First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens In Bristol Twp.

Fractures in her lower back have left Kathleen Everett in a lot of pain.

The Bensalem resident is on a regiment of powerful pain medication that gives her pause.

“I want to find something that eases the pain and lets me slow down on the pain medication,” she said.

That reasoning led Everett to a doctor who approved her for a medical marijuana card that permitted her to become one of the first customers at the Levittown area’s first medical marijuana dispensary Friday morning.

Everett and about two dozen patients lined up at 10 a.m. to make their first purchase from Beyond / Hello in the Durham Square Shopping Center on Durham Road near New Falls Road in Bristol Township.

After talking with a patient consultant and discussing her pain, Everett made her purchase of $150 medical marijuana-based treatment to give a try.

“It’s not covered by my insurance, but I want to give it a try to see if it helps,” she said.

And she wasn’t alone, Philadelphia resident Leslie Keltzman had a similar story and was planning to try medical marijuana products as he gets off pain medication he has been prescribed with since breaking his neck in a 2016 car crash.

“I can’t stay on the pain medication, but I want to find something more sustainable,” he said.

Pharmacist Dr. John Dischert, who works at Beyond / Hello, said he’s excited to work with medical marijuana patients after a career in the U.S. Navy and a year in retail pharmacy.

“I’ve always been interested in this,” he said of working in the medical marijuana field.

Some of Dischert’s interests involve the impact medical marijuana can have on patients dealing with opioid addition, seizures, ALS, and glaucoma.

Dischert is part of the qualified team of about 20 patient consultants and pharmacists who work at Beyond / Hello, said Josh Richman, senior vice president for sales and marketing for the new dispensary.

While Beyond / Hello, which is owned by Franklin Group, is the first location operated by the company, there are plans to open a location in Center City this fall, Richman said.

Beyond / Hello, according to Richman, has plans to grow with the industry and could look at further expansion down the road.

Dischert and Richman explained how the welcoming decor and customer service at Beyond / Hello are designed to make patients comfortable. While it may look different than a pharmacy located in the back of a chain retailer, Beyond / Hello is aimed at providing the same level of care and going even further.

Beyond / Hello offers a number of state-approved medical marijuana products and expects to grow its offering throughout the year. The Bristol Township dispensary has been approved to carry products, including oils and oil cartridges, concentrates, pills, capsules, tinctures, topicals, and other related merchandise.

With the state’s recent approval of medical marijuana leaf and flower sales, Beyond / Hello officials said they plan to carry that product when it rolls out. According to state officials, patients will be able to vaporize leaf and flower medical marijuana but it is not to be smoked.

Richman said Beyond / Hello will work with researchers from its parent company, Rothman Institute, and University of the Sciences. He said they also aim to educate patients and health care professionals about medical marijuana.

The dispensary landed in Bristol Township due to demographics in the region and its location near numerous highways, Richman said.

The new 2,300-square-foot dispensary is highly secured and had an armed security guard in its lobby Friday morning. Despite the high security, the interior features modern decor and a relaxing atmosphere for patients.

Richman said the new business hopes to remain in Bristol Township for years to come and had a promising first day Friday.