It took a while but Everyday Medicinals, located at 400 Warwick Ave, held a ribbon-cutting last Thursday.

The business, which opened in 2019, specializes in care using medical marijuana and other alternative methods.

For Amanda Cheatom, Everyday Medicinals’ CEO, the ribbon-cutting marked surviving the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an expansion in the care she’s able to provide.

“To survive a pandemic, as a newer business owner, is huge,” Cheatom said. “The fact that I survived to me means success- success with networking in the community, success with getting our name out there for our services.”

Cheatom, who has also been a nurse for 17 years, said that she got the inspiration to start the business at her other job, where she saw the effects of the opioid crisis firsthand.

One patient of hers, who had previously dealt with chronic pain and drug addiction, told her about a cannabis program that he was doing, and how it had significantly improved his quality of life. That, she said, was the final push she needed to start Everyday Medicinals.

“That patient’s testimony changed my outlook on medicine and care and treatment options,” Cheatom said.

The inside of the business is shaded and generally minimalistic. That’s by design, Cheatom said, as it’s aiming to help soothe patients receiving treatments. Most of Everyday Medicinals’ customers deal with chronic pain.

“People want to relax,” Cheatom said. “When people come to their session, they sit in a recliner, they’re free to fall asleep if they want to, or happen to. There’s not a ton on the walls- when you come in, I want it to be serene.”

Though the medicinal marijuana may grab attention, Cheatom said that Everyday Medicinals also offers acupuncture. She also stressed that Everyday Medicinals’ work is compatible with Western medicine, and is usually meant to serve as a compliment to it.

Lucille Vega, Everyday Medicinals’ medical director, also said that the company places a high value on educating patients about the options that Everyday Medicinals offers.

“Education is a big thing for us- we want to educate you about how you can use [medical marijuana],” Vega said. “I find a lot of people are using it, I wouldn’t say incorrectly, but not maximizing on what THC and CBD can do for them.”

Though recreational marijuana has been legal in Rhode Island since 2022, Everyday Medicinals has continued to focus on providing medical marijuana. Cheatom explained that there’s a different clientele for those looking to smoke recreationally, and sticking towards customers looking for medicinal care stuck more to the mission that she started out with.

“The medical client and the recreational client are two different clients,” Cheatom said. “They are looking for different needs to be met.”

One of those medical clients is Travis Gentzel, who said he’s been an Everyday Medicinals client for “a few years.” Gentzel is a former Marine, and following his eight years of service, he fell into opioid addiction, as well as having mental health issues. Everyday Medicinals’ work, he said, helped him quit opioids and improve his mental health.

“It’s had a huge impact on me,” Gentzel said. “It’s allowed me to come off many of those medications. It’s allowed my brain to slow down a little bit. Just improve my quality of life.”

Gentzel said that when he heard about the ribbon-cutting, he wanted to make sure he was there to help give back to Cheatom for the help she’s given him.

One of the business’s next steps, according to Cheatom, is getting credentialed with local insurance companies. Asked what she would tell potential customers, Cheatom said that being able to help patients deal with pain is something that she’s glad to do.

“We provide education, resources and support with a variety of treatments,” Cheatom said. “If you’re looking for natural relief methods to alleviate symptoms or conditions that you’re suffering from, we are a great resource for you.”