Collective Survey Results

An Open Letter to the SPARC Collective Membership, Cont'd...

Our unique emphasis has been on accessing Chinese and Indian medicine systems – which have been using cannabis as a medicine for over 5,000 years. These two systems recognize what cannabis can and can’t do for people. And frankly, they have much more to say on the topic than western doctors – who’s understanding is relatively limited.

The SPARC Collective Vote

The problem with putting things to a collective vote – is you might find out something you don’t want to know. And frankly we were scared to ask some of the questions that we posed, like whether our members wanted greater savings on their own personal medical cannabis through lower prices– or if they would vote to continue current prices to support the national model for patient services that really help people.

Well, here’s how you voted:

NOTABLE FINDINGS from the Collective Vote

Given the choice between lowering prices and passing every conceivable savings to our members, or keeping average prices and continuing to put the money into building a national model for patient services:
You also told us things we need to work on. You told us that you would appreciate having more neighborhood safety – and that you would like better parking. Many of you wanted greater access to more medicinal strains and increased selection of high CBD medicines. Many of you want at least a few more affordably priced alternatives for our low-income patients. These are our goals for moving forward.

Note: We often have more high CBD strains available than any dispensary in the bay area – but they are popular and tend to run out. Getting more CBD strains, strains that are highly therapeutic and have low THC effects, has been an ongoing challenge.

Why?

It is difficult to get the genetics to cultivate CBD strains due to the fact that people are trying to control them– and it’s hard to find members who can cultivate these strains. So let this be a call to our Collective Membership: If you know people who want to join the SPARC collective and have great CBD medicine they can provide our patients– please have them email us at: info@sparcsf.org.

A few of you asked about the SPARC financial picture. The short answer is the organization will be in debt for at least another year – it’s been a very costly place to run and the operations have been prohibitively expensive.

The SPARC Collective: Setting Course for the Next Year

Your responses have set the direction for the coming year.

We are currently the only dispensary to have a long term partnership with a nonprofit Chinese Medicine Clinic. SPARC is also one of the only dispensaries to lab test the majority of the medicine we provide for safety and many of you expressed the need for that.

Jana Drakka, a Zen monk who does our harm reduction and anti-pain meditation teaching, has expanded services to multiple locations outside of the dispensary this year and we’re considering other locations.

The ongoing success of our partnership with Quan Yin Healing Arts and Misha Cohen (Integrative Medicine at UCSF) has demonstrated the need to expand and open an additional acupuncture and Chinese Medicine clinic. So we are. We have opened a second drop-in acupuncture clinic for SPARC members starting November 8th.

In addition we have just expanded to have onsite Chinese Medicine counseling and referrals at SPARC…Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. See our calendar for times.

Based on your responses we are beginning to expand our free legal services. Our all-star attorney writes:

“Most people respond very positively and are very excited about the free legal services. About half ask questions about patient rights. But other members need their issues looked into. It general takes me 2 weeks to research the issue and provide an answer or guidance. Most of the issues so far include housing. From homelessness to foreclosures and everything in between. I have also been getting tax and family law questions of all things.”

When finances allow it – you told us we need to expand massage.

In addition we are now offering free rapid HIV testing on Fridays from 3-7pm at SPARC. (All service times are posted on our website service calendar here)

We know that patient members come to SPARC to get lab tested, high quality, medical cannabis because it works for them. We also want them to walk out with other healing tools that address their underlying problems…whatever those are. It takes time. Getting healthy can often mean no longer needing medicine.

While 50% of Americans are in favor of legalizing cannabis and treating it like alcohol, we think cannabis should be treated as medicine. There is a popular public misconception that dispensaries are really about recreational users. Much of the research coming out, our own experience – and even our own survey demonstrates quite the opposite.

"The people who are going to dispensaries tend to be the same people who have rejected the Western Health Care model when it doesn't work for them – and are pursuing alternative medicine to deal with their health problems"

– Dr. Amanda Reiman, UC Berkeley Researcher, School of Social Welfare

Our members are also subsidizing SPARC in heading up two scientific national first studies on medical cannabis in partnership with several research organizations. More to come on these exciting projects as they unfold.

