Forest Hills Dispensary Offers Breast Cancer Support Group

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS -- A new medical marijuana dispensary in Forest Hills is opening its doors to anyone whose lives have been touched by breast cancer for its first support group meeting this month.

Curaleaf New York, which in July opened its 3,000-square-foot spot at 107-18 70th Road, will host a free breast cancer support group and information session the evening of Aug. 20, the medical marijuana dispensary brand announced Thursday.

"Any time that we go out to the community, we hope first and foremost that they realize we're here to help them and be a place where people can come to live better," Mike Conway, Curaleaf's director of dispensary operations, told Patch.

Curaleaf Patient Outreach Coordinator Natalie Gandelsman will lead the meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. She'll spend the first 45 minutes doing a presentation on medical cannabis' potential role in cancer treatment and New York's medical card registration process before opening the floor to a Q&A.

The second half of the meeting is reserved for participants to connect with one another and talk about the challenges and concerns they face with breast cancer.

“Support groups are an important resource for survivors and can play a pivotal role in the recovery process following diagnosis and treatment,” Gandelsman said

“People living with breast cancer, family members and supporters are all encouraged to attend."

There's room for about 50 people at the meeting, and refreshments will be served, Conway said. Those interested can RSVP to ngandelsman@curaleaf.com to reserve their spot.

Curaleaf New York became the first medical marijuana dispensary in Forest Hills - and the second in Queens - when it opened July 10. The company offers pot in capsules, tablets, tinctures, oils and other forms to New York City patients with conditions, such as breast cancer, that are covered under the State Department of Health's medical marijuana program.

Conway said if all goes well, he hopes to make breast cancer support group meetings a regular occurrence at the dispensary, and eventually even open it up to other niche patient groups in need of a safe space.

"Anyone who needs a support group, we would be happy to help them find space," he said. "We have this great facility and we want to use it for the community."

Lead photo courtesy of Curaleaf