Business Connections by Adams

S U MM E R 2 0 2 0 5 BUSINESS connections Cannabis Education Leads to Growth “We spend a lot of time on education, both here and out in the community at health fairs, conferences, and so on. We want to educate people about what cannabis is and isn’t. The more people know about cannabis, the more the stigma lessens. This has contributed to the growth of our business. We talk to people about how to get into the medical program if they have qualifying conditions, and we help them with applications. During the first-time patient consult, we discuss their goal for, and experience with, cannabis and work toward making recommendations. We’re also seeing more doctors support the use of cannabis,” Wildrick explained. Herbal Remedies Dispensary currently has 40 employees and is recruiting people for its second Quincy location at 1837 Broadway. That building is being remodeled and is slated to open later in 2020. Wildrick said, “Bob and I view Quincy as our home, and we shop and buy local. We could have chosen another community for our second Herbal Remedies Dispensary location, but we decided to stay with Quincy. Our work here is not done.” Staying Connected with Adams Their support of local businesses included the selection of Adams in 2015 to provide communications services to Herbal Remedies Dispensary. These services include Adams Fiber Internet (100 Mbps/100 Mbps), a Hosted PBX Phone System, and Office 365 and Datto Backup through Adams Experts. “Our Adams Fiber Internet is working great. It’s fast and reliable. In our business, we can’t operate if our security, point of sale, or Illinois cannabis traceability systems go down. Thankfully, we’ve had no problems with our Internet service. Adams will also be the provider for our second location, and they’ve already been there to do the cabling,” said Wildrick. Since Herbal Remedies Dispensary doesn’t have an in-house IT person, Wildrick appreciates having Adams Experts as a resource. She noted, “The backup service is significant. It provides us with peace of mind, knowing our data is backed up and secure. I like being able to outsource with a local company. I can just pick up the phone, and their team is on it right away. As our business grows, Adams Experts makes recommendations to meet our changing needs, preparing us for the future by offering business solutions we can grow into.” Based on the growth of the last five years, the future of Herbal Remedies Dispensary is likely to be filled with activity. “Every day we’re busy. Never a dull moment,” Wildrick said. FAQ About Cannabis What is cannabis? Cannabis is a flowering plant native to Central and South Asia. Male cannabis plants produce seeds and pollen, while female plants produce the highly desirable flowers or buds. These flowers have resin-filled glands known as trichomes, which contain the highest concentration of cannabinoids, the substances known to contain psychoactive and medicinal properties. What’s the difference between cannabis, hemp, and marijuana? Under U.S. law, different parts of the same cannabis plant are defined as hemp and other parts as cannabis or marijuana, and the seed may be defined as either, depending upon its viability. Hemp is the stalks, stems, and sterilized seeds of cannabis sativa, and marijuana is the leaves, flowers, and viable seeds of cannabis sativa. What’s the history of cannabis use? The cannabis plant originally evolved in Central Asia before being introduced into Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Hemp fiber was used to make clothing, paper, sails, and rope, and its seeds were used as food. Most ancient cultures didn’t grow the plant to get high, but as herbal medicine, likely starting in Asia around 500 BC. The history of cannabis cultivation in America dates back to the early colonists, who grew hemp for textiles and rope. These early plants had very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering effects.