SPARC Compassion Programs

We got our start cultivating medical cannabis for one of San Francisco’s finest HIV Hospices that caters to low-income patients with chronic illnesses. We’ve been doing that for more than 10 years now at no cost to those patients. Additionally we provide medicine to chronically ill, low-income folks through other non-profits, including one of San Francisco’s model residential care centers for low-income people suffering from HIV.

We have found that the best way to expand SPARC compassion programs is by partnering with other nonprofits that have a long term investment in the health of their patients – including providing oversight and monitoring use of medical cannabis.

We are in talks to expand to other hospices as soon as the finances allow it. As we grow, we want our patient services to grow too. When you support SPARC – you support these programs.

Patient services shouldn’t be some kind of green-washing strategy to sell pot. They should be the core missions of dispensaries. We’re thankful that most of our members agree.

To the ones that don’t, well – we hope you try our services and find out what it's all about. We’re going to reel you in…

Given the new federal stance on medical cannabis, we think dispensaries across the country should follow the direction we’ve already taken.

To see more detailed results from the SPARC Collective Vote…please see below.

J. Erich Pearson, Executive Director
San Francisco Patient and Resource Center (SPARC)

Multiple Choice Questions

1) SPARC supports medical cannabis research and science. If you would like information on how to participate in paid studies on the efficacy of medical cannabis, check this box and we will send you information.

Yes - 66.4%
No - 33.6%

2) We want to be a national model for patient services. We offer a wide range of services including acupuncture, meditation and more. Presently, the revenue that we generate is reinvested in these services. Please vote on how you feel about this model:

I would prefer SPARC do less services if it means passing on as much savings as possible to me at the time of purchase - 32.2%
I am okay with paying average prices if it means supporting a national model for patient services that really help people - 67.8%

3) Which of the following services would you use if they were offered at SPARC?

Massage - 67.2%
Free Legal Counseling - 38.5%
Nutritional Counseling - 45.0%
Ayurvedic Nutritional Counseling - 26.5%
Free Aids Testing - 19.1%
Herbalist - 43.6%
Yoga - 44.4%

4) Please rate our services to you as a member:

89% said SPARC patient services were very important or important to them.
11% said SPARC patient services were not important to them

5) If we need your support on an issue or to be an activist, may we contact you via email?

Yes - 67.8%
No - 32.2%

6) As members of the SPARC collective, how would you rate the importance of focusing on:
Indoor cultivated medicine
Outdoor cultivated medicine

71% patients voted Indoor cultivation was very important or important
81% patients voted Outdoor cultivation was very important or important

7) Please vote on the importance of the following to you:

Increasing the variety of strains at SPARC
Lowering prices further than they are currently
High THC levels in strains we cultivate
Adding strains that are CBD-rich or other strains that have low THC but are effective for pain relief

69% voted the increasing strain selection was very important or important
52% voted it was very important or important to lower prices
77% voted that it was very important or important to offer or cultivate high THC strains
74% voted that it was very important or important to offer CBD rich Low THC strains effective for pain relief

8) It costs more to cultivate biodynamically farmed medicine(medicine grown to organic standards). Would you be willing to pay a little more for medicine grown this way?

Yes - 64.8%
No - 35.2%

9) Which would you prefer:

SPARC to offer a delivery service - 27.8%
To come to the dispensary (1256 Mission) - 72.2%

10) Please rank SPARC compared to your impressions of other dispensaries:

SPARC is amazing - 47.5%
SPARC is better than most - 40.4%
SPARC is average - 9.9%
SPARC is below average - 0.0%
I have not been to other dispensaries - 2.2%

87% of the SPARC collective said SPARC was amazing or at the top of its field.

Here are some of the responses that you had to our open ended questions:

If you have used our services, please tell us what you thought of the services that you used:

“The Acupuncture has been a blessing, and I am incredibly grateful for this great opportunity offered through SPARC."

“Acupuncture & massage ~ Both awesome. I would keep my SPARC membership for these services alone. Thank You for going that extra mile."

