Green Earth Collective - Highland Park
1/23/2025
⚠️ MEDICAL PATIENT REFUSED SERVICE FOR DISABILITY!
INFLATED PRICES AND TERRIBLE SERVICE & STOCK.
I visited Green Earth Company which I frequent a couple times a week. I have PTSD and wear a medic alert bracelet. Cannabis is medicinal for me.
When I entered and immediately informed security - who I’ve met - I was having a PTSD flare-up due to loss in the LA Fires, I presented my medic alert bracelet explaining my communication impairment (similar to Turrets with elevated speech). Despite acknowledging my condition, staff refused to acknowledge my disability.
Budtender Coda voluntarily filled my cart with items I didn’t ask for and didn’t want, including an edible I can’t eat and have never purchased. He gave me a total and ushered me to pay without letting me choose my own products. This confused me, as I hadn’t ordered anything. When I asked if I could select my items, another budtender stepped in, and I quickly chose two products so I could leave.
At checkout, Coda told me three times that I could not shop there with a medical condition. I asked if they were denying me service due to a disability, he shrugged.
The manager, who claims to be a nurse, repeatedly told me to “calm down” instead of offering support or compassion. A PTSD patient cannot calm down as the brain damage impairs the prefrontal cortex. She could have offered me a seat, water or any understanding, despite knowing me by name and the money I’ve spent there. Instead, she told me to shop elsewhere. And tbh, she’s always been rude.
This dispensary, meant to serve medical patients, told me I cannot shop there because of my brain injury symptoms. No one was insulted or berated; the issue was my volume and delivery, which were impacted by my condition. Despite presenting my medic alert bracelet, I was judged, and discriminated against. I have proof of the incident and stand by my account.
DO NOT SHOP HERE IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY. THEY PRACTICE ABLEISM WHILE TAKING YOUR MONEY.
The manager’s behavior of a comically long, intimidating stare down, could seriously harm someone with PTSD. They don’t need to understand neurology—just honor the medic alert.
**Post Store Reply Edit:**
The retailer falsely claims I insulted staff. I greeted security with a smile and laughter, gave a verbal medic alert, and showed my bracelet. My symptoms were explained as similar to Tourette’s. Security did not relay my medic alert, bracelet info symptom info provided at any time.
Coda’s creating my own cart and presenting thr total unnecessarily complicated the transaction. I was confused when given a total without ordering anything. It REQUIRED ME TO COMMUNICATE FURTHER to figure out why I ordered nothing and was being rung up.
Coda told me three times I couldn’t shop there with a medical condition. I was whispering to him at this time as he’s served me so often it was almost a plea for him to see this isn’t really me. My amygdala hijacked the real me.
Contrary to the reply, this shop has no compassion WHEN IT IS REQUIRED. On my worst day, they prioritized profits over patients, denying me shopping and dignity, and disinviting me to ever return because of my “medical condition.”
I am no perfect human snd do not claim to be. I did everything I could to offer alerts and be in and out. I could have been just a tough customer. But instead the confusion of being billed before shopping, being told to calm down repeatedly, being stared down… all poured gasoline on a fire I warned everyone was burning.
When they say discrimination is about ignorance and intolerance, it’s really true. And I’d file this experience under 90% ignorant. And if that woman is truly a nurse, I hope her patients have visible ailments.