Sep 27th 2021

nuEra Cannabis Dispensary - Jonah Rapino

Jonah Rapino is the Director of Marketing nuEra Cannabis.

What is the most important aspect of a dispensary?

The efficiency of access and ability of knowledgeable staff to help customers find the best products for their needs

How did you get into the cannabis industry?

I started on the sales floor as a patient care specialist, helping medical patients get the right products to help with their specific problems they were trying to solve

What do you think are the biggest advantages to being a medical cannabis patient versus a rec buyer?

Priority service, a wider range of product types, ability to grow their own, very small amount of added tax, and for nuEra specifically we offer a 5% back rewards program and $100 discount for all brand new medical patients and those that renew their cards as well.

Do you offer consultation to both your patients and to your rec consumers?

absolutely because I’ve found that a “recreational” or adult-use customer is using cannabis medicinally a majority of the time as well. We also have specific hours every week where people can book a session for a private consultation

Do you have a favorite Indica? 

nuEra’s LSD strain is an amazing Indica because you get all of the best pain relief and relaxing benefits of an Indica with an active and inspiring head effect as well

What is your favorite sleep medication?

Pretty much most edibles act as a wonderful sleep aid for me specifically in that they help me stay asleep and get a deep REM rest. I don’t have trouble falling asleep but edibles help me stay asleep through the night

Given that October is breast cancer awareness month, are you doing anything to help raise awareness for breast cancer?

nuEra has created two pink labeled pre-roll products specifically for Breast Cancer Awareness month. We are donating $1 for every purchase of these special edition pre-rolls to Gilda’s Club,  a nonprofit that serves the needs of the women and families affected by breast cancer. We are also giving customers the opportunity to show their support with the purchase of a nuEra pink colored logo pin with 100% of the net revenue of those sales going to Gilda’s club as well. They will be available at all nuEra dispensary locations starting October 1st. More information about this campaign can be found on our website.

How do you help medical patients find the product that’s right for them?

A conversation about their historical experience with cannabis and what problem they are hoping to solve. I’ve collected so many stories of people’s experiences with using cannabis and can pull from that trove of anecdotal evidence to make a recommendation. I always tell patients that their experience with a particular product can be quite different than the average and they should always go slow and low and take notes on how the product works overtime.

What’s appealing to you about the marijuana industry?

The fact that it has opened the door to the end of the prohibition of cannabis in the United States and hopefully for the rest of the World.

What changes do you see coming to the marijuana industry?

More possibilities for legal social consumption, especially in Illinois.

Do you feel there are too many regulations regarding dispensaries?

Yes and no. There are many regulations that are very unnecessary but at the same time, there are regulations in the marijuana industry that I wish were present in other industries. At this time in the U.S. legal cannabis is probably safer than anything coming out of the meat packing and food industry, as well as the pharmaceutical industry. There is a crazy amount of deregulation in both of those spaces that have led to a lot of unnecessary negative health outcomes.

If you could change one thing about marijuana regulations, what would it be?

There is a need for standardization around testing. Requirements for what passes or fails vary widely from State to State and this inconsistency impacts the ability of medical patients to get the best possible quality of cannabis.

Tell us about NuEra and its core Mission?

nuEra is one of Illinois’ only vertically integrated cannabis companies wholly owned and operated within Illinois. The name nuEra highlights the fact that legalization in Illinois didn’t just change the laws on the books – it unleashed a whole new era of cannabis. An era in which cannabis is safer, higher quality, and available in a greater variety than ever before. Canna-consumers have more methods of consumption, more strains, more precise dosage labeling, and better information about the effects of each of our products than any generation before them. nuEra sources the highest quality products to suit the needs of Illinois medical patients and 21+ customers alike. nuEra currently operates three Medical/Adult Use dispensaries in Chicago, East Peoria, and Urbana, and two other secondary Adult Use only dispensaries in Champaign and Pekin.

How does your consultant work with patient to determine the appropriate medication if a patient is coming in with no Knowledge?

We offer free consultation sessions Sunday through Tuesday at our 3 medical locations so people can come in and have a private one-on-one consultation with one of our patient care specialists to help get them on the right path. People can book a session by visiting our website here.

How many locations does NuEra have?  What other states is NuEra in?

We are only in Illinois at this time and we have 3 combination Medical/Adult Use stores in Chicago, Urbana, and East Peoria, and two secondary Adult-Use only locations in Pekin and Champaign.

Do you have a loyalty program?

We offer a 5% back on every purchase Rewards program for our Medical patients

Do you have any special offers for first time patients?

If you are a brand new medical patient we offer a $100 discount to help offset the cost of becoming a medical patient. We also offer that same $100 discount to those people who are renewing their medical cards. The discount specifically is four $25 off a $100 purchase that must be used within 30 days of becoming a patient or renewing your certification

How often do you have specials?

Almost every week

Do you offer discounts for Seniors, Veterans, disability?

We offer all Veterans (Adult-Use or Medical) 10% discount on their purchases during every visit.