Today we’d like to introduce you to Nico Richardson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started in the cannabis industry in 2014 and helped launch one of the first medical cannabis licenses in Canada. In 2021, I joined Texas Original as an investor and board member, and in late 2022 began serving as CEO of the company… Texas Original is the only medical cannabis provider that is headquartered in Texas and, in 2018, was the first dispensary in the state to open to the public. We feel fortunate to witness the life-changing impact this medicine has had on Texans over the last few years. Right now, our main focus is providing as much access as we can to Texas patients who need this medicine. We’ve opened several prescription pickup locations across the state, including five in the Dallas area with more on the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Compassionate Use Program (CUP) has helped thousands of Texans access relief, but there are many limitations that act as a barrier to wider patient access in the state. There are 30 million people in Texas, but only 10,000 to 12,000 patients are active in the CUP, which is a very small patient base for the three medical cannabis licenses serving the state. We’re hoping to see expanded patient access during this legislative session with HB 1805, which would allow physicians to prescribe medical cannabis for chronic pain instead of opioids, as well as improve the THC cap for medical cannabis dosages.
One of the biggest struggles on the operational side of our work is inventory storage. Under current regulations, medical cannabis licenses must provide reasonable access to patients across the state but can only store inventory (our medicine) in a single location. We also cannot ship our medicine through the mail, so that means we have a team of drivers traveling across the second-largest geographical state in the nation to deliver medicine to patients on a daily basis.
To help patients gain easier access to prescriptions, we’ve opened numerous pickup locations across Texas where patients can pick up their medicine throughout the week. While we still cannot store inventory overnight at these locations and must drive them back to our dispensary location in Austin, we are able to reach more patients. We have several pickup locations in the Dallas area and are continuing to open more to bring this medicine closer to those who need it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Texas Original?
Our mission is to create the highest quality medicine that changes people’s lives. We stand beside all who believe in safe, legal, and effective access to this powerful medicine. As fellow Texans, we see this as our responsibility to take care of our neighbors.
Our vision is to transform Texas through the power and the truth of medical cannabis. We work for physicians and their patients with current qualifying conditions to supply prescription cannabis that can change lives. We promise to be an ally, a resource, and a guide to help you or your loved ones find relief.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
In a highly-regulated and relatively new industry like medical cannabis, you must be comfortable taking risks and persevering for what you believe in. Everyone at Texas Original believes in the power of medical cannabis and the truth of its ability to improve the quality of life of patients. A future where safe, legal medical cannabis is accessible to all Texas patients who need it is our North Star and why we’re so proud of what we do every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.texasoriginal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasoriginalcc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasoriginalcc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texasoriginal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TexasOriginalCC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfTG9INTlw1H4jHsu45_xcw
Image Credits
Texas Original