"You are by far the best dispensary I have ever been too in California. I have seen the future of medicinal mj and you are it! People want to know everything about what they are ingesting and smoking and you give it to us. I continue to be impressed with your events and services. You are a true model and visionary that anyone would embrace.”

“Services are great and really that you offer more that just medicine."

“Meditation has made a significantly positive effect on my life, allowing me to change my relationship to my pain, and mitigating my PTSD!”

“Love Jana Drakka and her garden meditations! Finding her changed my life. Sparc is awesome! Jana is awesome.”

“I tried the acupuncture, was very much impressed and pleased. The $5 required was never better spent. I have had acupuncture many times by different Dr.s. The people at the center are very good. Real Pros in the field of acupunture. I will go again. Loved it can not say enough good about the service.”

“I really enjoyed the service overall.”

“I’ve used the accupuncture service and i rate it the highest mark in all areas.”

“Thank you for having tested meds! And strain information on your website with results.”

“Massage- Great! 10 minutes isn't that much, but it's really awesome for free. Ayurveda- I like talking to Kate about diet and ayurveda. I think a lot of patients at SPARC could improve their diets.”

“Amazing, your services are run by professionals and attended by patients with a true interest. THANK YOU.
I have participated in meditation with Jana and I like her very much and have found her to be helpful. I have also used the Quan Yin acupuncture clinic which has given me pain relief. The staff there are really kind and lovely.”

“The fact that you test for safety & potency is very important to me. I'm an active senior, living in Oakland and could get lots of services from Harbor Side, Legal advice from Oaksterdam and a $12 Organic gram from Berkeley, but I go through the extra travel expense and time to patronize SPARC because of your product testing. Thank you.”

“I couldn't be happier.”

“I am very grateful to have SPARC SF as my dispensary of choice.”

“I used the refreshment bar and vaporizer. They were quite impressive and I can't wait to try your other services.”

“Quan Yin acupuncture is a great therapeutic service. Please continue to provide $5 acupuncture.”

“I really love the acupuncture. I have been using it to help with my arthritis. It really helps. THANKS!!!”

“You are number one for me. As a senior, I more than appreciate the discounts given. I do not purchase anywhere else. Thank you.”

“Acupuncture: I loved it, and it was a great price $5 so they weren't loosing out too much and we were getting a great deal on helpful pain management resources.”

“Quan Yin for acupuncture it was wonderful the staff was great.”

“Women's group. Please continue this group. I will personally work on promoting this group if need be. Also a chronic illness group would be great support for those who struggle with normal everyday function.”

“Favorite in SF!”

“Outstanding.”

“Massages- awesome”

“Excellent.”

“Meditation in the Folsom Street park was very calming.”

“I think its incredible. I feel safe and comfortable with Sparc. I feel like the friendliness and approachability of the security as well.”

“Friendly and professional.”

“Acupuncture for my son and for myself at Quan Yin. We have benefited from it and appreciate the affordability since we are low income."

"I attend Jana's meditation groups and they're wonderful. I went to acupuncture at Quan Yin once and the environment was too boisterous for me to relax.”

“Friendly. Not rushed.”

“Clean facility, courteous/knowledgeable staff, good/well priced variety of available items. Feels more like a grocery market rather than a dispensary.”

“I like the store: it is clean and spacious. The employees are polite and knowledgeable. I LOVE that the product has been tested for mold, insects, etc. And the price is right. I am a very satisfied SPARC customer. Thank you for this wonderful service.”

“i have only visited the dispensary on Mission - i was very impressed, very grateful for discounts.”

“Very good meditation in the garden.”

"While I don't personally use any of the services that SPARC provides, I think they are fundamental to the collective and should continue to push the boundaries.”

“Have used the massage and really enjoyed it. I really like the sense of community that sparc provides. I LOVE Jazz night and how friendly everyone is. I really enjoy being able to medicate in a community environment. I would love to learn more about the yoga. Also I'm really interested in art therapy :)”

“Massage - excellent Acupuncture - some minor confusion, but great Meditation - difficulty accessing HL Garden”

“Parking can be an issue, but once inside: smooth, very smooth. Love the different activities offered early evening- jazz night is my favorite. Lots of good people with very diverse backgrounds- awesome. Thanks!"

