By Carol Newman
Insa may be new to Florida, but the company is not new to cannabis. Insa, founded in 2013, is led by two childhood friends (and best buds), Pete Gallagher and Pat Gottschlicht, who grew up not far from the company’s first location in Springfield, Massachusetts. They wanted to start a business in an industry they believed in, with their own community serving as the launching pad for their dream.
This September, the friends took their company south and opened its first medical cannabis dispensary in Tampa, Florida. The S. Dale Mabry Highway location is the first of ten planned medical marijuana retail stores to open in Florida in 2022. The vertically integrated company is focused on every step of the medical cannabis process, from sourcing to growing to creating and dispensing high-quality, crafted products. They offer a wide variety of products and accessories including new and exclusively grown cultivars, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, and premium chocolate with the goal of meeting every patient’s unique needs.
“Insa is focused on leading the field and advancing cannabis for everyone. As our business continues to expand down the East Coast, the Insa team remains committed to combining a passion for the best possible ingredients and products with cutting edge science and innovation,” said Peter Gallagher, Insa Co-Founder. “Our team’s passion for what we do, allows Insa to compete in this new market against the larger, corporate cannabis producers; we are excited to expand our footprint into Florida and to serve patients in this growing market.”
Insa’s commitment to serving patients goes beyond the quality of their products. The company has invested in a unique in-store design and employee training programs with the goal of providing a welcoming and educational patient experience.
“Shopping at dispensaries can feel intimidating and create a barrier for people to learn about cannabis and how it can help make their day better,” said Sara Sullivan, Insa Director of Retail Development & Experience. “Insa puts customer service first by focusing on in-store education and by creating a retail experience that is easy to navigate for patients with all levels of cannabis experience.”
The company plans to create similar in-store experiences in their other planned locations of Clearwater, Hudson, Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, Lake Placid, Largo, The Villages and Tampa (N Dale Mabry). To learn more about Insa please visit www.insa.com.
