HAMPTON, Va. — A long line of people woke up early for the grand opening of Cannabist in Hampton.
“I just found out this place opened up," said Dale Wagner, who has used medical marijuana for years.
“It relaxes me and I have a little arthritis in my shoulder, and it makes that pain disappear,” he explained.
He did note that getting access to medical cannabis on the peninsula has posed a challenge. For some people, they’d have to travel to other cities for this medicine until now.
“We’ve got a lot of patients here making commutes,” said Ngiste Abebe, the vice president of public policy for Columbia Care, a New York-based company.
On Thursday morning, Columbia Care held a grand opening for Cannabist Hampton on Cunningham Drive. It’s the fourth location in Hampton Roads, with other Cannabists in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Williamsburg.
Abebe said business is already booming.
“We have about five times the usual number of pick-up orders," she said. "So, we’re excited.”
Abebe said the dispensary has a range of products from lotions to gummies and pills.
“We have folks who know cannabis and all of the latest research that’s going on in medical cannabis, and can help you find the right product to find the relief that you’re seeking.”
Abebe said this is another step for the company to expand and continue to safely serve the region.
Columbia Care plans to add two more dispensaries in the coming months, pending regulatory approval. Company leaders have not released where they will be located.