include plant-based therapies and nutraceuticals, and create its own-brand treatments and clothing lines. Founder Lisa Nguyen launched the business in 2019, after realising how clunky it was for customers to purchase cannabis products through more traditional channels, which often left them feeling awkward and uncomfortable. “Back then it was my job to educate healthcare professionals, and I saw an opportunity as a pharmacist myself to open a dispensary,” Nguyen told Inside Retail. “We really wanted to simplify the experience for customers and create a boutique and unique patient experience. It’s really evolved, and I feel like Astrid is a lot more than a pharmacy now, we’re a community.” Currently, Astrid has only one store in South Yarra, Melbourne, though it will be launching its second location in Byron Bay in early February, followed by a third store in Brisbane by the end of 2023. The business currently sells third-party healthcare products in its South Yarra location, but Nguyen plans to launch a number of different Astrid-branded products, such as vaporisers and skincare, as the business grows. “We’re moving to be more of a wellness brand, rather than a cannabis brand,” Nguyen said. “For anything that is prescription, which is cannabinoids, we’ll still carry all the different options as they’re prescribed by a doctor, rather than picked on a shelf. But, anything over the counter, which is non-prescription, will be from our own Astrid-branded range. “Plus, we’ll be launching products like leggings, activewear and T-shirts.” Driving change Despite being legal with a prescription in Australia for over two years, the cannabis industry still faces some legislative issues. For one, it’s illegal for people to drive with any trace – not matter how small – of cannabinoid in their system. To Nguyen, this is one of the biggest barriers to the more widespread adoption of medicinal cannabis.  “Regularly my nurses and pharmacists will have to tell someone that they’ll be unable to drive after having taken their CBD-based medicine, and it can become really frustrating because we can see the pain that people are in,” Nguyen said. “And when they just want to go pick up their kids from school or drive to their local supermarket or whatever, but they legally can’t, that makes things really hard.” This is one of the reasons that Astrid not only tries to be a safe space for customers to educate themselves about the impact, benefits and downsides of CBD-based medicine, but also supports advocacy groups that are looking to improve the way CBD is prescribed and legislated. For example, the business recently helped Swinburne University recruit patients for a trial that will see people under the influence of medicinal cannabis perform simulated driving exercises to better understand the impact of the drug.  “Education is the key driver to any policy change,” Nguyen said.  “I really think the government needs to look at the way prescriptions are made. Right now, it has to be done by a GP. But there’s no reason a naturopath or an allied health professional couldn’t suggest and prescribe it for something like joint pain or anxiety.”