The first annual SomerWellness Fair provided information on goods and services beyond the usual scope of traditional medicine. — Photos courtesy of Somerville Local First

By Ian Erlichman

Although Marijuana is not yet available for recreational use, there are plenty of other extracurricular activities available to the people of Somerville. Somerville Local First and Sira Naturals attempted to spread the word about some of these opportunities at the SomerWellness Fair 2018 on Wednesday, June 27, at the Arts at the Armory.

Legalization of marijuana is slowly gaining ground in Somerville, with local medical marijuana dispensary, Sira Naturals grabbing the city’s first recreational license.

“Our hopes are to enter the adult use community, when it comes around,” said one Sira Naturals sales representative. But Somerville’s recreational marijuana market may have to wait until 2019 for sales to begin. Despite Somerville’s legalization of recreational cannabis in 2016, a February ruling by the Board of Aldermen “adopts a temporary limitation on the use of land or structures for Recreational Marijuana Facilities” until December 21, 2018.

“We’re hoping to see, either us or another group, come online by the end of the year,” said a Sira Naturals sales representative. “But we could easily see it [legalization of recreational dispensaries] rolling into next year.

But what if a patient needs medical marijuana? Another local business, Medwell Health, is prepared to help.

Medwell Health is a “medical facility that certifies patients to get their medical marijuana card,” according to one sales rep. Relying on medical history, Medwell’s doctor determines a patient’s eligibility for medical marijuana during a noninvasive consultation.

In response to recreational cannabis’s impending arrival, Medwell maintains that the medical certification allows patients “a whole new level of care.”

Obtaining medical status can mean no taxes on marijuana purchases, said a Medwell sales rep. Another benefit to medical certification is availability: medical patients will have consistent access to medical cannabis during Somerville’s recreational moratorium. Similarly, once recreational marijuana is legalized, medical patients will not be bound by the same possession and age limits that apply to recreational users.

The fair was centered on local Somerville businesses that “can introduce you to fun and unique ways of maintaining a healthy life,” according to the event website.

On the physical wellness front, More to Love Yoga strives to increase body positivity through education, community, and approachable yoga exercises. “There is a yoga type,” says founder Rachel Estapa, “and that can be very intimidating.” In response, More to Love Yoga was created “to allow people with large bodies to do yoga and not feel intimidated,” says Estapa. Stop by the Somerville Armory on any Saturday or Sunday morning to see Estapa’s new yoga experience in action.

If yoga seems too intense, FLOAT’s sensory deprivation tanks could offer a different avenue to relaxation. Although, “many people float to manage chronic pain,” says a co-founder Sara Garvin. Floating can alleviate pain from chronic diseases like fibromyalgia, sports injuries, and anxiety she continued. A few people have even reported mild hallucinations while floating, although Garvin describes the experience as relaxing, like “the moment between waking and sleep, stretched out.” FLOAT is located at 515 Medford St., open 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The SomerWellness Fair aimed at bringing together Somerville companies dedicated to improving the health of their community. Whether through physiological, therapeutic, holistic avenues, Somerville offers its residents many opportunities to improve their wellbeing of mind and body.