine." -Jane Bender, Santa Rosa Other cannabis-related services include the availability of cannabis products in other forms than the smokeable ones. While most patients prefer to have the ability to modu- late dosing that smoking easily allows, for others, the effects of edible cannabis products are preferable. Dispensaries typically offer edi- ble products such as brownies or cookies for those purposes. Many dispensaries also offer classes on how to grow your own cannabis, classes on legal matters, trainings for health- care advocacy, and other seminars. Beyond providing safe and legal access to cannabis, the dispensaries studied also offer important social services to patients, including counseling, help with housing and meals, hos- pice and other care referrals, and, in one case, For more Information, sec NnNw.AmericansFOrSafeACCess.org or contact the ASA office at 1-888-929-4367 or 510-251-1856. 11