Healthy Living by Willow Creek Springs
A podcast about practices to promote healthy lives featuring experts, businesses, and clients: we gather to share our stories about success, failure, exploration, and so much more. Our subscription episodes feature some personal and vulnerable, real-life stories that are sensitive to some of the general public.
Healthy Living by Willow Creek Springs
Plant Medicine for the People: The Future of Online Medical Marijuana Cards
Ready to step out of the green closet? This eye-opening conversation with Aspen Noonan, CEO of Elevate Holistics, takes us behind the scenes of the telemedicine revolution that's transforming medical marijuana access across America.
Aspen's journey begins with her personal discovery of cannabis as a replacement for prescription ADHD medications after experiencing concerning side effects from a decade of Vyvanse and Adderall use. What started as a personal health solution transformed into a mission to help others access plant medicine without unnecessary barriers. Now leading a women-operated telemedicine company serving 18 states, Aspen shares how her team connects patients with compassionate doctors from the comfort of their homes.
The discussion reveals fascinating insights about state-by-state cannabis regulations, the challenges of advertising in a heavily restricted industry, and how telemedicine is removing roadblocks for patients who can't easily visit doctors in person. Learn about Elevate Holistics' unique approach to patient care – from their comprehensive support with complex state paperwork to their progressive workplace model featuring a four-day workweek. Aspen also addresses how they're helping cannabis newcomers navigate their journey with educational resources while maintaining an approval rate above 99%.
Whether you're curious about medical marijuana for yourself or simply interested in how digital healthcare is evolving, this conversation offers a compelling glimpse into the future of cannabis medicine. Ready to explore how getting your medical marijuana card online works? Visit elevate-holistics.com to learn how you can connect with a doctor in minutes rather than months.
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Well, hello and welcome back to the Healthy Living Podcast. I'm your host, joe Grumbine, and today I have a very special guest with us. Her name is Aspen Noonan and she is heavily involved in the cannabis space and she's got a resume that's bigger than I'm going to introduce, and we're just going to go ahead and jump on in Aspen. Welcome to the show. How are you to go ahead and jump on in Aspen? Welcome to the show. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:Thank you so much. I am doing great. I am in Florida enjoying this beautiful weather. Actually, I've snuck outside between a bit of rain, but that's Florida for you. I'm really excited to be here today and talk about the cannabis space. Help people come out of the green closet, if you will, and you know, just to chat all the things cannabis.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, as we were talking a little bit before we got started. I've got a whole lifetime of experience in the cannabis space and you know, florida is kind of where California was maybe 20 years ago, and California is in a worse place than it was 20 years ago in my opinion. So there's a lot going on and you know there's a lot of points of view with this and I'm really interested to hear yours. Why don't you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with this?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so my mentality on the cannabis space is very patient focused. I think that it is a plant medicine. I think it has healing benefits. I do think that it is also a tool for relaxing and hanging out and can be an alternative to alcohol. But my, you know, my career focus is for patients and very patient based. So I actually got involved in the cannabis space from my own personal story. I was on concertivivance Adderall, mixing between the two for ADHD. You know medications from the 90s girl right.
Speaker 2:I was born and raised right in that time. They're like.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, focus. We know the solution and you know that was fine, that was the norm it was, it was all good and fine until 10 years into taking those medications, I started noticing like you know, people don't grit their teeth as much as I do, people's hands aren't sweating as much as I do, people aren't constantly shaking their chin Like I am what the hell is going on. I realized it was probably the daily, you know, 30 milligram Vyvanse that I was taking every morning at, you know, at the beginning of college and so kind of college where most people's cannabis journey begins. I tried it and noticed that the more I consumed, the less I would need the focusing medication. You know, whatever I was on at that time, I think it was Vyvanse and I slowly replaced them.
