Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jan 2012
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2012 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: J. M. Smith

A GREEN DREAM

Wanting to Walk-In? J.M. Can Highly Recommend the Green Halo

Walking into The Green Halo is like walking into a dream-a 
well-appointed dream stocked with a broad array of medications in 
various forms to meet your every need.

It's like a poppy field leading to Oz, but there's no snow to put you 
to sleep and no flying monkeys. The Green Halo is all Glenda the Good 
Witch and Lollipop Guild.

Finding Tucson's only walk-in dispensary is super-easy. It's about 
200 yards south of Interstate 10 on Wilmot Road. That seems like a 
bit of a haul for town folk, but since it's right next to the 
interstate, it's a trade-off. It's only about a 15-minute trip from 
downtown. I'm going to say they picked an excellent spot. Easy in; 
easy out. They close earlier than the caregivers where I usually get 
meds, but I don't have to call Green Halo to see if they're home. If 
it's between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., they're home.

Be advised-when you go to Green Halo, your every move is being 
captured on security cameras. I couldn't care less who shoots video 
of me; some folks might not like that. Nonetheless, the staff is 
checking you out before you get inside.

The first thing you notice as you walk up is a huge sign on the door: 
No cameras, no smoking, no weapons. Check, check, check. Hitting the 
intercom gets you a cheerful welcome and a buzzer for entry.

The waiting room-expanded at the last minute to allow access to the 
restroom-is clean, tidy and outfitted with a few comfy chairs and a 
big red-leather couch. A bank-style window separates the staff from 
the patients they serve, and there is a sort of overflow waiting room 
with more seating. There is no need for magazines (though there are 
some), since the walls are covered with posters offering information 
about cannabis. There is plenty to read, including an extensive chart 
showing which cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN) are good for what 
ailments. There is a large copy of the U.S. government's patent for 
medical cannabinoids. Interesting, since the same government claims 
cannabis has no medical value.

After a brief wait, the staff buzzes you through an interior door 
into the inner chamber. The articulate guy who helped me was friendly 
and informative. He told me (I already knew) that CBD counteracts 
THC, allowing me to get maximum pain relief with minimum rainbows and 
fluffy clouds flying through my head.

The selection at the Green Halo is impressive. There were about a 
dozen strains ranging from heavily sativa to heavily indica. They had 
a full line of edibles.

Every strain is tested at a lab in Phoenix and labeled with THC, CBD 
and CBN percentages. This was my second visit to the dispensary. The 
first time I grabbed a sativa strain with close to 18 percent THC. 
Yikes-that made me anxious. This time I got Strawberry Blue, a hybrid 
with about 12 percent THC and more of the other cannabinoids. I like 
it. My heart isn't racing.

The downside to all of this is prices. Their eighths started at $45 
($12.85/gram) and topped out at $65 ($18.57/gram) last week. The 
first time I went, I paid $70. They didn't have that top-shelf 
strain. That's pretty pricey. A caregiver can give you prices 
around-or even below-$10 per gram.

Other than prices, I couldn't see much to complain about. The Green 
Halo is fast, easy and convenient, and there's a HUGE selection of 
everything you need including cakes, cookies, spices, tinctures and 
candy. They have pipes and vaporizers and storage vessels and more.

Mr. Smith approves, duh
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom