Blissiva, a female-focused medical cannabis product line developed by obstetrician gynecologist Dr. Leslie Apgar and serial entrepreneur Gina Dubbé in conjunction with Curio Wellness of Timonium, Maryland, hits dispensary shelves on October 24, 2018.
Dubbé and Apgar created Blissiva (a nod to “bliss” and the uplifting cannabis strain “sativa”) after owning and operating Greenhouse Wellness, a Columbia-based dispensary, and noticing a void in the market for cannabis products that felt safe, approachable, and appealing to a female clientele.
“We started Greenhouse with the intention of delivering cannabis to patients who are suffering and feeling hopeless and let down by more traditional treatment options and prescription drugs. As more and more patients came in, we would treat women looking for relief from anxiety and insomnia stemming from major medical disorders or the anxieties faced in everyday life. Recommending strains with names like AK-47 or Bubba OG just felt like a disconnect. As women ourselves, we wanted products that felt comfortable, discreet, and luxurious, and we just weren’t seeing a lot of options in the industry as it currently stood,” says Dubbé.
Blissiva’s first product, the Balance Pen, aims to help women suffering from anxiety, stress and sleep disorders find relief without experiencing an overwhelming psychoactive effect.
Apgar remarks, “In developing the pen with Curio, we sought to find a perfect ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD), with the right blend of terpenes. We formulated it specifically for women to discretely incorporate into their busy lives. Blissiva functions as a glass of wine, but minus the calories.”
The pen, which will be exclusively featured at both Greenhouse Wellness and Curio Wellness, comes in flavors like “Vanilla Chilla” and “Cool as a Cucumber.” The aromas and flavors are subtle and discreet and the clarity and focus provided by the pen are appropriate for any moment in the day.
“Getting the dosage and flavors just right was paramount. We found a phenomenal partner in Curio. They share the same focus and dedication to continually advancing the validity and science of the medicine, and we couldn’t be happier with the end product,” Dubbé shares.
Findings from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America support the market opportunity for such a product reporting that “from puberty to age 50, women are two times more likely than men to have an anxiety disorder. The Center for Disease Control also found, in a 2017 report “The number of Americans who say they’ve taken an antidepressant over the past month rose by 65 percent between 1999 and 2014. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be taking the medications, with antidepressants used by 16.5 percent of females compared to just under 9 percent of males.”
Apgar shares, “We are just really excited to get this onto shelves. We know women out there are looking for safe, natural remedies to help with anxiety, and insomnia, and we strongly believe Blissiva is it.”