Speaker 2:I haven't taken a prescription medication, you know, outside of a surgery in over a decade at this point, and it's it was really life changing for me. And so if it was life changing for someone with ADHD, a very you know no stories too big or small, but right, this isn't, you know, truly, truly affecting my life. And when I started meeting patients and advocates where cannabis was actually changing their quality of life, I realized there's something here and there's a meaningful career here and I really wanted to be a part of it, and that's where my story began.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice. So you go from an experience. You know, like I said, I've got a lot of experience with how cannabis has affected so many people, myself included. I was, you know, I was a 70s kid, you know, and it was before we had all those medications and I was just what they called hyper. It was before they had ADHD. Hyper, it was before they had ADHD and, you know, they wanted to put me on some kind of medication but they didn't really know what to do. Before that, it was before Ritalin and all that stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and fortunately my parents just said you know what? We'll just keep them busy. And I didn't have to go down that journey. But I discovered it at a young age, much younger than you, and I found that it helped me lock in and things more normally and you know, I began a lifetime journey.
Speaker 2:Isn't that amazing how some it affects everyone so differently. Some people are high anxiety and you know hot, you know PTSD, and they use the cannabis to calm down and relax, whereas I'm like you know I'm I'm calm, I'm relaxed, I can't really focus on anything, I'm just kind of chilling. And then the cannabis focuses me and I'm like Okay, I can do one thing in this moment. How cool is that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely Absolutely. It can be game changing. And you know, the craziest thing is some people have a totally opposite effect effect and it'll make them paranoid and can't focus on anything. So you know, there's, there's, this is such a complicated or or complex I wouldn't say complicated, I'd say complex situation, because it's a plant and it has, you know, hundreds of compounds. They don't even know everything that's in it yet and it really is intuitive and I think the people that sort of find their way to it. They find their way to the right way to take it, the right strains, the right amount, and they just find their way. Yeah.
Speaker 2:You find your way. That is plant medicine. It's not an exact science. And you're right. The endocannabinoid system I don't even know that they are teaching that in schools. At this point I was getting my health science degree, so, uh, you know many, many doctors. I talked to our doctors that you know do our medical marijuana cards. They didn't learn about it until they worked for us and I'm like this is a huge part of our body that it holds the key to unlock so many different things and we're just not talking about it. Well, we are.
Speaker 1:They say, medical practice is about 17 to 20 years behind the discovery.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:And that's kind of where it is. You know, and it's sad because people's lives are affected daily and even the people that are training to become doctors don't get the current science because it doesn't get into the curriculum and it just takes this time. Yeah, so you've? You've decided I want to do something with this. You're clearly an entrepreneur. You're out of college now at this point, or where.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, oh yes, I graduated quite a long time ago actually.
Speaker 1:No, I mean when you began this journey, I mean when you began the business.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when I began the business. So I was living in Missouri, I grew up in Missouri and Amendment 2 was being talked about that's the medical cannabis amendment. In Missouri and I was gathering signatures a part of NORML, which is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws we were having conferences with the healthcare department, going to Jefferson City to talk about, just really advocate and have a program that was patient focused, and that's really what Missouri did. I think it set a precedent and so, you know, it went legal. I opened, or was opening, a group of dispensaries, five dispensaries, with someone you know beginning stages. It was an equity based payment thing right out of college, that's just kind of how it goes, and so I was in that, writing SOPs, getting ready for the stores to open.
Speaker 2:When I started talking with people you know doing things very big picture and I, you know, wanted to dream very, very big. My Missouri goals were feeling small. It feels like I was outgrowing them and I was just starting. And so I had the opportunity to work for a telemedicine company this company, actually I was the first ever employee five years ago doing medical marijuana cards, you know, doing support, doing phones, and they hired me on, gave me equity and they were like, let's blow this thing up. We were in two states, now we're in 18 states. I, you know, slowly hired one at a time and eventually, eventually last year, became CEO, when the first CEO stepped down. So it's been an extreme growth trajectory. It's been, you know, how can I make myself an asset not only to this business but to our patients? How can I befriend our partners and make sure that our you know, our company's being talked about and we're a force? Because it's so meaningful to have a job that has a positive impact on people's lives and I just honestly, I love it so much.
