New Haven’s new medical marijuana dispensary has a spa-like atmosphere, with the aim of making customers feel as comfortable picking up medicine there as they would be at any pharmacy.
The difference? At Affinity Health & Wellness Inc., the customers are getting medical marijuana in the form of flowers, oils, pills and edibles like cookies and brownies.
Affinity is the city’s first medical marijuana dispensary, and it opened on June 20 in a shopping plaza at 1351 Whalley Ave. The Westville strip mall is also home to a Tommy’s Tanning business and a medical walk-in clinic.
Brian Essenter, a pharmacist and the dispensary manager, said, “We get a broad mix of people here, from all demographics, and we want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible, even if it is a mother with a young child.”
Raymond Pantalena, also a pharmacist, said the community has been very receptive, with positive feedback so far from the neighborhood. It has meant improved convenience for patients too, he said. Previously, the closest dispensaries to New Haven were in Milford and Branford.
“Our customers are thankful they don’t have to go so far for their medicine,” Pantalena said. “This had been a hardship for people. Some people were having to take a bus.”
Unlike at most pharmacies, at Affinity, there is more security, including a locked exterior door and a call button for customers to announce their arrival. Inside, the décor features calming colors, a bird logo, and uplifting messages on the walls, such as, “There is always something to be thankful for,” and “Today is a good day for a good day.”
The facility has private consultation rooms for the staff to meet with individual patients about their medical conditions and treatment options.
While Affinity officials had previously expected to open in the spring, Pantalena said renovations took longer than originally anticipated. The 3,500-square-foot space had formerly been a 7-Eleven convenience store.
“We wanted to make sure it was done right,” he said.
The business currently employs nine people, including two pharmacists and seven pharmacy technicians.
The staff at the new facility, l-r, Raymond Pantalena (pharmacist), Shantell Dirskell, Chachy Valentin, Zoraida Morales, Gabbi Albert, Inga Charles and Brian Essenter (pharmacist).
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Pantalena, a pharmacist since 1980, has been working in New Haven throughout his career, so when he decided to pursue opening a medical marijuana dispensary, the Elm City was his first choice.
“New Haven is part of my fabric, and this is where I wanted to be,” he said.
Essenter said the New Haven location also was appealing because of its proximity to public transportation and highways.
“Some people who need the help and information haven’t been able to travel to dispensaries because they aren’t close enough for them,” Essenter said.
The business’ primary focus, according to Essenter, is to help patients who are suffering from debilitating medical conditions so they can regain “control of their lives.”
According to Pantalena, he has seen “good outcomes” for patients using medical marijuana, and the population of patients with medical marijuana cards has been growing.
The number of patients registered in the state’s Medical Marijuana Program was at 8,228 in 2016, and this number had grown to 34,034 as of early this week, according to Lora Rae Anderson, a department spokeswoman.
Medical marijuana is approved to treat a variety of conditions in Connecticut, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. The state Department of Consumer Protection currently lists 14 medical marijuana dispensary facilities around the state, including Affinity.
Customers can read more about Affinity at its website, affinityct.com.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com
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