Andelena Henderson is a Navy veteran and the owner of West Paris Provisions. After being stationed in Brunswick 25 years ago, she fell in love with Maine in its entirety and has been a resident ever since. She admires the good, hard working people of West Paris and is proud to be a part of the community.
Andelena’s entrepreneurial mind set has inspired her to open up her own medicinal dispensary called West Paris Provision to give back to her community.WPP has a mission to provide Maine made medicine and a neighborly in-store experience. Their products are cultivated in Maine, and West Paris Provisions offers high quality, house-grown cannabis. They focus on providing unparalleled customer service to their local community and visiting patients.
First though, she encourages people she talks to about cannabis to get medical advice on dosing. There is such a thing as the optimal dose of cannabis for each person and sometimes it is easier to find that with guidance of a doctor or a caregiver.
The World Health Organization offers, “the major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Compounds which are structurally similar to THC are referred to as cannabinoids.”
“Remember,” Henderson says, “There are many places to buy THC products, but we stand by our products.” She adds, “You can buy THC doses at the gas station, but their guarantee is like their sushi, ‘roll the dice!’”
While there is no ‘typical’ WPP customer, when they opened, their average customer age was 30-50 but they have a blend of all ages with the 65+ population picking up steadily. More seniors, who are hesitant to take traditional drugs, go to her shop for products that alleviate arthritis pain and other bodily stressors.
Andelina is happy about the fact that she has helped many addicts get off such powerful drugs as Heroin, Oxycontin, and many other opiate based drugs through her shop’s products. Though there are still many detractors of the use of medicinal marijuana, who still fear and shun it as a dangerous drug with little or no true medical advantages, Mrs Henderson is proud of some of the patients she has helped and treated. One customer she has been able to assist is Jim Delano, of Portland, an army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan deployments who was also a police detective recently diagnosed with terminal bone and liver cancer. Mr. Delano uses full spectrum drinks with thc as a sleep aid because none of his pain pills or patches help him sleep because of the pain and horrific side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This gentleman, she said, was losing his will to continue on, but now has a higher quality of life.
One hallmark of most people and businesses that exist to help others is that they can be counted on to lend a hand to those less fortunate. Andelena says she is a free-spirited and driven humanitarian. While living here, she has dedicated her time to volunteering with her community. On top of being a mother of 4 and a veteran, she has a degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Special Needs. Combining these passions and the value of equality, she has supported programs for disabled veterans and young people- providing an inclusive and adaptable approach to sports and recreation for individuals with disabilities.
Andelena, a native of Patrick County, Virginia describes her upbringing as ‘poorer than poor,’and ‘starting out with more than three strikes against her,’ with severe dyslexia and other learning disabilities. “I was pretty much the low man on the totem pole,” she says, “But I joined the Navy at 17, and turned my life around, mostly by myself!”
Using the Christian Principle of giving and “service before self,” she has dedicated herself to give others a hand up, not handout. Recognizing that any team is only as successful as its members, she dedicates extra money made to giving employees raises and once replaced a worker’s unsafe vehicle with a more road worthy model.
Having a tireless work ethic leads to rewards, Henderson says. “I work 7 days a week, because if I fail, those I love and support fail, my family, friends, loved ones and employees deserve my best every day.” she adds, “I inspire my employees to do better. If I can do it, they can!”
When asked how her military service helped her launch her business, she says, “I gained rank very fast in the Navy and I loved it. I learned accountability and how to follow rules and make better decisions.” She advises other veterans never to go into business without partners. Also, “Reach out to others and get resources. Do your homework and have a business plan.”
She also advises, “Get into local organizations that can help; VFW, American Legion, Maine Adaptive, Veterans With No Boundaries are my favorite.”
If you are looking at an alternative to your current medical treatment, West Paris Provisions may be the perfect destination, so feel free to stop by today!
Mrs Henderson adds, “West Paris Provisions will not fail because I am dedicated to helping all!
God will take care of me if I am generous to others!”
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