Speaker 1:You want to know what's something that's crazy is, in California, when this was all beginning, doctors lost their licenses for doing telemedicine the way you're describing. Yes, I know doctors that had their licenses revoked or they were sanctioned and they had to go through these. It was still happening. Yeah, this is still happening.
Speaker 2:Telemedicine is only legal in less than 20 states. Many, many, many, many states.
Speaker 2:you still have to go in person to see a doctor which creates so many roadblocks for people that can still have to go in person to see a doctor, which creates so many roadblocks for people that can't afford to get into the doctor. It's very expensive, people that have to drive a long way, people that can't drive. I mean, it's just, it's unfortunate, but we have these tools and technology. Why don't we use them to our benefit? Arkansas sticks out to me. Right now, you can get your first card. You can get your card the first time in person, but then you can get the rest online.
Speaker 1:So you know why.
Speaker 2:Who's paying for this?
Speaker 1:Well, maybe that's the one good thing that came out of COVID was that they telemedicine became a accepted tool.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Prior to that, I don't think it would have ever been.
Speaker 2:I agree with you because of COVID, as terrible as it was and still is today, it allowed our business to have the opportunity to be seen, you know, because people are at home and online and want to relax or want to focus.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. So tell us a little bit about the company. You've obviously taken this thing from an idea to this behemoth, so tell me what does it look like, how does it work?
Speaker 2:this behemoth. So tell me, what does it look like? How's it work? How does it work? So we are in 18 states. It is change is the only constant. That is the quote I have for Elevate Holistics. I mean, between the different laws in every state, the constantly changing expectations of the healthcare departments and what's allowed and what's not allowed, we just have to be ready to pivot at any time. So we're always on our toes, we're always absorbing information and ready to just get accurate information out to patients so we can get people legal correctly quickly.
Speaker 2:We are majority women operated. We have an amazing team of 50 plus people between our providers, our support staff, our processing staff and, of course, our in-house management team and, you know, our doctors. They all work from home. Everyone works from home. We're in states across the country. No two people are in the same city, which I think is very cool. So when we do get the random opportunity to see each other, it's kind of a big party.
Speaker 2:And then something really interesting that my company does about a year ago we implemented the four-day work week. I don't know if I told you about that, but we're looking into things. The company was in a great financial standing. We were growing every month and still are on that trajectory, and we were thinking, you know, fridays are always so chill. What if we just rearranged our schedules, had no meeting Fridays? So we started there with no meeting Fridays and eventually it turned into a four-day work week, and that's now one of our employee benefits is a Monday, I think you know work-life balance is so important. We're in the healthcare industry. We want to, you know, withhold the expectations that we have on the rest of the world, and so we're. We're starting with us. Right, it starts with you. So that's, that's what we do, and we've had, you know, no decline or no issues. It's actually been really fun and great.
Speaker 1:So how do you reckon with I mean, like I said, I've been an advocate for a long time in California and there's always been this sort of I don't know concern about, you know federal government and their position with all of this, because they still haven't changed not one thing. Right, and what's your? What's your?
Speaker 2:I mean, I do think that it should be up to the states whether or not cannabis is legal. I think it should be medically available to everyone. I don't think that no one should be serving time, especially for nonviolent drug kinds of any kind you know, for a matter of fact, but nor there.
