A Quad Cities man who's well-known as the head of Stern Beverage in Milan has become an advocate for medical marijuana. Matt Stern and ten employees now sell cannabis products at his new store, Nature's Treatment of Illinois.
On today's WVIK News Focus, Michelle O'Neill talks with Stern about his new business and how it can help patients.
Sidebar
Patients with certain illnesses no longer have to leave Illinois or find a drug dealer to buy marijuana. Local businessman, Matt Stern, owns and operates a state-approved medical marijuana dispensary in Milan.
Stern says Nature's Treatement of Illinois opened last week with limited hours and helped 29 patients buy medical marijuana. But starting today, it's open weekdays from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturdays until 3. Currently ten employees work there, but as demand increases, he'll hire more.
The dispensary's lobby is open to the public for anyone to learn about the state pilot program. Staff can answer questions about eligibility, and help customers apply for medical cannabis cards.
Currently, customers must pay cash according to the state's rules. Stern says the transactions are completed using computer software that's monitored by the state. And, 29 cameras are located on site.
Nature's Treatment has bought medical marijuana from four state-approved cultivation centers, including Green Thumb Industries, or GTI, in southwest Rock Island. Eventually, Stern hopes to buy marijuana products from all 20 of the growing centers in Illinois. That way the store can offer more varieties to fit the needs of its customers.
