By Stephanie Greene
The Lighthouse Dispensary is the first licensed, recreational and medical Cannabis boutique in Coachella, with both a storefront and door-to-door delivery service throughout the desert. Located just three miles away from the Polo Fields, the Lighthouse Dispensary opened to the public right before the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April 2018 and has been welcomed by festival-goers and local Coachella Valley residents alike. The Lighthouse Dispensary is blazing a new trail in Coachella Valley with the legalization of recreational cannabis in California in January and recently I had a chance to stop by to see what the cannabis craze was all about.
My Lighthouse experience began as soon as I walked through the doors into the reception area where I was greeted by a friendly Cannabis consultant who guided me through a seamless check in process. I was impressed with the bright reception area, adorned with succulents and colorful artwork. The General Manager, Jennifer, walked me through a secure door to the retail area, which was bustling with patrons from all over the valley, each personally waited on by an enthusiastic Cannabis consultant. Jennifer paused in front of a display case full of cannabis-infused confections (from vendors like Dixie Brand, and Korova) and gave me a complete overview of the various options to help me find the perfect products to meet my enjoyable recreational goals.
The Lighthouse provides top-shelf products from fully compliant vendors ranging from flower and concentrates, to cartridges and edibles. With a plethora of options to select from, Jennifer guided me through an amateur-friendly selection process. Using two different jars of Flow Kana premium flower to demonstrate, Jennifer taught me that selecting quality cannabis is similar to selecting fresh produce or flowers at your local supermarket— I was looking for cannabis that has good color and produces an enticing aroma. Though the flower in both jars looked similar to the naked eye, I learned that they were both different strains, Indica and Sativa, which have different effects on the body and result in a wide range of medical benefits. Cannabis Sativas have an uplifting effect, and are considered to produce a social, or daytime high, with added medical benefits in treating migraines, chronic pain and nausea. Cannabis Indicas result in a more relaxing, body-high and are typically used for their calming effects, often used to treat insomnia, anxiety or muscle soreness. For an on-the-go experience, the Lighthouse also offers a wide range of disposable cartridges from wrapped in bold Lichtenstein-inspired graphics by Pure Vape, or delectable chocolate chip cookies from Venice Cookie Co. With so much to learn about, I could easily have been overwhelmed, but I have to say that Jennifer took the time to explain everything, and made my first experience stress free.
The Cannabis consultants were just as well-versed in the medical benefits of the dispensary’s offerings. Given that Cannabis-based products have taken the health and wellness industries by storm, I was delighted to see that the Lighthouse offers the premier selection of CBD-based topicals, including bath and beauty products. Jennifer explained that CBD, a cannabis compound that is non-psychoactive, provides both medical and recreational users relief from pain, anxiety, inflammation and other medical conditions without the feeling of getting high. She introduced me to the cannabis-based health and wellness company, Apothecanna, that has created an accessible line of topicals and skincare products offering everything from muscle soreness relief for exercise enthusiasts to face oils that leave your skin feeling hydrated and dewy. I found myself intrigued by the OM Body medicated bath salts in invigorating scents like lavender and rose-geranium to soothe the mind and relax the body. Not to mention, the packaging is fashionable and worthy of any high-end department store shelf.
Thoroughly impressed and fully educated, I felt compelled to sign up for the Lighthouse V.I.P. Membership Rewards program which includes 10% off of the first purchase, 5% off of all on-going purchases, and an additional 5% off of daily deals. I also learned about special days like Topical Tuesdays and discounts on pre-packaged flower on Flower Fridays. Beyond daily deals, the Lighthouse Dispensary has a full calendar of monthly specials, in-store pop-ups ups and events, and special guest-appearances. And next up is the official Lighthouse Grand Opening Party on June 8th, 2018 complete with special promotions, music, food and special guest appearances throughout the weekend. Take my advice and head out to The Lighthouse Dispensary, which is certainly living up to its name by shining the light on all things Cannabis!