“Meditation, women's group, acupuncture.”

“Great Customer service.”

“I like the clean, comfortable and well lit facility”

“I love the compassion program & it has been a saving grace for me. I have been very concerned the quality has gone down since the doors were open & often I am given a strain that is not suitable for my many medical conditions. I have been unable to use the other services due to their location & limited parking & schedule availability. It would be best to have the services in an adjacent business or on the same block, so those that drive don't have to find another parking spot. The area is difficult for those w/breathing problems due to the car exhaust on Mission. The patients need a place to play music. It would be nice to see a wheat grass bar. Wheat grass is incredibly healing - it detoxifies the liver, colon & digestive tract & purifies the blood stream; & is known as nature's liquid sunshine (for depression), I would purchase a wheat grass shot whenever I went in; no smoothies necessary. I am disappointed this "Annual Report" seems to be a survey instead of a financial statement as most annual reports are. Also, please try to develop more treats that are not sugar. Remember, cancer feeds on sugar, so patients medicating w/sugar are feeding their cancer.”

“Outstanding, including the person doing security at the door.”

“You have a knowledgeable and kind hearted staff"

“Excellent, of quality and well organized.”

“I think most of your services and product are excellent.”

Question: What could SPARC improve?

"Sparc does an amazing job! I would like to see the other clubs create an environment like the one you offer to us. Staff is friendly and knowlegdable. I suffer from Chronic pain, at Sparc I can find the appropriate flowers to help me. Thanks for that!"

"Can you get any better? Really?"

"Keep on doing an awesome job, maintaining your focus. Keep hiring the types of great people you have been hiring. Thank you!!!"

"I'm not sure I can think of an improvement. SPARC is run so well, with such great quality medicine, and in such a healthy environment and space, it's pretty much all covered. The only thing I can think of is maybe cushions for the seats, and benches, which can be pretty hard on my bony butt !"

"You guys are amazing! Don't change a thing!"

"I'm so impressed with SPARC. I'm afraid I can't come up with ideas for improvement. Keep up the good work!"

"I love SPARC SF's good vibrations, which can be felt in the design of the dispensary on 1256 Mission Street, and in the consistent graphic design for everything else. Prices. Since their opening, SPARC SF has consistently undercut the competition on prices-often considerably, with an unbeatable quality of medicine. To improve: Continue to keep your prices low and affordable. Keep your specials "special", and continue to do research."

"See if there is something to help freshness of the buds-- they are often dry in my experience. I am VERY happy with SPARC, the design of the space, and its professionalism. I am an architect who deals with high end professionals all day, and your dispens4ary is the ONLY one I have ever been into where I do not feel instantaneously gross, entirely over-dressed or not enough of a burnout stoner hippie to be there. I love how clean and beautiful the space is, I love your coded charts and categorization system (beautiful graphics, so easy to use and understand)-- these are all your assets that make you unique. I love the direction of the cannabis re: outdoor growing as an alternative to the ultra-energy consuming, ultra-fussy laboratory covertness of indoor grown plants. I also like how your outdoor strains aren't so massively powerful in terms of their THC content-- they at least have a nod towards plants being things that grow in the sun, from the soil, transpire in the air, and use water. Simple. I think SPARC could be a model dispensary that truly legitimizes cannabis sale and regulation to the public. No other dispensary I have seen de-stigmatizes cannabis sale and use as well as yours. There is a real need for a higher end, better designed experience that will bring in high quality cannabis from intelligent, modern growers, maintain a high quality buying/sale experience, and make more money for your business by attracting professionals with purchasing power that use cannabis. Please do not steer SPARC into any of the conventional dispensary models out there... buddha statues, hemp carpets, ugly posters and furniture, tucked into the backside of malls off freeways... etc. Keep doing what you already do well! Thanks."

These answers were posted exactly as they were received, please pardon any typos

An Open Letter to the SPARC Collective Membership, Cont'd...

Multiple Choice Questions

Here are some of the responses that you had to our open ended questions: