NEW LOW PRICE: New & Renewal Medical Cards now $149

Utah in the Weeds Episode 25 – Pedro Padilla-Martinez is a Pharmacy Agent at WholesomeCo

Episode Audio

What You Will Learn in This Podcast

Who is Pedro Padilla-Martinez? [00:08]

How WholesomeCo’s online ordering system works [00:53]

What is a pharmacy agent? [03:37]

Pedro’s senior thesis on arrests in Utah [07:10]

What Pedro is able to recommend to patients [14:57]

How Pedro uses medical cannabis [15:46]

Pedro’s favorite types of patients to help [17:46]

Pedro’s thoughts on high-THC products [24:01]

What Pedro considers to be the biggest hurdles for patients [25:57]

Pedro’s continuing cannabis education [31:12]

Where Pedro sees himself in five years [33:28]

Pedro’s favorite cannabis strain [33:59]

Resources in This Episode

UtahMarijuana.org

IAmSaltLake.com

Utah in the Weeds Podcast

@utahintheweeds on Instagram

WholesomeCo

Podcast Summary

Who is Pedro Padilla-Martinez? [00:08]

Pedro is a pharmacy agent at WholesomeCo dispensary. WholesomeCo is located at 580 W 100 N in Bountiful. 

Pedro is a recent graduate of the University of Utah, with a degree in political science and sociology. When he first started college, he did not know what he wanted to do after graduation. While in college, he became interested in the history of cannabis and cannabis policy. In fact, he completed an internship for Proposition 2 in Utah, collecting signatures for the petition. Pedro also interned for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

How WholesomeCo’s online ordering system works [00:53]

To use WholecomeCo’s registration system, you will need to first register with them as a patient. You can begin the process by emailing them at hello@wholesome.co.

What is a pharmacy agent? [03:37]

A pharmacy agent is similar to a “budtender” role in other states. As a pharmacy agent, Pedro directly interacts with patients, helping them choose products and walking them through the transaction process.

When a patient initially chooses a dispensary, they will meet with a pharmacist first to discuss dosing, delivery, and their Qualified Medical Provider’s (QMP) recommendations. After this visit with the pharmacist, patients will begin working with Pedro.

Pedro’s senior thesis on arrests in Utah [07:10]

While in college, Pedro wrote his senior thesis on what arrests look like in Utah. Pedro felt that racial disparities with cannabis and medical cannabis had not been properly addressed in Utah. The question he set out to answer with his senior thesis was if there are indeed racial disparities with cannabis arrests in Utah. 

Pedro sourced information from the US Census Bureau, FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, and Utah’s Department of Public Safety.

Pedro found that African American communities and native American communities are especially disproportionately affected by marijuana arrest rates. 

While researching Hispanic or Latino arrest rates, Pedro found that the data was harder to gather. The FBI classifies the Hispanic or Latino community as an ethnicity, not a race. Thus, Hispanic or Latino communities are typically classified with whites. This becomes problematic in states like Utah with a large Hispanic or Latino population. 

What Pedro is able to recommend to patients [14:57]

As a pharmacy agent, Pedro cannot provide specific recommendations to patients. Instead, he relies on the pharmacist for recommendations. For example, if a patient has a specific recommendation from their pharmacist, Pedro will stick to that recommendation.

However, Pedro will provide his own personal experience with products by explaining to patients how a product has helped him with certain symptoms. 

How Pedro uses medical cannabis [15:46]

Pedro uses medical cannabis for chronic pain, specifically for pain in his knees from years of skateboarding.

Pedro’s favorite types of patients to help [17:46]

Pedro really likes helping new patients of WholesomeCo. He initially thought he would have a hard time with new patients, but enjoys helping new patients understand what information is accurate or inaccurate. He also enjoys explaining products to patients, breaking down how it may help their symptoms. For example, he may suggest a new patient use a product with Delta-8-THC instead of the typical Delta-9-THC, as Delta-8-THC can provide a more mellow experience.

Pedro’s thoughts on high-THC products [24:01]

Pedro has worked with patients who have the belief that the higher the THC amount, the better the product. Pedro will show patients that even though a product may have a lower THC amount, it may have additional cannabinoids that could provide better relief of their symptoms. 

What Pedro considers to be the biggest hurdles for patients [25:57]

Pedro believes the two biggest hurdles are the bureaucratic process of becoming a patient and issues they have with MJ Freeway software system. They have experienced issues with the system going down, or not having accurate patient information, making it difficult to order products for patients.

Pedro’s continuing cannabis education [31:12]

Recently, Pedro has been learning more about processed products. Many of his new patients do not want to inhale or vape flower when first using Medical Cannabis, and processed products such as gummies and cubes can be an easier way for them to consume cannabis.

An issue with processed products is they typically lose their cannabinoid and terpene profile. However, recent full-spectrum products have been developed that keep these profiles intact, such as products from Boojum.

Where Pedro sees himself in five years [33:28]

Pedro still sees himself in the industry, becoming more of an expert on cannabis. 

Pedro’s favorite cannabis strain [33:59]

Pedro likes Sundae Driver from Dragonfly Wellness.

Related Articles

By UtahMarijuana.org
Subscribe to our newsletter below to keep the canna-education coming.
Published October 13, 2020

Add a Little Green to Your Inbox

Get the latest canna-news, education, discounts & more.
chevron-down
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram