PHOTO PROIDED The interior of the shop on Santa Barbara Boulevard.

MÜV Dispensary is now here to offer Cape Coral residents an alternative form of medicine.

The company already has both a Bonita Springs and Fort Myers location.

And now, medical cannabis patients in Cape Coral have another dispensary option.

“We set up online ordering 24 hours before and several hundred placed orders in advance,” said AltMed Florida manager of corporate affairs Todd Beckwith.

The store’s grand opening on Nov. 20, at 2612 Santa Barbara Blvd., Units 5 and 6, consisted of a socially distanced, masked ribbon-cutting and was spread out over three days to avoid large crowds and to allow for social distancing.

MÜV Dispensary has gone through a rapid expansion this year.

Beckwith said they’ve opened 16 locations.

The dispensary coming to Cape Coral gives people another option to help maintain their quality of life.

“Since the company is based in Southwest Florida (Sarasota), the growing demand necessitated that we continue to expand in this region,” Beckwith said. “Some are driving great distances and it’s incumbent on us to expand and provide this medicine that’s so important to patients.”

MÜV Dispensary by AltMed Florida was formed in 2017 through a partnership with AltMed Enterprises and Plants of Ruskin.

As of Nov. 20, there were nearly half a million active medical cannabis patients in Florida, Beckwith said.

“We’re adding several 1,000 patients a day.”

Medical cannabis is more well known compared to just a few years ago. It’s a very highly regulated industry with checks and balances.

“The patient goes to the dispensary, they look you up with your ID and confirm what you’re allowed to have and what the doctor recommends,” Beckwith said.

One thing that sets MÜV Dispensary a part, Beckwith said, is it’s known for having one of the widest portfolios of product.

Cannabis products are created with a cornerstone of scientific research and development. The AltMed Florida R&D team is led by scientists and experts with doctorate degrees on the various chemical compounds found in cannabis.

The AltMed Florida Cultivation Team is comprised of a group of horticulturists and plant scientists.

All MÜV products face rigorous internal and third party testing before they’re offered to patients.

“We believe cannabis should be brought out of the shadows into the spotlight,” Beckwith said. “To do that, you have to be transparent about the standards you operate under.”

It’s important for patients to feel comfortable, he said.

“The average patient is over 50,” Beckwith said. “You have to have a retail establishment that’s comfortable to bring someone your mother’s age.”

They also make sure to spend time educating the staff.

“A lot of people are new to cannabis,” Beckwith said. “It’s a lot of information to understand the product.”

MÜV Dispensary makes getting the product easy and convenient.

“The website has real-time live inventory,” Beckwith said. “Half of our business is conducted online.”

Patients can order online and pickup their items at the dispensary or get their items delivered to their home.

Beckwith said they’ve got a solution for everything.

“If you want to macro dose or micro dose,” he said. “Half the patients prefer the effect of smoking the cannabis plant. We offer capsules, tinctures, vapes. We have a portfolio of products, so we have a solution for every patient.”