Where Medicine Blooms and Wellness Flourishes – An Interview with Bloom Room SF

by 91LIFE … twitter @91LIFE_

Bloom Room is one of San Francisco’s newest medical cannabis dispensaries and continues the Bay Area’s long-standing tradition of producing some of the finest patient experiences in the country. We got the opportunity to check out Bloom Room’s brand new SoMa storefront, and chat with Stephen Rechif to learn more about Bloom Room and why it’s worth checking out.

91LIFE: San Francisco has been such a strong supporter of medical cannabis over the years and it shows in the wide variety of dispensaries that have been licensed throughout the city.  What differentiates Bloom Room from other San Francisco dispensaries?

BLOOM ROOM: That’s a great question. Bloom Room differentiates itself from other dispensaries by focusing on the patient’s experience. From the moment a patient arrives at Bloom Room, to the time they depart, our patients can expect to feel comfortable, relaxed, and most importantly, they can expect to have fun. We have a beautiful space, with fantastic meds and a great staff that brings it all together. Our operations are straightforward and simple, 4-gram eighths, tax included prices, and only the very best meds.

Bloom Room’s brand-spanking-new interior and exterior. Photo by Bloom Room SF.

91LIFE: Bloom Room is located in heart of San Francisco’s SoMa district right off of 6th and Mission – an area of town that’s known to be a bit rough around the edges.  What made you choose to open in this area of the city?  How have you been received? Have you seen the neighborhood changing since you moved in?

BLOOM ROOM: Bloom Room chose to open its doors in this neighborhood because this area is seeing rapid growth and gentrification. We love our location just a half block from the Westfield Shopping Center, directly across the street from a large parking lot, food trucks and Blue Bottle Coffee just down the street – there is always tons of cool stuff going on.

We have been very well received by our neighbors and we have already begun to develop strong ties with other local businesses like The Burning Man Offices, Blue Bottle Coffee, Showdogs, Mezzanine, and Dottie’s Cafe. Although we have only been here for a couple months, we have seen rapid change in this area. It seems like every week there is another business opening near by and we are happy to be a part of the rapid growth this area is experiencing.

Bloom Room’s Grape Romulan strain. Photo by Bloom Room SF.

91LIFE: Many of us San Francisco patients mourned the loss of the Mission street storefront dispensary Medithrive when it was forced to close by the Feds in late 2011 and convert to a delivery service. It seems many of the folks from Medithrive are now involved with Bloom Room and even Medithrive’s iconic frosted entry way window has re-emerged in the lobby of Bloom Room.  What’s the connection between Bloom Room and Medithrive?

BLOOM ROOM: As you said, Medithrive was forced to shut its doors in late 2011. When this happened, Medithrive Management began looking for a way to reopen and continue serving its patients. They found the owners of Bloom Room, who at the time, had a dispensary permit in the works. They agreed to partner up, the dispensary permit was approved and Bloom Room began operation in January 2013 with much of the Medithrive staff, including myself, picking up where Medithrive had left off.

91LIFE: I was just perusing Bloom Room’s menu on StickyGuide and I’m wiping the drool from the corners of my mouth.  Are there any exceptional items on the menu that you’re particularly excited about right now?

BLOOM ROOM: We’ve always had a great reputation for the quality of our medicine, and that only comes with having long standing relationships with some of the best vendors in the bay area. My personal favorite flower right now is the Big Kahuna [Pineapple x Hawaiian Sativa]. It’s a beautifully fruity hybrid that yields dense, sticky buds that are cured to perfection. The genetics are well balanced and sativa dominant, so I use it for pain relief during the daytime. It somehow seems ‘in-season’ being spring and all.

Another product I’ve been really excited about is TerpX. The flavors that they are producing are out of this world and in my opinion, no other concentrate maker is producing more flavorful concentrates than TerpX. Their products come in small batches so they come and go quickly, but they are worth the wait.

Bloom Room’s Fire OG strain. Photo by Bloom Room SF.

91LIFE: 2012 was a difficult year for the medical cannabis community as we saw the Department of Justice close hundreds of legal cannabis dispensaries with little to no discretion.  Yet, it seems that President Obama’s re-election and the legalization of adult-use in Colorado and Washington has shifted the momentum in our favor again as we see more positive headlines and less Federal interference.  What are your expectations for the medical cannabis industry in 2013?

BLOOM ROOM: That’s a tough question, but I feel like there are good things ahead for California. After the recent cannabis legislation passed in Colorado and Washington, Californians feel left out. We were supposed to be the progressive left wing state that reaps the benefits of cannabis legalization and leads the way for the rest of the country. We had the opportunity for change and because cannabis movement supports were split on the legislation, we let the goal slip between our fingers. With that said, we are more organized and more united than ever. Activists and legislators have wrestled and debated the issues for long enough – we are ready for action.

Visit Bloom Room at 471 Jessie St. in San Francisco, CA, 94103. Check out Bloom Room on StickyGuide for current hours and menu.