Easy to Find New Cannabis Collective
Strategic Location Convenient
by Eonn Skye
July 7, 2010

What are the three most important factors when considering property? It’s not price or how attractive it may appear. Any Real Estate agent will tell you it’s “location, location, and location.” That’s why one local medical marijuana collective chose a warehouse located just off the interstate freeway and next to a major highway.

“We wanted to service the most number of medical patients making it easy to get here,” said collective president and CEO Gary Cherlin. The facility is one minute off the Interstate 10 (North Indian Canyon exit) which is 5 minutes from Highway 66 connecting to the hi-desert of Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and 29 Palms.

Many of the medical marijuana dispensaries started as a result of an individual or a loved one finding pain relieving benefits from the herb.

“My grandfather was suffering from cancer and the wasting syndrome kept him from eating.” Said Cherlin, “Medical marijuana really helped. A friend’s mom had MS and it was helping her, too. I’ve always been interested in helping people so I started this collective to help as many people as possible.”

Desert Organic Solutions was approved by the city of Palm Springs and enjoyed a grand opening celebration last month after considerable construction work was complete.

In less than 30 days over 500 members joined. It wasn’t just that it was conveniently located off the freeway. Members come from as far east as Indio, as far west as Beaumont, as far north as 29 Palms and as far south as Boreggo Springs and Hemet. “We even had one client from LA who joined,” Cherlin said.


The dispensary provides a wide range of product choice and claims to offer the lowest prices - starting at just $13 a gram. There are 18 varieties of smokeable product to choose from with exotic names like Hindu Skunk, Tumbleweed and Yumi. A variety of edibles are also offered including lollipops, baked goods and the ever-popular Heavenly Nice Cream.

“We also offer plant clones from Oaksterdam,” said the manager, Neil. Healthy looking pretty plants several weeks old are highly prized and can be purchased by patients to grow their own medical herb at home. A nearby store, DNA Hydroponics, offers affordable ingredients and expert growing instructions.

Collective operations are safe and secure in the concrete walled warehouse protected by dozens of video cameras and a protective security guard at all times. Cherlin gives a lot of credit to the Palm Springs police department for working with him to obtain site approval. A different collective unrelated to Cherlin’s collective closed their dispensary operations at the same location last year after it failed to get city of Palm Springs approval.

The dispensary’s classy looking waiting room with bright green walls is identical to any doctor’s office waiting room. Once patients are qualified they are admitted individually to formal dispensary operations past another securely locked door. What awaits are commercial displaces merchandising products that are freely sold legally in many states, cities and counties across the nation.

Some collective members volunteer as assistants. A job description of “Bud Tender” suits a tall blonde woman named “Jet” who also works as receptionist. Customers must provide a valid California ID along with a doctor’s certification that is verified by phone.

“This is serious business,” Neil said, “We can’t make any mistakes.”

“Determining correct individual dosage for edibles is quite different compared to smoked or vaporized products,” Neil said, sounding like any pharmacist speaking to any patient about any form of medication. “We suggest starting off with half and learning what works best. Everyone’s body chemistry and metabolism is different. We do not want any patient to over medicate themselves.”

While no one is known to have died as a result of “too much” marijuana, the herb does have a tendency to generate laughter in some users, recreational or otherwise. While no one has died from too much laughter there have been a few comedians for whom the laughter has died - but none are known to have suffered thus due to medical marijuana use. In the end more than a few terminal patients have died laughing after using medical marijuana and for the most part this is preferable to parting in fear, sadness and suffering.

“I’ve learned to laugh again,” said Jet, “I had the worst form of arthritis. My joints were locked up and I couldn’t move. I’m not just working here; I’m a patient, too. The medicine really helped. It’s been a great relief and that makes me especially happy to be part of this.”

Desert Organic Solutions 19486 Newhall, Suite 102, Palm Springs 760-288-4000