Former talk show host Montel Williams, a longtime supporter of medical marijuana use, has opened a pharmacy in California to dispense the drug for pain relief and medicinal purposes.

Medicinal marijuana is legal in California, and Williams, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, has now launched the Albatin Wellness Cooperative in Sacramento to provide patients with access to the drug.

The process is strictly regulated and Williams hopes the new center will help lower the stigma of medical marijuana use.

“We’ve been caught up in culture surrounding medical marijuana that’s 20 years old,” he tells The Sacramento Bee. “While adhering to every single state law, we want to provide safe access for patients and really medicalize this. Patients should be put first… I want this to be someplace your mother and father could see themselves walk into.”

Shay Moore is a radio personality, blogger, community activist, voice-over actress and writer.  Follow Shay on Twitter @shaymooreonair.  Check out her site www.lipglossbosses.com

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