NETA Now Vol 2 by NETA

equ ity Kim Napoli on

in cannabis.

ISSUE

T H E “A” I S F O R AC C E S S

NETA Now is a publication of New England Treatment Access. Our goal is to bring better health to the people of Massachusetts and beyond by providing lab-tested, cuttingedge cannabis therapies in an inviting, safe environment.

NORTHAMPTON

BROOKLINE

118 Conz Street

160 Washington Street

Just Off Route 91

At the corner of Rt. 9 and Washington - Brookline Village

Daily

Monday-Friday

Saturday & Sunday

8am - 10pm

10am - 10pm

9am - 10pm

ď&#x201A;&#x2122;

Please Consume Responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older or persons holding a patient registration card. Keep out of the reach of children. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana use during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.

W W W. N E TACA R E .O R G

PRODUCED BY

PRINTED BY

Atwater Studios

AM Litho

Mat Dubord Kevin Alves

C O N TAC T

Victor Janczar

Suggestions, love letters and hate

Jenn Whinnem

mail to: contact@netacare.org

Mikayla Bell Eddie Benjamin

N E TA N OW

all who were photographed

is a publication of New England

and interviewed

Treatment Access - the best in the art

and you

and science of cannabis

now open for adult use

Breathe Easy with Mi Inhaler a new way to medicate

Our Patients: The Real VIPs stories from some of our favorite patients

Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mores Recipe break out the marshmallows

The Dankest Generation octogenarians introduction to cannabis

Kim Napoli shaping the future of cannabis

High Art the design of NETA

RESERVE AHEAD You can now reserve ahead 24 hours a day. Orders placed after 9PM will be available for pickup the next day. We'll message you when it's ready. What are you waiting for?

netacare.org/reserveahead

C O NTE NT S

TA BL E OF

06 08 10 20 22 28 36

A Day of Firsts in Brookline

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN A N AME?

N E W E N G L A N D T R E AT M E N T A C C E S S

NE W N GL AND New England is where we are. But that’s not why it’s part of our name. New England is where the first settlers from (Old) England came to escape religious persecution. New England is where monarchy as a form of government came to die. And New England is where the Revolutionary War, which freed us from England’s imperial rule, began. What better place to begin the medical cannabis revolution?

MARCH 22 2019

March

Brookline

22,

2019,

opened

its

NETA doors

to everyone (21+). While the cameras rolled, people cheered as Selectman Neil Wishinsky bought

those

first

D-Line

Lumens and Nuggets.

.”

se were exp p e l y ect l ue a op c r i n o e t g th e a p bu t e “P non ca m s e r o a f those fe “My philosophy about licensing cannabis retailers has been simple, if the community is going to absorb the impact of hosting a cannabis retailer, the community also should benefit from the revenue it brings in. I knew we had to do this right.” Neil said.

“Then I got a little competitive. I realized I wanted Brookline to be the first adult-use dispensary in the Boston metro area.”

h “W

at a joyous occas io n! ”

And, as much as the voters in Brookline were interested in having adult-use cannabis for sale, they were also concerned. NETA is located on Route 9, a busy road connecting the western part of the state to Boston’s largest medical complex. Would the traffic from an onslaught of cannabis customers make it impossible to drive across town? And where would they find parking?

“Hec k yep!”

“People were expecting the apocalypse to happen the first day NETA opened for adult-use here. But none of those fears came true. NETA and the town really urged people to take public transit, and they did. Most people reserved their orders ahead of time, so they were in and out really quickly. So, the impact on traffic has been very manageable.

“Better yet, the foot traffic into Brookline Village has increased substantially and it’s been a net positive.”

m “I a

.” y p p a h

“H oo ra y!

”

No Visible Exhale No Smell Cannabis Inhaler

For some folks, smoking or vaping is not an option, no matter how much they want to use cannabis. In the past, that meant no cannabis for them.

The legalization of cannabis has been changing that. Meeting the

To develop the Cannabis Fine-Mist Inhaler, we chose Molecular

needs of smoke-free people has led to the creation of gummies,

Infusions as our biopharmaceutical partner because of their

chocolate bars, beverage additives, and topical lotions and creams.

commitment to providing cannabinoid therapies that meet pharmaceutical standards for quality and delivery.

NETA’s research and development team is always looking for new ways to deliver cannabis effectively to our customers. Introducing the

NETA is pleased to offer yet another innovative

Cannabis Fine-Mist Inhaler. It delivers a measured dose of THC without

cannabis product—but of course, we’re not

any of the smell, plume, or combustion that can irritate some lungs.

stopping there. Our internal research and development team will continue to identify

For those who seek a discreet and accurate way to microdose,

and pioneer new therapies for our clients

this inhaler could be an alternative way to consume

that can accommodate their needs.

cannabis. The micronozzle technology produces droplets that deliver each dose for maximum effectiveness.

Breathe easy.

T Re VIPs Illustrations by NETA PSA Andrea Sanchez

The eal s OUR PATIENTS:

In late November 2018, NETA Northampton

come to our counter, we can usually greet

became one of two dispensaries in

you by name and ask about your recent

Massachusetts to open its doors to a new set

family vacation to the Grand Canyon.

of friends: adult-use customers. (Our Brookline location did the same in late March, 2019.)

You’re the real VIPs. So when we started to plan to sell adult-use marijuana, we were

We’ve loved getting to know our adult-use

intentional about keeping you front-and-

customers and helping them find the cannabis

center in the dispensary experience. You’ve

products right for them. There’s just one thing…

entrusted us with helping you find relief from health challenges like chronic pain,

Medical patients, we kinda love you the best.

PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more.

NETA began as a medical-use only dispensary

It’s the least we could do.

in Northampton in 2015, and in Brookline

in 2016. Since then, we’ve gotten to know

For NETA Now Issue Two, we’re sharing

you, your stories, and your faces. When you

some of our favorite stories from medical patients. If you’re interested in sharing your story, email stories@netacare.org.

NICK How has medical cannabis made Northampton patient

Like most of our patients, Nick was using cannabis

Nick so productive? Because it’s really helped Nick

before becoming a part of the medical program.

manage his chronic anxiety and depression. “Buying cannabis on the street is risky,” says Nick.

“It’s not something I bring up a lot because there’s so much stigma surrounding mental health,” says Nick. “People don’t realize how mental wounds can hurt worse than physical wounds. But nobody talks about it.” In fact, medical cannabis has helped Nick so much that he’s been able to cut back significantly on the medications he takes for anxiety and depression.

Indica strains help him think clearly and remain calm. He quips that he doesn’t need sativa because he has coffee to give him energy.

“The other day, I was driving and just ripped my tire open,” says Nick. “Normally I would have gotten really anxious about it and how long it would take to fix. But this time I felt calm. It helped to know I had something at home that could help me relax.”

“People can be shady. They overcharge you, things might be sprayed with herbicides or pesticides. With NETA, I know the products I’m buying are safe.

“I’m not a horticulturist or a botanist,” he continues. “But I pay close attention to what strains have which effects. I’ve always liked thinking about what cannabis does and the different tastes and aromas. I keep my flower in a mason jar so it doesn’t dry up and get crackly.”

Nick agrees that medical patients have priority at NETA. “When adult-use became legal, there was a rush in the beginning. I remember driving by in the sleet and snow and cold and wind, but people stood patiently in line for hours to get in. But NETA has handled it really well, including the parking situation. It’s all worked so smoothly.”

Nick also feels passionately that employers should not discriminate against people who take cannabis—especially for medical use. “Getting my communications degree was such an accomplishment for me, but I can’t use it. Employers want me to pass a drug test to work for them. Cannabis is another stigma. I know it is, because I don’t have to report if I drink alcohol or take antidepressants, but I have to report if I use cannabis.

“Instead, I’m thinking of opening my own business. And cannabis has made that possible.”

H E AT H E R When it comes to cannabis strains, there are 3 major

“I felt like such a weed snob,” Heather says, laughing.

categories: indica, sativa, and hybrid (a blend of

“But I love that book. Making it was such a joy. It’s

both indica and sativa). Many of our medical patients

not a fancy book, just a regular notebook, but I broke

lean more towards one strain type than another.

the spine writing front and back on every page.

Sativa-loving cannabis consumers sometimes call

“At some point I stopped journaling, but I

themselves “sativa divas.” NETA patient Heather

wrote dozens and dozens of entries. I’ll still go

wears this label with enthusiasm and pride.

back and read it and remember how I felt with those different strains. Great memories.”

“I’m a sativa diva all the way. I don’t enjoy the heavy feeling I get from most indica strains,” says

Heather misses having the whole space just for

Heather. “Sativa strains tend to be more helpful

patients, as it was before NETA Northampton expanded

for my conditions. I have much more energy and

to include adult-use. But, she finds that the patient

focus with sativa. It alleviates my pain and just feels

services associates (PSAs) are as helpful as ever.

uplifting. When evening time rolls around I’ll use a hybrid strain but never indica just on its own.”

But a love of sativa is just part of the sativa diva label. The “diva” in Heather loves a wide variety of sativa-focused strains. Her favorite part of using cannabis is being able to try new strains, so she likes to have access to as many of them as possible.

In fact, Heather kept a detailed journal of her

“All of the NETA PSAs are kind and helpful. I’m always glad when I see so many familiar faces behind the counter.”

experiences with all of the different sativa strains she tried at NETA Northampton in her first year of being a medical patient.

P E T E R & D O L LY

In fact, cannabis helped Peter so much that he helped his 88-year-old mother Dolly obtain a medical cannabis card. He suspected it would

Peter has been a NETA Northampton medical

help her with the chronic pain she experienced

patient for more than 3 years. Until he had access

as a result of nerve damage from shingles.

to cannabis, he had unbearable pain from his rare, genetic tissue disorder that causes abnormal bone

“Medical cannabis made the last year of my

growth. But he also had to contend with pain from

mother’s life a miracle. Before that, the nerve

scoliosis, chronic cellulitis, and a back injury.

damage she suffered made her cry everyday. The arthritis in her knees made it hard to walk. Some

Cannabis has changed all of that. Peter describes

of my family members wanted to put her in a

cannabis as being “a miracle” because it relieves

nursing home, but I couldn’t do that to her. Not

his pain without any of the unpleasant side

when she’d been in the hospital with me for all of

effects from other medications like ibuprofen,

my crazy surgeries. So I told her, ‘I got your back

acetaminophen, or prescription opiates.

Mom’ and became her caretaker for 12 years.

“Cannabis changed my mother’s life significantly, and I’m not just talking about how it got rid of her pain.

“The staff at NETA are so well-trained. I was cautious about my mother getting on the right dose, but they really know their stuff and they helped her. I think because they knew my mom too, they’ve been so unbelievably kind to me since she passed. Daniel is one of the greatest people in there. He’s been really supportive since my mother died, always taking a moment to sit with me to talk if I need it.

“I really do feel like a VIP when I show up at NETA. One time I overheard her watching a science show

Alex the security guard always says, ‘Hi Peter, how are

on the television. She kept exclaiming, ‘This is

you?’ when I see him. Unlike the adult-use customers,

FASCINATING!’ and I thought, wow. Being on the right

I’ve almost never had to wait in line to get in. I really

medicine meant my mom didn’t need cortisone shots

appreciate how NETA understands that medical

in her knees anymore AND she got into science!”

patients can’t wait in line. I’ve experienced no dip in service since they started selling recreational weed.

Peter credits the staff at NETA for helping his mother with her pain, helping him with his pain, and being so supportive and kind in the wake of his mother’s death, which has been really hard on him.

“NETA just feels like family to me.”

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN A N AME?

N E W E N G L A N D T R E AT M E N T A C C E S S

TREATMENT

We began as a dispensary for medical cannabis to provide people with alternative treatment options. But treatment can mean a lot of different things to different people. To veterans and other trauma victims who seek to ease symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, treatment can mean a good night of sleep for the first time in years. To cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, treatment can mean the welcome return of an appetite. To our adult-use customers, treatment may simply mean a treat at the end of a long day. Whether you wish to treat your symptoms or yourself, NETA is here to help you find the right products, strains, and doses for you.

INGREDIENTS 2 graham crackers 1 marshmallow 1 5mg piece D-Line Bar

O M â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; 1. Head out into the nearest mystical

Let that cocky flame die just as it

forest under a full moon and hunt

was brought into this cold world,

down the perfect marshmallow

like a diminuendo of kinetic heat.

roasting stick. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know it when

Contemplate the nature of creation.

you see it. Whittle the end to a dull

point and skewer that sucker into the

3. With mallow mounted and in the

bottom of a single-malt mallow.

presence of loved ones, take a single

deep breath. Upon exhale and without

fire stick

This is your wand.

hesitation, lower your mallow.

2. Before roasting you must summon the flame. Slowly and silently beckon

for the fire, rubbing sticks together or something to encourage it out of its invisable shell. Try giving it gifts of wood and other organic material, that it may grow robust and hot and blustery.

E R

5. Slide your hot mallow off of your

Here amongst the

wand and onto the square. This is

embers, glowing hot

decadence. Watch as the chocolate

with the sole living

memory of fire, is where

the magic happens.

Flames lick and scorch the

powdery surface of your

innocent mallow, heating the

begins to melt. Notice that the type is now sliding off the corner and disappearing into a maelstrom of cocoa and caramelized sugar. Picture your anxieties and fears melting into it. Smell the smoke from the fire.

air inside this porous corpus, expanding then releasing. Sugars combine with oxygen at temperatures that would make you say “hey, be careful, that’s

6. Now, like the final stroke from an artist’s brush, finish your s’more with another firmly placed graham cracker on top. Your opus is complete, but

hot,” causing your hum-drum old

eating it is another art form entirely.

lump of sugar and gelatin to spread

It is a race against not only the clock,

its caramelized wings and burst

but the random crumble of the cracker

forth from the inferno (AKA, melt)

and the melt of the mallow as well.

in goopy, golden-brown glory.

Be persistent. You are worth it.

In moments, the metamorphosis is

7. With the mysterious taste of

complete. Remove your mallow.

a s’more still tickling your taste buds, ponder the glowing embers

4. On a bed of graham cracker,

as they dance, beautiful now

place one 5mg square of the D-Line

in their waning moments.

Chocolate Bar from NETA—the dark and bitter counterpoint to

Feel the universe vibrating at your

your sweet, newly roasted mallow.

feet and notice that you are a part

Bathe the rich Belgian chocolate

of it. Consider the indifference

in the light of a single moonbeam

with which the mosquitos choose

to activate the full potential of the

their prey and the role you play

cannabinoids hidden within*.

in our ecosystem. Notice that life is swirling all around you, beginning and ending and becoming

* No studies have been conducted

everything else. You are home.

proving or disproving the effects of moonlight on cannabinoid profile.

Remember to put out the fire.

The Dankest Gener ation

“I wouldn’t mind feeling something when I take it, if you know what I mean.” The last people you’d expect to ask for help buying weed

Another woman shyly confided to Mikayla, “I wouldn’t mind

would probably be senior citizens. But that’s exactly what

feeling something when I take it, if you know what I mean.”

NETA Community Relations Manager Mikayla Bell was asked to do.

Oh, Mikayla definitely knew what she meant.

“Hi, Mikayla? This is Linda over at Fox Hill Village. Some of the

If you’ve never seen NETA’s Brookline dispensary, allow us

women here are interested in using their medical cannabis

to take a moment to set the stage for you. It’s located in the

cards for the first time at NETA.

former Brookline Savings Bank, which was originally designed by renowned Swiss-American architect Franz Joseph

“Do you want to join us?”

Untersee.

Do you want to join us? Join a group of senior citizens using

Untersee is primarily known for his church designs, and you

their medical cannabis cards for the first time?

can see the influence in the Brookline building. The windows are arched and framed in mahogany, with high Doric columns

Everyone wants to join a group of senior citizens using their

in between. The vaulted ceiling is crowned with a skylight

medical cannabis cards for the first time!

dome painted in blue.

That’s how Mikayla found herself riding a bus with six 80-

Mikayla and her new friends were excited to go inside. There

and 90-year-old women eager to buy cannabis. No senior

was only one hitch: showing identification is required before

citizen stoners clad in tie-dye here. No ma’am. The ladies were

you can enter all cannabis dispensaries, and NETA is no

dressed to the nines. Their hair had been roller-set and styled.

exception. One woman realized she had forgotten her ID.

Their lipstick games were #flawless. “That’s it!” she exclaimed. “I’m going to Dunkin’.” The They looked so prim and proper...until they started peppering

Brookline police who were directing traffic overheard her and

Mikayla with questions about which cannabis products they

laughed as they gave her directions to the nearest Dunkin’.

should buy. Everyone else went inside to make their purchases. Each woman sought something slightly different. Several of them were well-acquainted with arthritis pain and were interested in topicals: cannabis-infused lotions and salves. One woman was interested in cannabis tincture because she wanted to get a good night’s sleep, not obsess over life’s big questions (If a jogger runs at the speed of sound, can she still hear her iPod?).

And when they were done and reunited for the trip home,

people who qualify for a medical card and could benefit from

they took a group photo to commemorate the trip and

medical cannabis...if they only knew about it.

demanded that Mikayla join them in the shot. The question is: how do you find those people (and if they Some of the women asked if they could try their cannabis

want to, get them on the medical cannabis bus)?

purchases on the bus ride home. Mikayla told them it would be best to wait until they arrived back at Fox Hill Village so

That’s why NETA formed the Community Relations (CR)

they could be mindful of their experience.

team. They’re tasked with reaching out to and educating people who might be eligible for a medical cannabis card in

How NETA is getting more people on the (medical cannabis) bus...

Massachusetts but don’t understand how cannabis could

At NETA, we’ve seen medical cannabis help hundreds of

With that in mind, Mikayla focused on Baby Boomers and

people successfully manage physical pain and emotional

their older counterparts. They’re a significant part of our

trauma.

patient-base and they’ve seen a lot of success with medical

help them.

cannabis. However, the stigma against cannabis is still strong

But, we’ll be blunt: it’s not enough. It’s not enough to help

for many of them. Using cannabis is only for druggies and

hundreds of people when there are potentially thousands of

criminals, right? How can it be medicine?

Yet, stigma or no, older people are very interested in learning

And then, word started to get around. Other groups started

more about cannabis, especially if they feel like their current

to reach out to her on their own to ask for materials or to host

medication regimen is not helping them.

their own sessions. The auditorium was packed for the Fox Hill Village information session.

“One thing I hear from a lot of older people is, ‘I’m sick of taking all of these pills that don’t even do anything,’” says

Of course, nobody can get medical cannabis just because

Mikayla. “But they also want to remain independent and

they want it. A physician has to provide certification for

stay active for as long as possible. I love teaching them

a medical card. However, because cannabis is still illegal

how medical cannabis could bring them relief without them

at a federal level, many doctors won’t prescribe it. Part of

getting high, unless they want those psychoactive effects,

Mikayla’s job is informing interested adults of all the various

of course! They start to get a more normal sense of what

providers who certify, and then helping them with anything

cannabis can be.”

else they may need along the way.

Because of her outreach, Mikayla’s spoken to several hundred

“Our older patients are my favorites because there’s

older adults. To start with, she approached local assisted

something really rebellious about them using cannabis,” says

living facilities, senior centers, and the Brookline Center, a

Mikayla. “They’re breaking a big stigma. They’ve also had less

provider of outpatient mental health services, about hosting informational sessions on medical cannabis.

exposure to it, so I have the opportunity to educate them

(Not quite as exciting as joining a group of senior citizens to

about the different products and what they can do for them.”

use their medical cannabis cards for the first time, but, you gotta start somewhere.)

And, if she’s really lucky? She gets a personal invitation to join a group of new patients on their first trip to NETA Brookline.

Mikayla’s career in cannabis started from the ground up.

If you ask nicely, she’ll probably even bring some chocolate

She became a medical cannabis patient herself because of

chip cookies. First lesson: always prepare for the munchies!

significant hip and shoulder pain. Even though she saw a doctor, she didn’t quite understand the idea of dosing.

Meet Mikayla Bell, Fierce Advocate for Older Medical Cannabis Patients...

“The first time I took 50mg and it was too much! I was a little too high for my comfort. So now I’m a huge advocate for ‘low

When you ask little kids what they want to be when they

and slow.’ Start with a low dose, and go slow with increasing

grow up, it’s a pretty safe bet you’ll hear certain job titles and

the dose. You won’t figure out the perfect dose right out of

big dreams.

the gate, so give it time,” says Mikayla.

•

Firefighter. I’m going to save so many people and pets

When she came back to Massachusetts and started working

from fires.

for NETA, she decided to take ownership of her health. She

•

Ballerina. I want to dance in front of everybody.

began to more carefully experiment so she could learn what

•

Cop. I’ll catch thieves and bad guys.

was helping her and why. Did she prefer indica or sativa, or

•

Singer. I’ll go on The Voice and everyone’s chair will swivel

a blend? What dose was best for hip pain, for chilling out, or

around.

falling asleep? She tried cannabis in different forms: tincture, chocolate bars, cubes, vaping.

Something you probably won’t hear? “Community relations manager for a cannabis dispensary.”

It’s safe to say that Mikayla truly understands the ins and outs of all of NETA’s cannabis products. And she’s determined to

You wouldn’t have heard those words from Mikayla Bell when

use her knowledge to help people of all ages get medical

she was a little girl or when she was in high school. In fact,

cannabis, if they need it.

you never could have told high-school-age Mikayla that her future lay in cannabis. Back then she was a star track athlete. You don’t smoke pot when you have to run the 1000-meter dash! No-o. But she also felt strongly that smoking pot was bad. As vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions, she passionately spread S.A.D.D.’s message about not using drugs or alcohol. And yet that’s exactly what Mikayla Bell grew up to be... Community Relations Manager at NETA, who one day in March of 2019, definitely found herself on a bus with six 90year old women who were eager to try cannabis products for the first time ever. “Even in college, I was super against it. It blew my mind when I found out how many people I knew smoked, and how often. How were they even able to go to class?” says Mikayla. Not until her junior year did she try cannabis, and even then she was really hesitant the first few times. But things changed when a buddy in California called her up and said, “I’ve got a huge cannabis harvest and I need some trimmers. Do you want to join us?”

SUGGESTED USES

Sore muscles • Muscle tightness • Stiff neck • Joint pain • Dry skin • Chest congestion

NETAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director of Diversity Programs

On shaping the future of cannabis

For NETA’s Director of Diversity Programs and

Marketing

cannabis

has

Specialist always

Kim

Napoli,

been

about

social justice. It all started in 2006, when she became the first female

Kim says, “Meeting Joan, and being unable to help

owner of a cannabis-related business in Massachusetts.

her, broke my heart. Here was an older woman who

The Hempest, located in Harvard Square in Cambridge,

was dying. Instead of spending her last days with her

sells

family, she was out in the street looking for medicine.

high-quality,

hemp-related

products:

shoes,

clothing, and food.

