Pubdate: Mon, 20 May 2013
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2013 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area, 200 word count limit
Author: Buffy Pollock

NEW WELLNESS CENTER CATERS TO POT PATIENTS

Having endured a broken back and countless debilitating injuries 
during a 17-year career in the construction industry, Medford 
resident Mike Schanno can relate all too well with patients who come 
to him seeking help obtaining the medical marijuana that eases 
unbearable pain and helps them "get back to living their lives."

"I've actually helped people come off of heroin, and it's a good 
feeling," he said.

Two years after opening The Green Compass, a strip-mall-sized space 
off Medford's McAndrews Road, Schanno has opened what he said could 
be the region's first medical marijuana wellness center in Gold Hill.

Offering access to medical marijuana for patients with a state-issued 
medical marijuana card, Schanno's new space also will offer resources 
for new cardholders seeking guidance, classes on growing marijuana, 
and even shiatsu massage -- with and without cannabis-infused oils.

"It's scary for people who just got their card and they're not sure 
what to do next. We're really all about helping people figure out the 
best way to get their medicine -- in whatever usable form they need 
it in," Schanno said.

Such services long have been in demand, Schanno said, but were 
limited by the smaller size of his Medford location.

While his clientele is small, mostly individuals older than 40, 
Schanno acknowledges the stigma that comes with medical marijuana -- 
a perception he hopes to erase with education and running a 
successful business.

"We're all about education, so we don't mind people coming in with 
questions about the benefits of getting their cards," he said.

Schanno spent nearly three months readying his new location with 
paint and other improvements.

"Of course, you get the people who walk by, raise an eyebrow, and 
wonder what we're doing here," he said.

"But you take the time to talk to people, and they usually understand 
that we're really helping people, which is pretty cool."

Schanno said teaching patients how to grow medicine for themselves 
helps protect them from losing needed medicine and allows them to 
control quality.

"A lot of people want, and need to, learn to grow their own medicine 
so they have safe access to what they need to have. We're seeing a 
lot of raids where the patients are the ones who get stuck," he said.

"Law enforcement isn't as concerned with patients just growing for 
themselves as they are the larger grow sites. They (the patients) 
know they're going to get their medicine if they're growing it on their own."

While expressing concern with the "existing drug culture" in Gold 
Hill, Gold Hill Mayor Jan Fish acknowledged she had fielded few 
concerns about the new facility since Schanno began working on the 
space in March.

"I would have obviously preferred something like a family nurse 
practitioner -- it was a beauty salon at one point -- but we'll just 
work with what we have and hope for the best," Fish said.

While council members have discussed zoning that would restrict areas 
of town in which medical marijuana could be grown, Fish was said she 
was unsure whether zoning changes would impact The Compass.

Medford resident Stephanie Clark, who identified Schanno as her 
longtime grower, said his desire to help patients is obvious.

Clark, who is legally blind and suffers chronic pain from a herniated 
disc and migraines, said she had used everything from body lotion and 
cookies to cooking oils at Schanno's facility.

"The good thing about what he does is the types of products you can 
get. I've seen like 10 to 12 different kinds of products there, and 
they're all for different things, like trouble sleeping or nausea or 
lost appetite. Not everything is just for pain or getting high," she said.

While Schanno, who is a registered grower, cannot be paid for 
providing medical marijuana, state guidelines allow him to be 
reimbursed for expenses, such as supplies and utilities, incurred in 
the production of medical marijuana.

In addition, Schanno's Medford and Gold Hill locations offer retail 
sales of smoking accessories, jewelry and other noncannabis products 
to cover business operations.

Usable marijuana, plants and seeds are the property of patients who 
are registered with specific growers, but excess supplies can be 
transferred to another registered cardholder as long as the 
transferred amount is within the legal limits. For such services, 
Schanno can accept donations to cover expenses.

Clark said the medical benefits of the services are very real.

"I'm really excited about them opening up the wellness center and 
doing medicated massages. Massages have helped a lot with my pain, so 
being able to get one with medicated oils would be really, really great."

Clark said Schanno's facilities are crucial for patients who are 
unsure about getting started with medical marijuana use after being 
issued a medical marijuana card.

"I think there are a lot of people who wouldn't know what to do or 
who to go to without Mike, and he just genuinely wants to help people 
however he can," Clark said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom