Pubdate: Thu, 09 Oct 2014
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2014 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Chris Flora
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

EDIBLES ON THE EASTSIDE

Southern a Integrated Therapies Was Arizona's First Dispensary and Is 
Still Going

Ask any medical marijuana dispensary what sets them apart from the
others, and you'll likely get a number of varying examples.

Ask Southern Arizona Integrated Therapies (SAIT) and you'll get one
that no other in Tucson-or in the entire state-can claim.

"We were the first dispensary to open in Arizona," says Susan
Crownhart, operations manager.

Not only does that give the centrally located dispensary a one-up when
it comes to industry experience, it means they have helped pave the
way for dispensaries to come in their wake in an industry that
continues to evolve locally and nationally.

"We had everyone asking us how to do it, and we could never just ask
the next guy how," says SAIT owner Rouben Beglarian. "We made mistakes
along the way, but we fixed those mistakes. There has been a lot of
learning."

Since opening on Dec. 1, 2012, SAIT has continued its evolution as one
of Tucson's most reputable medically focused dispensaries, helping
patients with a variety of conditions like multiple sclerosis,
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chronic pain and more.

Because of its patients' wide variety of conditions, SAIT strives to
offer a long list of strains to best suit an individual's needs and
symptoms.

Complementing a vast array of edibles, SAIT, which has its own grow,
generally inventories between 30 and 35 strains, which include CBD and
THC options.

"People like the amount of medicine we have to offer, and nobody has
as much as we do," says Beglarian, adding that having a proprietary
grow relays additional benefits to patients.

"We know where the product comes from, it's lab-tested, and it helps
us keep our cost down," says Beglarian. "Many dispensaries depend on
wholesale, which drives the prices up."

SAIT's edibles include peanut butter, pesto, truffles, blissful bites,
otter pops and more.

"You name it, we have it," says Beglarian.

Unlike many dispensaries in town, SAIT employs an on-site security
guard to ensure patients and employees feel safe. Furthering these
efforts, Beglarian installed window screens on SAIT as well as on
adjacent businesses.

While new City of Tucson ordinances will allow medical marijuana
dispensaries to offer expanded hours, SAIT says it will likely
continue to operate within its regular hours, which are 10 a.m. to 6
p.m., Monday-Saturday, because it works well with the schedules of
business professionals, who make up a large portion of SAIT's clientele.

A new ordinance going into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, will also implement
PTSD as a qualifying condition; something SAIT says could broaden its
demographic even further.

"This will help predominately veterans, but there are also other
victims who suffer from PTSD that this could benefit," says Crownhart.
"Our overall goal is to help our patients get their lives back. When
we watch that happen, there's really something to say for that."

For more information on SAIT, visit the company's webpage at
www.medicalmarijuanaoftucson.com/ or call 886-1003. SAIT is located at
112 S. Kolb Road.

SAIT can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Leafly.com, and
Weedmaps.com.
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MAP posted-by: Richard