If you're a medical marijuana patient, there's a good chance you've been mocked during the 2020 Covid-10 lockdown. Personally I'm used to feeling stigmatized for my preferred choice of medicine, but it wasn't until this morning that I was first verbally abused by a budtender in the lobby of a medical marijuana dispensary. I've been a patient for several years now, and what happened at Earth's Healing North at 78 W River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704 has forever altered my life.
Earth's Healing Is the Worst Medical Dispenary in Arizona
It all started when the mayors of Phoenix and Tucson shut down essential services effective 8pm March 17, 2020. Knowing there would be a run on the dispensaries since last week, I was waiting for a specific sale day that was advertised online this entire time. Every Wednesday until March 18, 2020, Earth's Healing sold $100 ounces, and I was surrounded by at least 50 patients (many of whom were elderly) waiting in line when the dispensary opened at 9am.
As soon as I walked up, it became clear it was pandamonium. The inefficiencies in the store's operations were clear within seconds. Nobody knew what was going on, and I was told I had to order online. In the hour I waited in a massive crowd outside, I was told by the security guard with a clipboard to add my name, and as people left the lobby, we would be called by name to come in.
We were told only online and phone orders could be placed, and everybody placed their orders as instructed. Some people had issues because the phone line was immediately dead at 9am and nobody could get through. Their terrible infrastructure was clear, and the security guards continued telling the crowds that they do not care about their jobs or anything going on. They're just trying to get through their day.
DO NOT TRUST EARTH EXTRACTS - They are probably poison
It as like nothing I experienced in any of the other stores during these times. Even other dispensaries I visited on this same day, like Harvest House of Cannabis, were perfectly fine. Earth's Healing was unique in its completely disastrous and unprofessional handling of the situation. It's not just the worst dispensary I ever saw, but the worst store in Tucson. Seriously awful people, process, and product, as I was soon to learn.
A woman came out angrily about 30 minutes into my long wait and exclaimed that the advertised price of $100 was no longer valid. The company raised its prices to $125, a massive 25-percent price gouge on elderly patients and veterans in time of need. When my name was called, I followed directions to go inside. I held my card to the glass and showed my online order confirmation.
I then continued to wait patiently, making polite conversation with the other patients around me. Together, we watched them flat out refuse to honor their pricing to two clearly elderly patients who exclaimed that they can't afford that price increase on their fixed incomes. The employees coldly told them that is their problem. I wanted to help them so bad, but I couldn't, as I was already eating my own price increase. We were all being price gouged together.
Finally my name was called, and I went to the window. I was asked if I placed my order on Leafly or the Earth's Healing website. I told the woman it was their company website. At this time, an angry budtender who obviously has a chip on his shoulder for having a tiny dick came out from the back to start berating me for coming in when my name was called. I politely told him that I am just following their policy, and he needs to calm down, at which point he walked away mumbling something.
Earth's Healing Is a Criminal Organization
Catching his disrespect, I immediately said "Next time listen to your customers and don't blame me!" At this point, the thug turned around and tried to fight me, a patient and veteran, in the lobby of the business he works in. As he threatened me, I gave him a thumbs up and said "cool story, bro," while he was pulled in the back.
The two women up front looked extremely uncomfortable at his violent outburst and apologized profusely to me, telling me they feel threatened and unsafe too. I was visibly shook and all 10 patients and 2 employess present in the lobby assured me that I did nothing wrong and was verbally assaulted and threatened for no reason. I was so shook up, I didn't even notice my $100 ounce price wasn't honored from the online order and I was price gouged the extra $25 by this criminal organization.
I informed them to cash out any points I have and to immediately remove all of my customer information as I no longer feel safe. Earth's Healing North is the absolute WORST dispensary in Arizona, and I will never return ever again. Do not shop at Earth's Healing unless you wish to be subjected to unsafe, violent conditions and be price gouged. I want to cry, not because of the tiny man whom I easily could have uppercutted out of his shoes, but for all the elderly people whose lives were put at risk today by improper and likely illegal business practices from Earth's Healing North.
I have since contacted the Tucson Police Department, Arizona Department of Health Services, Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, and reported a HIPAA violation for them refusing to confirm they have properly deleted my personal medical information from their systems. Earth's Healing is owned by Vicky Puchi-Saavedra, a real estate agent at Long Realty. She has been notified of the crime as well, and I have asked her for an apology as well as a confirmation of when the employee is properly disciplined and when she plans to obey the law and delete my information as I will never be a customer of this sham business ever again.