Cannabis company opens its first DeKalb location

More than 40 minutes before Trulieve’s newest location officially opened in Dunwoody Sept. 10, a group of would-be customers were waiting to be allowed in. Many were discussing how pleased they were to have a more convenient location at which they could purchase products for relief of various medical conditions.  

Trulieve describes itself online as “an industry-leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the United States with established medical marijuana operations in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.” 

As officials from Trulieve cut the ribbon officially opening the North Shallowford Road location, they declared that the new facility “creates more medical options for Georgia residents,” adding that “more options mean greater affordability.”  

Laws regulating access to medical marijuana vary by state, and Georgia is among the 41 states that allow limited low-THC products for specific medical purposes. Recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Georgia. 

THC—or tetrahydrocannabinol—is the main compound in cannabis responsible for the intoxicating “high” often associated with cannabis products, according to Leafwell, a cannabis research and information company. Cannabis products with low THC levels can provide some of the medical benefits of cannabis such as reductions in pain and inflammation and improvement in mood, appetite, and ability to sleep without significant psychoactive effects.  

Georgia law this year was modified to make a larger range of cannabis products legal in the state and available to more patients. Senate Bill 220, the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act, was signed into law by the governor in May and took effect July 1.  

“The law removed the low THC potency cap, added qualifying conditions including severe arthritis and lupus and made vaporization available to patients 21 and older for the first time, giving eligible patients a faster-acting option for pain relief,” explained Christine Hersey, Trulieve’s chief corporate affairs and strategy officer. She added that at one point, medical marijuana was available in Georgia only to patients with end-stage illnesses. 

With the passage of the new law, Georgia’s medical cannabis program expanded from about 33,000 registered patients to almost 50,000 statewide, and the number continues to grow, according to Hersey. She said the company is allowed to establish new locations as the potential customer base expands. Each time the number of registered patients grows by 10,000, the company can consider adding a location. 

The Dunwoody location is Trulieve’s seventh in Georgia and its first in DeKalb County. The location will carry products from Trulieve’s in-house brands Modern Flower, Momenta, Roll One and Trulieve, spanning capsules, inhalable flower, tinctures, topicals, troches and vaporizers. It will also offer education from local physicians, help obtaining a medical cannabis card, and savings programs for qualifying patients, according to information distributed by the company.  

“This is a beautiful area, and we are proud to join Dunwoody’s business community,” Hersey said, adding that the north DeKalb location “gives patients throughout Metro Atlanta a closer, more convenient option as demand for the state’s expanded program continues to grow.” 

“This new dispensary expands access to medical cannabis for patients throughout metro Atlanta,” said Trulieve Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. “We are excited to serve the Dunwoody community and provide patients with Trulieve’s high-quality products and exceptional customer experiences.”  

Based in Florida, where the company was founded in 2015, Trulieve was named to Time magazine’s America’s Best Companies of 2026. The annual list recognizes the top 1,000 companies in the United States based on customer satisfaction, financial strength, and sustainability transparency. 

Rivers called the selection “a tremendous honor and a direct reflection of the durability of our business,” adding, “To be one of only two cannabis companies recognized speaks to the passion and dedication of our team as we continue our mission to expand access to cannabis.”