About Us

Drawn to the Power and Possibility of Cannabis.

How it all began

There are people who are deeply drawn to the power and possibility of cannabis—Casey Kornoelje is one of them.

In his high school years, Casey grew marijuana in his bedroom closet at home in Rockford, where he was living with his parents. Growing up in Alaska, his mom and dad operated a fishing boat business and lived a naturalistic lifestyle. “I’ve always been interested in cannabis,” he said. He continued to grow plants throughout high school and college—activities that resulted in a felony for marijuana possession (2002) and a misdemeanor charge (2004).

In 2008 when Michigan established its medical marijuana program, Casey became a caregiver and grew for patients in the Grand Rapids area. He graduated from Grand Valley State University that same year. Casey took a position with a West Michigan bank and worked in commercial banking while growing cannabis for six patients. “My heart is really in medical marijuana,” he said. As a caregiver, he developed close relationships with his patients and felt as if he was truly able to help people with a variety of medical issues. Casey even met his wife through the power of cannabis, when he was randomly assigned her father as a patient. Like many caregivers, Casey had an “aha” moment that came from his skill in growing—an excess of product. He set his sights on creating a cannabis growing operation in Grand Rapids. With property in the marijuana zones being scarce and expensive, growing wasn’t his best option, so he explored opening a retail cannabis business.

Grand Rapids’ only 100% locally owned Dispensary

As Casey explored the City’s maps, he found a small section of property on the far end of Wealthy Street that was zoned for marijuana. He went door to door, talking to homeowners and asking if they were interested in selling their properties. An owner took his offer, and Pharmhouse Wellness took root. He went through several rigorous processes—licensing by the State of Michigan was the first. Due to past marijuana convictions he was almost denied, but in the end, the State marijuana board voted to award him a license. He also was lucky enough to draw an early Planning Commission hearing in the City of Grand Rapids’ lottery. His property was far from any churches or parks and moved easily to approval. From there it was rehabbing and prepping the old house to be a modern retail space and opening to the public.

Pharmhouse Wellness opened in March 2020 for medical cannabis sales and opened in December 2020 for recreational cannabis sales. Phase two of Pharmhouse, the grow and cultivation operation, began in May of 2022. Product is scheduled to hit the shelves in fall of 2022.

Casey, his wife, and daughters live in the City of Grand Rapids.

Social Equity

Cannabis social equity is more than a plan or a checkbox—for us it is a deeply held company value.

Pharmhouse Wellness prioritizes participation in the improvement of the local communities in which we operate by creating growth industry jobs, strategic and local sourcing and financial contributions to impactful community organizations.

Growing Community: How We Give

Westpharm Reinvestment Fund

We’ve created the Westpharm Reinvestment Fund and with it, envision strategic partnerships with woman and minority-owned community partners and local nonprofit organizations. Our vision is to advance social equity programs and neighborhood-focused initiatives. The Westpharm Reinvestment Fund is funded with annual contributions that correspond to the savings on existing licensure and assessment fee reductions that our businesses receive as well as periodic company contributions.

Financial Contributions

Pharmhouse Wellness is located in a transitional area—where Grand Rapids’ industrial zoning meets with an established neighborhood. We support our very closest neighbors with quarterly donations to help counter the traffic and disruption caused by having a cannabis business right next door. We’re open to supporting other good causes in Grand Rapids, too. Special consideration is given to those people who have been affected by marijuana-related convictions and organizations that support them.

Employment

The very best way we can live our social equity values is to create and offer jobs for people in our community. When recruiting employees and selecting business partners, we give preference to qualified job candidates and business owners who disclose having been charged with marijuana-related crimes and residents who live within the communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.

Meet the Pham

As a small, local business, our knowledgeable staff will talk you through all of our offerings and make sure you have the best product for your needs. Questions? We’re happy to help.

Casey Kornoelje

Founder of Pharmhouse Wellness and Cultivator of Five Lakes Farms

Dellord “D” McMath

Head Retail Manager

Jacquelyn Bogues

Marketing Director and Social Media Manager

Ashley Nash

Creative Designer

Audrey Heintz

Assistant Retail Manager

Lauren SASS

Inventory Manager and Purchaser

austin Quillen

Assistant Retail Manager

Trent Mingerink

Assistant Retail Manager and Grow Specialist

Alaskan Jim’s
Secret Garden

Pharmhouse Wellness has an interesting connection with all types of flowers, not just cannabis.

Before Pharmhouse Wellness, Casey and his wife Megan Kornoelje lived on a farm in Greenville where they grew flowers and produce to sell at farmer’s markets. The farm was called Jacob’s Acres, to commemorate Casey’s late brother, Jacob Kornoelje. Casey’s parents, Patti and Jim Kornoelje, were heavily involved at Jacob’s Acres as they are here at the Pharm. The Kornoeljes truly have strong green thumb genetics.

Pharmhouse Wellness earned its name when Casey decided to bring a bit of the farm from Greenville into their next chapter. This would be their new farm, where they would cultivate a different kind of flower; cannabis.

One morning in the Spring of 2022, Alaskan Jim (Casey’s Dad) planted the entire garden in the back of the dispensary by our gravel parking lot. Alaskan Jim was out there hacking away at Japanese knotweed, and planting everything you see in the garden, from seed! Jim did this for his wife Patti, who loves flowers, because he knew it would make her happy. This garden also brought a sentimental piece of Jacob’s Acres into the heart of Pharmhouse Wellness.

Buzzworthy

October 13, 2022 | WOOD TV8

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