Curaleaf New York Is Helping Make New Yorkers' Lives Better

Curaleaf New York is a premium, medical-grade cannabis provider with a dedicated and diverse staff committed to improving lives across New York State. They have helped more than 10 thousand New Yorkers who are suffering with chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, multiple sclerosis and other conditions qualifying them for participation in the New York Medical Marijuana Program.

Read on to learn more about Michelle Bodner, president and CEO of Curaleaf New York, and how medical cannabis is improving the health and wellbeing of thousands of New Yorkers:

Patch: How long have you been in the community?

Bodner: We began manufacturing our medicines in August but opened our first dispensary in Newburgh last April followed by Plattsburgh, Forest Hills, Queens and most recently Carle Place, Long Island. You’d be surprised how many people still don’t know that medical cannabis is legal in New York, or that they can get the nation’s highest quality cannabis medicine right in our dispensaries. New York is also unique in that in our dispensaries, licensed pharmacists and trained care teams are available to council and assist patients in understanding our medicines and how to properly use them. Patients are also pleased to learn that it is important to us that we hire local residents, both in our dispensaries and in our manufacturing facility.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Bodner: Tens of thousands of people die in the United States every year from opioid overdose. It is difficult not to be moved by this tragedy. Cannabis is an effective, low addiction palliative drug. I was drawn to the industry given its ability to help patients who are suffering from serious conditions such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and more find relief without having to turn to opioids or other addictive prescriptions. Medical cannabis is a critical treatment option for nearly ninety thousand New Yorkers and their caregivers, and I am proud to be a part of a company that cares about educating patients and caregivers, as well as producing high quality products that can be trusted.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in a few words, what would those words be?

Bodner: Making lives better. Our mission is to produce medical cannabis to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers who are eligible under the Medical Marijuana Program. Our patient-care model is among the best, and we strive to deliver the highest-quality medicine at affordable prices. Affordability is key. Currently, cannabis medicines are not covered by health insurance, so keeping our medicines affordable without in any way lowering our exceptionally high standards is a company imperative.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Bodner: I’m challenged by the stigmas that still surround medical cannabis, which is partly why Curaleaf New York is so passionate about educating the communities in which we operate. We frequently host educational seminars with leading medical practitioners so patients, caregivers and community members can learn factual and clinical information about medical cannabis, and how it can be used under the State’s Medical Marijuana Program. New York has the most highly regulated medical marijuana program in the country. We hope individuals who have concerns regarding this critical treatment option can see that it helps alleviate serious pain for their neighbors– including teachers, grandparents and veterans – and millions of individuals nationwide.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Bodner: The most satisfying part of my job – and I know everyone at Curaleaf, including our pharmacists, growers, care and outreach teams and our statewide leadership team would agree – is seeing the relief we are able to provide to our patients. One of my favorite stories is of a 90-year-old great-grandmother who had suffered for years from chronic pain and neuropathy, and had told her family that she was done — she had given up on life. She was coaxed by them into our dispensary, where she met with our pharmacist who counseled her on which medicines would be most appropriate and what would work best with the other medications she was taking. She returned a few weeks later with a tear in her eye proudly recounting to our pharmacist that she was so happy. She was able to clean her own bathtub for the first time in years. Many of our patients are suffering from conditions that are incredibly painful and debilitating. Some have tried every other option available and nothing has worked. I think everybody at Curaleaf would agree that helping patients is both our top priority and our greatest satisfaction.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Bodner: I would say that above all else, we provide the highest-quality medicines at the most affordable prices. We’re proud to announce the availability of three new products - Curaleaf Slim Vape Pen, Curaleaf Lemon-Flavored Tincture and Curaleaf Mint-Flavored Micro-Tablets. All are made with Curaleaf medical cannabis grown in the state and processed at our cultivation facility in Ravena. Some of the high-quality cannabis products are available starting at just $25, making them approximately 60 percent less expensive than similar products in the state. We will have a ground flower product out in just a few months.

Also, I would say we have a unique patient care model. Each dispensary team member is required to undertake a three-week on boarding and training program and as a result we provide our patients with a superior care team that is respected in the medical community, including board-certified pharmacy staff. Our dispensaries themselves are unique from others because we provide a warm, welcoming spa-like environment free of the stigma that is centered around medical cannabis, so patients can feel safe and comfortable when receiving their medication. I’m also proud to lead and work with a staff that is as diverse as the State of New York, with a wide range of women and people of color in leadership and staff positions in our dispensaries, and statewide leadership team.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Bodner: Go the extra mile. We are relentless in our mission to help New Yorkers feel better by getting them access to the medicine that helps make them feel better. We know from our patients that medical cannabis helps them feel better, and it’s because of the success we have already seen from them that we continually work hard to ensure even more patients can access to medical cannabis. This is why we are committed to removing access barriers – time, travel, high cost, lack of awareness – and why we are launching delivery programs throughout the eastern part of New York. We know there are more patients who could use medical cannabis to feel better, and we are committed to building on our success to make sure each New Yorker who could benefit from medical cannabis can easily access this medication to feel better.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Bodner: We know sometimes it’s hard for patients to access their medication due to mobility issues or distance from a dispensary, so to help remove these barriers, we will be launching delivery programs through the eastern part of New York, including Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester, Rockland, Orange County, Dutchess, Ulster, Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties. We want to do all we can to help patients feel better and delivery is one way we're able to make this possible.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Bodner: Everyone is invited to the Curaleaf Carle Place Grand Opening celebration on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We welcome you and your friends and family to stop by and meet your dispensary staff and ask any questions that come to mind. We also frequently host Curaleaf Health Seminars at our dispensaries and throughout the state where patients, caregivers and community members are invited to join us for an informational session about medical cannabis and New York State Medical Marijuana Program. We hope members of the community will join us. All our events are listed on the Curaleaf New York Facebook page.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Bodner: Patch readers can find more information about Curaleaf New York by visiting our website, calling us at 1-833-470-5323 (LEAF), or emailing us. Follow us on Facebook for events, announcements and the latest developments in medical cannabis.

Patients and caregivers are always welcome to visit the dispensary to speak with our pharmacists or dispensary care teams and ask any questions about the products we offer, as well as New York’s Medical Marijuana Program or for help finding local practitioners. Walk-ins are always welcome. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Learn more about Curaleaf here.

This Patch article is sponsored by Curaleaf New York.

Image Credit: Curaleaf New York