Our Practice
An apothecary approach to cannabis
ThrivePath Medical was established by operators with deep roots in Long Beach's regulated cannabis industry, with a heritage that reaches back to the city's earliest licensed storefronts and the passage of Measure MM.
As a medicinal-only licensee, our focus is singular: serving patients. Every product on our shelf is sourced from licensed California producers, lab-tested, and tracked seed-to-sale under the state's track-and-trace system.
- LicenseDCC Microbusiness No. C12-0000654-LIC
- DEA RegistrationApplication pending (Control ID M00001668J)
- DesignationMedicinal (M-License)
- AuthorityCalifornia Department of Cannabis Control
- Location1501 Santa Fe Avenue, Long Beach
Why Patients Choose Cannabis
Areas of therapeutic interest
Patients turn to medicinal cannabis for a wide range of conditions. Tap any area below to learn what patients commonly report and what the research says.
A 1:1 THC:CBD ratio addresses pain while CBD moderates psychoactivity. Myrcene and caryophyllene add anti-inflammatory support. Tinctures allow precise dose titration; topical balm for localized joint or muscle pain.
- THCEngages CB1 receptors along pain-processing pathways; patients commonly report reduced pain intensity.
- CBDNon-intoxicating; interacts with TRPV1 and inflammatory signaling, and can moderate THC’s psychoactivity.
- CBGEarly research explores CB2-linked anti-inflammatory activity.
CBD, CBG, and CBC all target CB2 receptors without psychoactivity. Caryophyllene is the only terpene that directly activates CB2, making it the primary terpene choice here. Topical cream for localized inflammation; tincture or gummies for systemic conditions.
- CBDThe most-studied cannabinoid for inflammation-related signaling, including cytokine modulation.
- CBGResearch explores immune-cell CB2 interactions and inflammatory response.
- THCAThe raw, non-intoxicating acid form of THC, studied for anti-inflammatory potential.
CBN is the cannabinoid most associated with sedation. A low-dose THC addition can deepen sleep onset. Myrcene and linalool are the signature sleep terpenes. Gummies taken 60 minutes before bed, or tincture 30 minutes prior for faster onset.
- CBNA mildly sedating oxidation product of THC; the cannabinoid most associated with nighttime formulations.
- THCCommonly reported to shorten time to fall asleep; dose strongly influences sleep quality.
- CBDHigher doses are commonly reported as calming, while low doses can be alerting.
THCV acts as a CB1 antagonist at lower doses, which can help suppress anxiety-driven responses without sedation. CBD-dominant with linalool and limonene creates a calming-yet-clear profile. Tincture allows quick dose adjustment; beverage format suits daytime use.
- CBDInteracts with serotonin 5-HT1A receptors; the most-studied cannabinoid for calm without intoxication.
- THCBiphasic: low doses are commonly reported as relaxing, while larger doses can heighten anxiety.
- CBGEarly patient reports explore mood and stress support.
CBDA is a potent 5-HT1A agonist, the same receptor targeted by prescription anti-nausea medication, and may be more bioavailable than CBD for this use. THC adds appetite support. Tincture or beverage for faster onset, avoiding the stomach disruption of oral capsules when nausea is active.
- THCActs on CB1 receptors in brainstem regions tied to nausea; prescription THC analogs exist for this use.
- CBDResearch explores serotonin-linked anti-nausea pathways.
- CBGEarly research explores appetite support.
CBDV is in active clinical trials for Rett syndrome and ASD. Pinene may support cognitive clarity and partially offset THC-related memory effects. Neurological conditions vary significantly; ThrivePath recommends physician-guided formulation with consistent dosing tracked over 4-8 weeks.
- CBDA purified CBD medicine is FDA-approved for certain rare seizure disorders.
- THCStudied for muscle spasticity, notably in multiple sclerosis, where relief is commonly reported.
- CBCEarly laboratory research explores neuroprotective signaling.
Quality-of-life goals benefit from a balanced, adaptable formulation. A daytime-oriented terpene blend with limonene and pinene supports mood and clarity; switching to linalool and myrcene in the evening supports relaxation and sleep. ThrivePath consultants help patients dial in the right morning and evening split.
- THC:CBDGentle balanced ratios are commonly chosen for overall comfort, mood, and daily function.
- CBGOften called the mother cannabinoid; early research spans mood, comfort, and focus.
- THCVAmong the minor cannabinoids under active study for targeted effects.
