In a small building on a dirt road in Taylor, Kompo Medical Marijuana Dispensary is providing treatment options for local patients. No longer are dispensaries the secretive backroom places they may have once been. Slowly the stigma is falling away and it is much like visiting the local pharmacy.
Chris Plehn, who manages the retail establishment, has a unique perspective to offer Kompo patients. He was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida and wasn’t expected to live beyond the age of 18. At nearly 40 years of age, Plehn has experienced a host of health problems and extensive surgeries. At one time, he was on numerous prescription drugs but now relies solely on medical marijuana, also known as cannabis. “My life has changed exponentially for the better since I found cannabis as a medicine,” said Plehn.
Kompo is a family owned and operated state licensed facility that has been at its current location for the past four years. They employ approximately 15 to 20 employees depending on the season. Kompo provides medical cannabis in a variety of flower strains, concentrates, edibles and other products. They also offer products such as cannabidiol (CBD) oil that does not require a prescription or medical card. The oil is made by extracting the CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil. A line of CBD oil pet treats is also among the items for sale.
The facility itself is secure and the staff must adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) privacy laws just as a doctor’s office would. “We try to be ethically and morally responsible,” said Plehn.
Kompo serves more than 1,000 patients throughout the White Mountains and has delivery service available once you are an established patient. This has become a crucial service for patients who are on hospice care.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) reports that for May of 2018 there were 105,243 new applications received statewide for medical marijuana cards. Kompo itself has already seen 60 new patients for the month of June.
Arizona State University research indicates that cannabis can be used to help in the treatment of illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Hepatitis C and many other chronic or debilitating diseases.
As with any medication, cannabis may interact with other drugs and should be used with caution. Cannabis is not without its own possible negative side effects but the stigma surrounding cannabis is not what it used to be and it is becoming a more popular treatment option. That is why Kompo also helps patients through education and consultations to fully understand the patient’s needs and meet them.
In addition to serving patients, Kompo has quietly been contributing to the Taylor and Snowflake areas since it opened. There is a donation jar at the store and funds are collected from patients and with staff contributions, the money is donated monthly to a variety of causes including national organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or simply a local family in need. “Taylor and Snowflake have been very good to us,” said Plehn.
Kompo enjoys supporting its community but the company keeps a low-key presence because some may not share its view on medical cannabis. “We try to support the community, the industry and the cause as much as possible but also realize that some people are very personally offended by this,” said Plehn.
Kompo simply wants people to know it is there as a treatment option for patients when they talk with their doctor or pain management specialist. “We want people to understand first of all that we are here and second of all that we are here to help. We are not trying to change anybody’s opinions about anything or rewrite anyone’s values or beliefs. We are just an option,” said Plehn.
As with any healthcare options please seek the advice of a physician. For additional information about medical marijuana or obtaining a card visit www.azdhs.gov. For more information on Kompo and its services visit www.kompo.org or call (928) 536-5151.