Speaker 2:but if someone doesn't, you know you, I believe people should have the right to not. You know, if you don't want to smell cannabis, if you don't want to be around people that are consuming cannabis, great. There are many States that don't allow it at all and I think that's absolutely your, your right to live there and that's great. So leaving it up to the states, I think, is fine. I also think if you do want to access it for medicinal purposes with no roadblocks online, that should be an option too. So, yeah, I think it's okay that states have different laws, but I also, you know, I don't think it should be a schedule one drug. Yeah, no, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent there with you. Yeah, exactly. So what do you think you know, as you're going through this, you're, you're experiencing a lot of differences. You got all these different states. You've got all these different. What do you, what do you think is really the biggest obstacle that you've faced?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, this is so easy Advertising we cannot do paid ads, Google ads, Facebook ads we can't market ourselves outside of talking about it, blogging about it. You know, we can kind of post on social media, but need to keep it subtle. I mean, there are legitimate roadblocks to getting the word out about getting a medical marijuana card online, and I think that that is super unfortunate. So that's been our biggest roadblock. There are states that you can't do billboards. There are states that you can't even put a poster in a store without getting it approved by the state. I mean, the advertising laws are so much more intense than alcohol. It blows my mind every day and it's just yeah, it's my favorite obstacle too, because we are constantly living in creativity of what can we try next?
Speaker 1:Right, right. So what are some of your creative solutions?
Speaker 2:Some of my creative solutions. That's a great question. Seo, you know. Blog making sure that we're being heard. Talked about. Talking about the business on a podcast is one of my newest.
Speaker 1:I was going to say podcast might be one way.
Speaker 2:Podcast is one of my routes. I, you know, just get to talk about the company, talk about myself a little bit, meeting amazing people that have been advocating for longer than I have and their perspective and, you know, just seeing the shift and the changes, this has got to be the most changing industry in the world, in my opinion. I mean it's constant even in different countries too. So, yeah, it's been a. It's been a whirlwind too. So, yeah, it's been a. It's been a whirlwind, but I really like.
Speaker 1:Where do you see yourself in a year or two years? You know where do you see this going.
Speaker 2:I see more states allowing telemedicine. I think more people are advocating for availability and for medical cannabis at a minimum. And then you know where I see this company in two years is. I would like to see us outside of, you know, the U? S. I would love to see us getting patients legal in Germany, italy, you know all of these European countries mainly cause that's medical cannabis. Um, the obstacle there is that it's you know it's not commonly consumed. There are about a million medical marijuana cardholders in Europe and there are a million cardholders in Florida.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So the obstacles of opening in these different countries. You know, is the juice worth the squeeze? You know that might be an interesting question. I think just increasing access is the bottom line and that's why, you know, I'm looking to do that in the future.
Speaker 1:Absolutely so. Your target demographic is who?
Speaker 2:My target demographic is someone seeking medical marijuana without the obstacles of meeting with a doctor online, wondering how to try it, where to try it? If you are at home and want to get legal in the ease of your home, within 10 minutes, elevate Holistics is the place to go.
Speaker 1:And so how do they do that, say I'm interested?
Speaker 2:The process. Yeah, yeah, so you would go to our website select book, now your state, and then it's very intuitive from there. So are you a first time patient or are you renewing your card? And then you fill out a brief medical history form, age, weight, height, you know medical conditions you've had in the past surgeries.
Speaker 2:Whether or not you're breastfeeding or pregnant, there are some disqualifying conditions. Those could be the two, but you know, depending on the provider and the right conversation, it could be right for you despite that and use video chat the doctor online through a video link and if you're having trouble with the video link, the doctor will actually call you and then our processing team does everything from there. So that's one of our unique points is that many online medical marijuana card providers won't do any of the state paperwork for you. It's kind of here's your recommendation and go, but we're going to be with you every step of the way, helping you with the state paperwork, making sure your doctor recommendation becomes a medical marijuana card, because we want to see it through to the end.
Speaker 1:So in California way back when we had two different tools One was just a doctor's recommendation and then there was actually a state card that would get basically double verified. Yeah, yeah, so do you deal with. I have no idea what other states do, I'm just a California boy. But do other states have similar programs?
Speaker 2:there isn't any state paperwork for the patient but there is for the provider. So we submit an electronic approval form to the state every time there's an approval and there's no work on the patient side, Whereas in Oklahoma the patient fills out an eight-page questionnaire for the state after they see the doctor and upload their doctor's recommendation at the same time. That should also match the electronic form submit by the doctor and if those match up, then the patient can get their card. Oklahoma, for example, also has very strict rules about the photo that you submit for your medical card. It has to be a white background, no smiling, no hat, no glasses, and, believe it or not, that's, that's not an easy task for some people living out in the rural, you know, in rural counties. So to be able to call someone and have someone guide you through how to take a photo, how to send it to us via email, that is like you know. That's how people get legal, that is, and that that's not something that was possible before us.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's cool. Um, you're going to get a lot of people approaching and I know that there's some states I know Michigan for a while was really rigid about, you know, conditions and things like that. Does anybody get rejected?
Speaker 2:People do get rejected. Less than 1% of our patients get a denial and with every denial comes one free. You know re, you get to talk to another provider. Basically, you get a second opinion.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So the reason that someone could get disqualified is pregnancy, for example. Um, I can speak to. When I was pregnant, it was time to renew my card at about nine months and the doctor approved me because I was just like, hey, this baby's coming out any day by the time I actually get my card, I won't. You know, I'm not going to have kids. So there are ways, you know, through conversation it's still possible. But yeah, there's absolutely, you know, disqualifying conditions. There was, you know, we've had patients that are, you know, having psychosis and things, and doctors just don't feel comfortable putting their name behind that recommendation. And that's okay. You know second opinion if another doctor is okay with it, we'll do that. If not, we'll refund you. Like, if you're not approved, we're not gonna have you pay for the appointment.
Speaker 1:So that's nice too, sounds like a good business model. I guess the final question I have here is you have people that hear about, especially maybe in rural areas, maybe anywhere. A lot of people, probably older people, I would think, where well, nowadays older people grew up in the 60s so they knew about it. But you know, even older than that, there's still some boomers out there that are that are. You know somebody goes, hey, maybe this could help you, but they've been. You know, fed the reefer madness, they don't know anything.
Speaker 1:Or on drugs and yeah, yeah, it's a drug. Drugs are bad, right and the gateway to hell. Yeah, scary stuff, and and they still. They make the call or they go into the site, probably guided by their grandkid or something like that. Yeah, are there any kind of guidance as to you know what to expect or what to do, or is it really just getting them approved?
Speaker 2:So while we do, you know that's the main point of the business. That's our number one. You know, seller is get your medical marijuana card online we do offer a full blown cannabis ebook for patients that might want help along in their journey, and I mean this ebook. We thought of every single thing. It's self-guided and it has a table of contents, but basically between strains, effects, types of cannabis, who would certain things be good for? You know there are recipes in there. It is just so full blown. So we do give patients the tools to succeed. And then our support team's always available. Our providers are always available. You know we are there for questions. We explored doing cannabis consultations in the past and the feedback, interestingly enough, was like can you just write all this down for me?
Speaker 1:Of course.
Speaker 2:Can you send me all this in writing? And we were like, actually, yes, we have a better solution. Let's get to the book.
Speaker 1:Excellent. Well, Aspen, I really like what I'm hearing. It sounds like you're helping a lot of people. This is the spot where I give you your elevator pitch and a way to share everything you need to thank you so much.
Speaker 2:This was great. I love you know, talking about getting people legal, making sure that patients have access to cannabis and whether or not you decide to go forward with it. At least we're empowering people to make the yes or no decision, as opposed to thinking this isn't available to me or I don't. I can't drive to the doctor, my doctor doesn't like me. On cannabis, you know we have providers that are open to seeing your medical history, open to having a conversation about what it would look like for you to just try it for a year, try it for a month and see what it does for you. A hundred percent online and women own and operated. So support, support your local marijuana doctors at Elevate Holistics.
Speaker 1:Excellent, and your website again.
Speaker 2:Elevate-holisticscom.
Speaker 1:Beautiful Well Aspen. It's been a pleasure having you and you know, who knows, maybe we'll have you back again, as things are changing along.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, you know it will.
Speaker 1:Beautiful. This has been another episode of the Healthy Living Podcast. I'm your host, Joe Grumbine. Thank you for all your support.
