The Pharmhouse Wellness Chronic(les)

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Christopher Tallon

I interviewed the owner of a dispensary. There are a ton of them around here (Grand Rapids, Michigan) but most are owned by out-of-town and/or out-of-state corporate types. The guy I interviewed, Casey Kornoelje, is a dude who emptied his modest 401k and took a chance to become the owner of the only locally owned and operated dispensary in the city. And since I interviewed Casey, Pharmhouse Wellness become one of only three dispensaries in Grand Rapids to get an award for social equity in cannabis (specifically the gold-tier award in Michigan’s Social Equity All-Star Program from the state Cannabis Regulatory Agency). On top of that they’ve done beautification projects, planted tress, and hosted events, all aimed at benefitting the local community.

It’s a very cool place.

So cool that, as of today, I’ve interviewed 4 people who work there. I got Ashley Nash on the podcast and that will come out Monday! Ashely is one half of the creative team at Pharmhouse Wellness. Ashley and Megan (who was on the podcast previously) do myriad things including, but not limited to, branding, social media, marketing, and event production.

Ashley is a mutli-talented artist who does a little of everything in her creative space. So get ready for that to drop next when the show returns from summer vacation 8/15/22.

And in the meantime, here’s the rest of the Pharmhouse interviews. Episode 73 takes place at the Pharmhouse Art Market and features several interviews, one of which is with a Pharmhouse budtender (shout out to Loyiso!) and the rest are with artists and attendees. There was a buzz in the crowd. Pun heavily intended.

Ep.56 | Casey Kornoelje – Grand Rapids’ Only Local in the Cannabis Game – Creative Ops

Casey Kornoelje is the sole owner of the only locally-owned cannabis dispensary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You might ask, "There are so many dispensaries…how is Pharmhouse Wellness the only local one?" Great question. Listen for the answer to that, how Casey got into growing in the first place, how the shop came to fruition, and what his plans are for the shop and the community around it going forward. . . . Check out Pharmhouse Wellness on their website, http://www.pharmhousewellness.com, on Facebook @pharmhousewellness, and on Instagram @pharmhousewellness. . . . Follow the show and its host at http://www.christophertallon.com and on all social media @TallonWrites. . . . And leave a review AND a rating for the show wherever you download podcasts. Thanks!

Ep.73 | The Pharmhouse Wellness Art Market: A Podumentary… – Creative Ops

Pharmhouse Wellness, Grand Rapids, Michigan's only locally owned and operated dispensary, had another art market. Again I sold books and (someone else's (my daugher's!)) art. This time, however, I brought my podcast gear and made a whole thing of it, talking to a little bit of every kind of person around: pot smokers, local celebrities, art enthusiasts, art vendors, budtenders, and one of the event organizers. And Mike Logan did a great read of the back of my book Switchers, which I encourage you to read. Your future self will thank you… . . . The interviewees are: Mike Logan | IG: @icecoldcomedian Matt "soon-to-be from GR" Sweda | IG: @mattsweda Frankie | IG: @stolenchapstick K.C. | IG: @kcnextdoo_ & @nailzbykc_ Loyiso "Lou" Matanda | IG: @loyisomatandabey Ashley Nash | IG: @nashleyillustration ; nashleyillustration@gmail.com Kate Lewis | IG: @claykate ; http://www.katelewisceramics.com/shop Dean from BEDROOM CEILINGS | Insta and Facebook @bedroomceilings . . . Shout out to my tent sharing artists from the two markets: Los The Artist and Savannah Jade. One more to Michigrown for sponsoring the event and giving away some nice freebies! Hope to see you at the next one August 20, 2022, at Pharmhouse Wellness in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Ep.74 | Megan Smith & MOSS ART!!! – Creative Ops

Megan Smith is an artist who mainly works with natural materials and does beautiful stuff you can check out on Instagram @mossberrymarvels. We talk art, process, social media, mental health, events, tv (the name of the show was Wilfred…) and movies, run-ins with the law, local coffee, and other stuff! We recorded in bean bag chairs next to Pharmhouse Wellness, so you'll feel like you're out on the lawn with friends as you hear some of the sounds of the city of Grand Rapids intermittently. … You can check out more on the show, its host (me), and my suspenseful, time-travel novel at http://www.christophertallon.com. … Do something creative and have a great day!

So that’s it. I’ll add Ashley’s to the mix after Monday! You can check out some stuff on her IG: