Home Columbia Care announces medical cannabis subsidy program expansion to Virginia
Local News

Columbia Care announces medical cannabis subsidy program expansion to Virginia

Contributors
cannabis
(© MKS – stock.adobe.com)

Columbia Care Inc. has expanded its medical cannabis subsidy program, Share Well/Care Well, to eight states, including Virginia.

The Share Well/Care Well program, which launched in 2019 and formerly known as Adopt-a-Family, provides financial subsidies to Columbia Care patients in need. These subsidies are funded by a portion of revenue from the Company’s stores, as well as donations from patients, customers and employees.

To date, over 200 patient subsidies have been issued in six states. Columbia Care is working to expand the program to all medical markets by 2022, pending regulatory approval.

Eligibility for the Share Well/Care Well program is determined by financial need. Examples of requirements include monthly medical cannabis expenses exceeding 15 percent of monthly household income, or the annual household income falling below 138 percent of the federal poverty line.

“Legalization has not caught up to recognize and act on the need for financial assistance in this industry,” said Ngiste Abebe, Vice President of Public Policy at Columbia Care. “We’re talking about patients who are depending on this natural plant instead of addictive pharmaceuticals for their pain relief. Patient access is a cornerstone of our public policy work and we believe that financial needs should never stand in the way of life-changing medical cannabis. This program exemplifies the power of how the cannabis community supports each other.”

As one patient in New York said, “I have multiple sclerosis that confines me to a motorized wheelchair and suffer with severe muscle spasms that cause crippling pain. The best and only medication that helps me is the medical marijuana from Columbia Care. Since taking the tablets, I get great relief and can have less pain which lets me be able to socialize and not be shut-in and isolated. This has been a blessing. Being on a small, fixed income, the program has helped me continue taking my medical marijuana.”

A full list of criteria, as well as the online application, can be found on the program website. To learn more about the program and see a list of participating dispensaries, visit www.sharewellcarewell.com.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

uva basketball andrew rohde shooting
Basketball, Sports

Live Coverage: UVA Basketball on the road at Virginia Tech on ACC Basketball Saturday

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida

The Daytona 500 will zoom into action on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 and it promises to be one the best races of the year. The NASCAR season will kick into high gear this week and the best Florida sportsbooks are giving away up to $5,625 in free bets for the race. Read on to learn...

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina

The 67th annual Daytona 500 is right around the corner and NASCAR fans in South Carolina can put the pedal to the metal by cashing in with some of the top online sportsbooks. With the season-opening race set to kick into high gear on Sunday, the best offshore betting sites are giving away up to...

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500
Sports News

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500

uva ryan dunn ncst
Basketball, Sports

UVA Basketball alum Ryan Dunn set for NBA All-Star Game Tournament on Sunday

South River Greenway
Local News

Waynesboro: Section of South River Greenway to close for 30 to 60 days for improvements

uva football o line
Football, Sports

UVA Football: Elliott adds talent, depth, experience to O line from the transfer portal