She asked me for help, and I couldn’t help her. In that one moment, my life changed. I knew I needed to do

Kim’s then-boyfriend (and now-husband), Jon Napoli,

more to advocate for legalizing this medicine.”

founded The Hempest in 1995 with the goal of reversing 80-years of stigma against hemp. Back then, hemp was

The experience galvanized her desire to make hemp

wrongly categorized as a drug, and growing hemp was

and cannabis legally available to people. When she

illegal until 2014. (Importing hemp has always been

applied to law school, she told Joan’s story in her

relatively legal.)

personal statement. Kim wanted to be clear that she’d use her law degree to advocate for legalizing cannabis.

Working at the store gave Kim the opportunity to meet a lot of people, and to educate the public about the

After law school, Kim’s day job was as an employment

benefits of hemp and cannabis. Many of the people

lawyer at a firm in downtown Boston. But she

came into the store looking specifically for actual

continued to work at The Hempest and support

cannabis. But in 2006, cannabis for medicinal or adult

efforts to legalize cannabis.

use consumption was still illegal. Kim had to turn those individuals away.

“And then in 2016, I was asked to be the Director of Outreach for the Yes on 4 Campaign to Regulate

But one day, a woman named Joan came into the

and Tax Marijuana in Massachusetts. The campaign

Hempest. “Do you know where I can get any weed?”

was successful. Now I work for NETA as Director of

She explained she had severe coronary artery disease

Diversity Programs, thereby ensuring NETA adheres to

with unstable angina. Her providers gave her pain

the provisions in the law around diversity and positive

medications. “But they also told me cannabis could

impact,” says Kim.

give me relief. But they couldn’t tell me where to get it and they couldn’t prescribe it to me. If I could get my hands on some, it could be an option for me.”

Black people and white people use cannabis at about the same rate. Cannabis Use Amongst 18-25-Year-Olds

The statistics are staggering in regards to the rate of incarceration for people of color who either grew, sold, or possessed cannabis. The impact of incarceration is

40%

felt not only by the person being incarcerated, but by their families and their communities as well. Children

30%

were left without parents, in communities where crime

20%

escalated in proportion to the number of people who had been taken away. Cannabis may have been

10%

legalized, but people in the affected communities have

yet to be brought into the fold.

2001

2004

2007

2010 Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why NETA has the role of Director of Diversity

White People

Black People

Programs, and what better person to run these programs than Kim Napoli? (N.B., while Kim is a lawyer, she is not acting in that capacity while at NETA.)

How NETA is Shaping the Future of Cannabis

Kim oversees two detailed plans in place to address Collectively, the state regulations for Massachusetts dispensaries are located under 935 CMR 500, which

these issues and the state requirements under 935 CMR 500:

governs both medical and adult use of cannabis. 935 CMR 500 describes regulations around licensing procedures, operational rules, cultivation facilities; and

1. The Diversity Plan, which keeps NETA diverse and inclusive for employees and contractors.

ensuring the blossoming cannabis industry is diverse, inclusive, and having a positive impact on specific

2. The Positive Impact Plan, which ensures that areas in Massachusetts harmed most by the war on drugs

communities.

benefit from the positive impact of adult-use cannabis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;NETA is committed to getting to the real heart of what the law intended - which was to make sure women, minorities, LGBTQ, and veterans were included in the

This is how NETA is shaping the future of equity in cannabis.

cannabis industry,â&#x20AC;? says Kim Napoli.

Massachusetts is being very intentional in embedding equity into its cannabis industry. Compared to the many dinosaur-age industries that have entrenched sexism, racism, and other biases, the cannabis industry is new, and the opportunity to shape its future means a chance at getting it right from the get-go.

However, the cannabis industry is not without historical baggage. The War on Drugs had a disproportionate, negative

impact

people

and

communities of color with low income.

People of color are nearly 4 times more likely than whites to be arrested for cannabis possession.

Other illegal drugs

52% of drug arrests are for cannabis

NETA is also one of the founding partners of the Cannabis Community Care and Research Network (C3RN), which could be described as a cannabis think tank. They offer a diversity scholarship and put on programs and events across the state to foster inclusion and education in the industry. The financial support NETA provides allows for people from diverse areas, as well as students, to attend their events free of charge. NETA also supports these folks in their efforts to become social equity vendors through the Social Equity Program by the

The Diversity Plan at NETA

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.

The Diversity Plan has multiple strategies for achieving

The C3RN work bleeds into the Positive Impact Plan,

diversity and inclusion. Training is an important piece of

described below.

that. It includes programs to ensure a level playing field for all employees.

The Positive Impact Plan

NETA’s senior management is 65% women, which is not

“The negative impacts of the War on Drugs are still

something many cannabis dispensaries can boast.

being felt in communities of color,” says Kim. “There are families that were broken apart and subjected to

“In this historically illicit market, men were the ones

lower income, lower life expectancy, malnutrition, lack of

frequently cultivating cannabis on a larger scale, so

education, and inadequate housing, just to name a few.”

it’s more expected for men to do it. Not so for women, who toed the line of the middle class, measuring rods

Kim continues, “We have people sitting in jail for

they continue to be subjected to” says Kim. “So when

cannabis-related crimes... and the people who put them

it comes to hiring people who have the expertise and

there—police officers, prosecutors, law enforcement,

skill set, it’s the men who were more free to grow it

etc.,—are the people who are now in line to get licenses

before legalization.

to sell cannabis. It’s very hurtful. It stokes the flames of mistrust. We have a lot of work to do.”

“You’ll hear cannabis described as a “Boy’s Club”, and I’d have to agree certain pockets of the cannabis industry

NETA’s positive impact plan is focused on getting

do feel that way, much like the agricultural and trades

everyone to the same starting point by giving tools and

industries. That’s why the law that legalized cannabis

opportunities to people so they can be brought into

specifically identified women as people who needed to

the industry.

be included and trained.”

Reversing the “Boys’ Club” feeling has two parts. The first part includes cultural sensitivity and unconscious bias training, and open conversations about people’s experiences.

The second part is the in-development mentorship program for our female employees that will connect senior-level staff with mid-level management. We know it’s really important to support women who are trying to grow their careers with the skills they’ll need now

Enforcing marijuana laws costs states $3,613,969,972 per year

and in the future.

Source: American Civil Liberties Union (2010). Marijuana Arrests by the Numbers. Retrieved from www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers

“ We have people sitting in jail for cannabis-related crimes... and the people who put them there (police officers, prosecutors, law enforcement, etc.,) are the people who are now in line to get licenses to sell cannabis.”

to offer jobs but also training, so people can develop the skills necessary to work in the industry. But there are other ways they can benefit from the cannabis industry as well. How can we bring them in? It’s a question I ask myself every day.”

NETA participates in job fairs held by Roxbury Community College (RCC) and the Urban Jobs League. Both organizations have an emphasis on helping people find employment and host job fairs regularly.

To focus on skill-building, NETA has an internship program with RCC where students can work in cultivation, retail operations management, or in human resources.

“The point of the internship is to help these students begin to understand some of the inner workings of the cannabis industry. We really incentivize students to join by offering payment and four course credits upon completion of the internship,” says Kim.

The next step for the Positive Impact Plan is to leverage the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity and economic empowerment programs to offer mentorship to up to three individuals who are economic empowerment-certified applicants currently in the process of licensing.

“There are so many problems and pitfalls in this process that could be easily avoided simply by talking to the people who have done it before,” says Kim. “We plan to hold office hours and essentially let these applicants

Recruiting and Hiring

pick our brains so they can get their licenses.”

NETA makes a concerted effort to keep the pipeline of

“The stakes are high. We know that 50% of all

new talent diverse. All of the communications and job

businesses fail. Last time I checked, there were over

advertisement materials are reflective of the community

300 applications for licensure. Only five of those were

we want to support: women, people of color, people of

from certified economic empowerment people,” says

all ages.

Kim. “Even if we can get all five of those through, we’re talking about two, maybe three of them being

When recruiting, NETA makes sure it reaches out

successful. That is not a successful social equity

and advertises new jobs in places like Roxbury, which

program. In order to see equity in ownership and

has the highest concentration of people of color in

employment, there must be equity in opportunity to

Massachusetts.

access the market. That means lowering barriers to entry, creating reasonable and smart regulations, and

“Roxbury is very economically depressed. I know,

a majority of operators that support one another for

because I live there, and I see it every day,” says Kim.

the greater good. All of us at NETA look forward to

“There’s so much work to be done, and my work at

doing our part to create that reality.”

NETA is focused on reaching communities like Roxbury

WHAT’S IN A N AME?

