Op-Ed: Patients Deserve More Medically Oriented Cannabis Dispensaries

The current state of medical cannabis is a bit of a buzzkill, as many programs are taking a backseat to the booming recreational market. According to Dr. Jordan Tishler and the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists, high fees and a lack of clinical support are causing medical dispensaries to disappear. Instead of being treated as a core healthcare service, medical access has become a minor add-on to the retail scene. The experts are calling for serious reforms, like lower licensing fees for medical-only shops and requiring actual prescriptions from trained clinicians to ensure patients get real guidance instead of just "budtender" advice.

This shift matters to the community because true medical patients need more than just high-THC counts; they need consistency and professional care. When the system prioritizes tax revenue over patient outcomes, those using cannabis for serious conditions like chronic pain or PTSD are left to figure it out alone. Strengthening the medical pillar ensures that the most vulnerable members of our community aren't pushed out by the "high-volume" retail rush.