Site Under Construction. Proposed opening is currently June 2018. Please see our about information below and our Face Book page at https://www.facebook.com/hempstorecafe.org/. and our Community Outreach philosophy in the menu on the left of this page.
The Hemp Store Cafe’
THE HEMP STORE CAFÉ· SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018
The Hemp Store Café is a proposed organic medical cannabis dispensary (with onsite cultivation; phase 1 begins June 2018) and locally sourced organic café (phase 4 begins June 2019) in Mountain View, Arkansas. Our location is 301 Industrial Road behind the Valero gas station on the west side of town in the city industrial park, housed within the former Stone County Drug Court building (the irony is not lost on us).
In addition to the medical cannabis dispensary and café, The Hemp Store Café will also support a research clinic (phase 2 begins December 2018) where patients can consult with a staff pharmacist, a medical doctor, and a nutritionist all in one visit if they choose. Clinical operations will revolve around a whole-body approach to wellness, promoting overall healthy lifestyles that are achievable and sustainable for patients from diverse backgrounds. Our plan is to seek accreditation for the clinic from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (https://www.jointcommission.org/). The clinic will also support scientific evidence-based research related to individual and community changes related to medical cannabis legalization. We will focus on parameters such as opioid prescription rates as well as violent and drug related crimes. We will prioritize youth related education on the effects of cannabis, and substance abuse awareness and treatment.
The Hemp Store Café will also operate a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity (phase 3 begins March 2019), based on the Communities for Life philosophy, funded by up to 15% of business profits. The mission of the non-profit will be to fund local charities and other civic groups that are working to make Mountain View and north-central Arkansas a fantastic place to live and work, and to provide education/outreach regarding medical cannabis effects and healthy lifestyle choices. Our philosophy is that a “rising tide lifts all boats” and we feel that significant investment in our community will ensure successful business operations that support and enhance Mountain View and Stone County.
About the owners:
Charles R. Widmer, (Chief Operations Officer) recently returned home to Mountain View, Arkansas after serving over 26 years in the Army. Mr. Widmer started his military career as a combat line medic and was soon in charge of multiple hospital clinics, including Combat Flight Medical Operations and Head and Neck Surgical teams. He was later selected for a position with the Defense Intelligence Agency. As a Chief Warrant Officer positioned in over a dozen countries, Mr. Widmer was the diplomatic military liaison between host nation military officials and U.S. Governmental officials. His main duties with the Defense Attaché Office included serving as the military adviser to the Ambassador, and as an adviser to the U.S. Defense Attaché on diplomatic regulatory and policy compliance. Mr. Widmer’s community outreach, while in Africa and South America, include building remote medical clinics and staff training. He is also proud of his work in building two orphanages. Mr. Widmer was injured during his last overseas assignment. While recovering and receiving treatment prior to his medical retirement, he was selected to his last position as executive officer for headquarters Company U.S. Army. His duties included administrative and UCMJ actions for Army personnel at the Pentagon. Two of his main duties were identifying possible mental health and substance abuse issues, particularly with returning combat soldiers. Mr. Widmer also holds a bachelors degree in Healthcare Management. He was medically retired from the military in 2012. He then spent four years growing medical cannabis in the Czech Republic for a research program sponsored by Charles University, the oldest and largest university in Prague. Mr. Widmer returned home to Mountain View in January 2017.
Mitch Wine (Chief Executive Officer) is a native of De Valls Bluff, Arkansas and purchased property near Mountain View in 2011. He permanently relocated to the area in 2014 as part of his duties as the Karst and Cave Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and now proudly calls it home and his future retirement location. Mitch received his bachelors and master’s degrees from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in zoology and biology, respectively. His primary area of expertise is stream ecology and karst landscape conservation related to species listed under the Endangered Species Act, as well as environmental law/regulation compliance (Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, etc.). Mitch also owns and operates Grotto Springs Ranch, L.L.C., an environmental mitigation banking operation that seeks to restore and protect streams and other waters of the United States. Credits for landscape and stream restoration are accrued through Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and used by developers to offset environmental impacts related to federally funded and/or permitted construction projects. Mitch is a 10% disabled veteran of the U.S. Army and also joined the U.S Navy during the Gulf War. In his free time, Mitch enjoys hiking, paddling, camping, caving, rappelling, scuba diving, good craft beer, traveling (to eat good food, among other things), and participating in all manner of nerdy science stuff.
Notice:
1. “Marijuana is for use by qualified patients only. Keep out of reach of children.”;
2. “Marijuana use during pregnancy or breastfeeding poses potential harms.”;
3. “Marijuana is not approved by the FDA to treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”; and
4. “Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana.”