Access is our vision. Access to stigma free cannabis for adults and medical patients who use cannabis to find relief from very serious and real health conditions. There are children who require access to medical cannabis for seizure disorders who can’t access it because they live in a state where cannabis is illegal. We think that is wrong. For adults (21+) who consume cannabis, access means freedom from fear. The War on Drugs reeked havoc on communities of color all over the country despite white people consuming cannabis at higher rates. We know that is wrong. Revolution. Justice. Health. Availability. These are the things that NETA stands for. We’re glad to have you in the revolution.

N E W E N G L A N D T R E AT M E N T A C C E S S

ACCESS

High Art

The Branding, Marketing & Creative Behind NETA

Can Design Expand Access to Cannabis? Surprisingly, Yes. At its core, the NETA brand is about access to medication. It’s about righting a wrong in the world. It’s about giving respect to people whom have historically been ostracized. That’s always been our mission. And with adult-use, we’ve expanded access and are talking to a much larger group of people.

NETA’s patient services associates are always

Because the public perception of cannabis is

hearing comments about our product packaging.

changing, and NETA is driving that change.

The stereotypical images of giant cannabis leaves, references to 420, and the tell-tale red,

The stigma against cannabis began in the 1970s,

yellow, and green-striped Rastafarian flags are

when President Nixon successfully convinced

nowhere to be found.

the nation that drugs like cannabis were “public enemy number one in the United States.”

And our customers and patients rave over them

Cannabis became so taboo it wasn’t accepted

(if we may say so ourselves).

as a medicine for a long time; meaning, people who could have benefited from medical cannabis

There’s just something about the series of

weren’t provided access. Our nation has come

muted greens and blues, chunky geometric

a long way since the War on Drugs, but the

shapes, and acute angles that really appeals

negative effects still linger (see page 29).

to our customers and patients. The cardboard stock is thick and matte; the bottles are sleek

Enter: Atwater Studios’ Creative Director Mat

and smooth to the touch.

Dubord. Mat began working with NETA in 2014, as we were preparing to open our doors to medical

Why did NETA choose to buck the typical design

patients for the first time ever. We sought out

trend with our products and visuals?

Mat because we were looking for design work for all aspects of our marketing, or so we thought. What we didn’t know was that we’d be working with a change agent who understood design as a fundamental mechanism for advancing sociopolitical change. “From the beginning, NETA was about health justice,” says Mat. “This was about people who needed medication, and the fact that they couldn’t get it for so long is outrageous.

“We’re

talking

about

children

with

seizure

“With the legalization of adult-use, the NETA brand

disorders who need medical cannabis so they

needed to continue to speak to everyone with the

can live normal lives,” Mat continues. “There are

same level of sophistication we brought to the

veterans and trauma victims who need it so they

medical patients,” says Mat. “Around the same

can feel joy and not constant pain. Access to

time, NETA had also improved the recipe for their

medication is not a privilege, it’s a right.

chocolate bar, and introduced D-Line distillate.

“I saw how NETA had an enormous opportunity to

“So it made sense to give Bar a facelift.”

change the conversation about cannabis, and that required a radical change to the visual language

The new design for Bar features vibrant colors oozing

of cannabis.”

from the word BAR. When you look at it, probably nothing could be farther from your mind than birds.

So Mat’s design strategy shot an arrow into the heart of cannabis stigma. He went for class and

But birds were, in fact, the design inspiration for our

sophistication, with a hint of playfulness. That

new chocolate bar package.

was another arrow too: killing the stereotype that serious topics require being uptight.

“For this new design, all of us, Atwater and NETA, really wanted to push the design envelope,” says

“When we saw those first designs, we couldn’t

Mat. “That was easier said than done, however. None

believe it,” says Arnon Vered, NETA co-founder.

of our initial designs were really sticking.

“Mat had completely understood who we were, our mission and vision, and what we were trying

“And then one day I went into work, opened up my

to do; and translated that into a completely fresh

iPad, and started sketching some birds.”

way of communicating our brand through design.” Mat won’t reveal how a really cool drawing of an Arnon continues, “We’d never really thought

owl with rainbow eyes turned into the chocolate bar

about the packaging itself advancing our mission.

design. But by the end of the day, he had full approval

We know NETA’s prescriptions help patients,

from NETA for the new Bar packaging artwork.

and that’s the main thing. But the packaging is preserving access. The design bolsters public

“It’s really incredible to be able to create and shape

perception and advances cultural change.

the visual language for an entire industry,” says Mat. “My focus lately is on the packaging materials

“That’s what NETA has always been about: making the world a better place.” As NETA continues to grow, we know our visual language must grow with us. When Mat created our original brand visuals, we were purely a medical dispensary. Once we started offering products for adult-use, we were talking to a much wider audience.

themselves. How do we create these packages costeffectively and sustainably? Everything we create should be worthy of being in the world.”

e WWW.NETAC ARE.ORG