New educational tour will provide seniors and those unfamiliar with cannabis a way to learn about cannabis in a safe, no pressure environment, free of judgment and stigma. No cannabis consumption takes place as part of the tour.
Cannabis Wellness Tours announced today the start of their educational tours, beginning Tuesday, September 10, 2019. The tours visit multiple locations in the Coachella Valley and include cannabis grow and manufacturing facilities, as well as select retail dispensaries.
What makes this tour different from other Southern California cannabis tours is that it’s curated specifically for seniors, baby boomers and all others who have heard about the health benefits of cannabis and would like to learn more about it. And it’s not a “party bus” but strictly an educational tour. Customers ride on a bus that is never used for cannabis consumption at any time, including the tour.
The senior community is especially underserved in terms of having access to accurate information. What they hear on TV or read in the newspaper is often sensationalized and usually incorrect. And when they visit a dispensary, they’re confronted with confusing and overwhelming choices, making it difficult to make an informed decision about what products to purchase.
Owner Peg Bascom says, “I’m aware of the many misconceptions about cannabis and how difficult it is to find information you can trust using terms that are easily understood. There is a large amount of confusion about cannabis among the retirement communities. And this is the population that may experience the benefits of cannabis the most.”
“I began this business because I want to give others a head start and spare them the frustration and confusion I experienced while researching ways to help my husband, who has from Parkinson’s disease. I had a difficult time finding information I felt I could trust. I didn’t understand most of the terms being used and much of what I read in one place was contradicted in another. Talking to the neurologist didn’t help, as he had no knowledge of any therapies outside of the ones that have always been used within western medicine. I was astonished to discover that the majority of medical schools don’t teach new doctors anything about cannabis or the endocannabinoid system, a major regulatory system in the human body. And most established medical professionals don’t make the effort to learn anything about cannabis, even though the information exists and is readily available.”
There are 34 states in the US that have regulated medical cannabis programs with more states added each year. Some medical schools are starting to add cannabis to their curriculums but most still offer little to no education in this area, leaving a vulnerable population with few resources.
Ms. Bascom states, “I spent hundreds of hours researching cannabis until I found sources I knew were trustworthy, and learned the language and vocabulary to use. I started my research over 3 years ago and continue with it to this day.”
“I want to give my customers the tools they need to make informed decisions about their cannabis purchases. I don’t want them to buy something without understanding what’s in it or how to consume it. And if what they purchase does help them, I want them to be aware of the science that makes that happen.”
According to a recent survey, Baby Boomers are one of the fastest growing groups of cannabis consumers. They’re also the biggest spenders by a fairly large margin. On average, seniors spend 53% more than Gen Z consumers. And the numbers of older cannabis consumers will continue to grow as more states embrace medical cannabis.
Another barrier to those new to cannabis is overcoming the perceived stigma associated with using cannabis. The lessons of over 80 years of prohibition are deeply embedded and difficult to overcome, making walking into a dispensary a major hurdle. Says Peg, “Whenever I talk with older individuals about buying cannabis, I repeatedly hear how they feel like they’re doing something wrong by purchasing it. That’s why I include visits to dispensaries, as I want them to feel comfortable and realize that a visit to one is very similar to visiting other types of stores. I also make sure they’re prepared on what to expect before their first visit.”
Cannabis Wellness Tours is uniquely qualified to give customers the skills and confidence they need to safely navigate within the world of cannabis.
About Cannabis Wellness Tours
Started by Peg Bascom, the Mission of Cannabis Wellness Tours is to educate the public on the science of the human endocannabinoid system, introduce knowledge about potential health benefits of cannabis, explore different types of consumption methods, and help remove the stigma associated with cannabis use.
We offer two types of tours:
- The Dispensary Tour that offers a guided introduction to carefully selected dispensaries
- The Grow Tour where they’ll visit a major cultivation site, a manufacturing site, and a dispensary
All tours offer a Cannabis 101 overview intended to give consumers the confidence and skills they need to make informed purchases. There is no cannabis consumption during the tour.
Cost for the tour is $99 for those over 21, and $89 for seniors and veterans.
For more information, or to book a tour, visit www.cannabiswellnesstours.com, or call 760-898-1921.
Cannabis Wellness Tours provides an illuminated, educational experience, shining a light onto this very misunderstood ancient medicine.