Tincture is strongly preferred here - precise dropper dosing is essential when substituting for a pharmaceutical with a known dose. Tapering should always be done under physician supervision. ThrivePath can work with your care team to document formulation, dosing schedule, and response tracking.
- CBDAffects liver CYP450 enzymes that process many common medications; physician guidance is essential.
- THC:CBDPatients commonly report reducing reliance on other medications under medical supervision, never on their own.
We start with your condition, sensitivity, lifestyle, and goals. We match a cannabinoid ratio, terpene profile, and delivery format to that picture. After a 2-4 week trial, we review and refine. The goal is a formulation that fits your life, not a generic recommendation.
Individual results vary. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Cannabis is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed physician about your condition and whether medicinal cannabis is appropriate for you.
Products in Development
Schedule III formulations built for medicinal intent
ThrivePath is developing a line of precision-formulated medicinal products under Schedule III compliance. Every format is designed around bioavailability, consistent dosing, and patient experience. Available under the ThrivePath brand and through white-label and R&D partnerships.
Partnership Programs
Three ways to work with us
ThrivePath products are available under our own brand and through two structured partnership programs for qualified operators, dispensaries, and research institutions.
ThrivePath Brand
Our own label. Sold through our licensed Long Beach dispensary to qualified medicinal patients. Each product developed and quality-controlled in-house, formulated with intention.
White Label
Qualified cannabis operators and dispensaries can access ThrivePath formulations under their own brand. We handle formulation, compliance, and consistency. You bring the patient relationship.
R&D Licensing
Universities, clinical researchers, and healthcare institutions conducting Schedule III cannabis research can partner with ThrivePath for standardized, compliant cannabinoid formulations tailored to study protocols.
Inquire About Partnership
All programs are subject to licensure verification. Formulations are tailored to each partner, whether patient-facing, research-grade, or retail.
Get in TouchAll products are subject to DCC licensing requirements and applicable Schedule III federal regulations. White label and R&D programs require verified licensure. Nothing here constitutes a commercial offer.
Federal Status
Medical cannabis is now Schedule III, here’s what that means for you
In April 2026, the federal government moved medical cannabis from Schedule I, the same category as heroin, with “no accepted medical use”, to Schedule III, which recognizes accepted medical value and a lower potential for abuse. For licensed medicinal patients and operators like ThrivePath, this is the most significant federal shift in cannabis history. Here is what it actually means in plain terms.
Before, Schedule I
- Classified alongside heroin, with “no accepted medical use”
- Federal research on cannabis nearly impossible
- Businesses taxed on gross revenue, not profit (IRS 280E)
- No federal recognition of medicinal legitimacy
- Banking and financial services largely refused
Now, Schedule III
- Federally recognized as having accepted medical use
- Research pathways significantly opened
- 280E tax burden no longer applies to Schedule III operators
- Medical cannabis placed alongside medications like ketamine
- Path forward for banking, insurance, and wider access
What It Means for You as a Patient
Your medicine is now federally recognized as medicine.
For years, patients using state-licensed medical cannabis existed in a legal grey zone, their state said it was legal and therapeutic, their federal government said it had no medical value. That contradiction is now resolved. Schedule III means the federal government officially acknowledges that cannabis has accepted medicinal use. Your choice to use it is validated at every level of government.
Better Products Through More Research
Real clinical research can now happen at scale.
Schedule I status blocked universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical researchers from studying cannabis properly. The barriers weren’t just legal, funding dried up, approval processes were nearly impossible, and researchers risked their careers. Schedule III removes most of those barriers. Expect a significant acceleration in clinical trials on cannabinoid formulations, dosing, and specific conditions over the next five years.
Lower Prices Over Time
The punishing 280E tax no longer applies.
IRS Section 280E prevented cannabis businesses from deducting normal operating expenses, staff, rent, utilities, supplies, because the business was federally classified as trafficking a controlled substance. This meant effective tax rates of 70–90% in some cases, costs that got passed to patients. As a Schedule III medicinal operator, ThrivePath is no longer subject to 280E in the same way. That financial relief makes sustainable, fairly priced medicinal access more achievable.
What Hasn’t Changed, and What’s Next
This is not full legalization. But it’s the clearest path toward it.
The April 2026 ruling applies specifically to cannabis dispensed under a qualifying state medical license. Recreational cannabis remains federally Schedule I for now. A DEA administrative hearing beginning June 29, 2026 will consider broader rescheduling. ThrivePath continues to operate in full compliance with all California DCC requirements and applicable federal rules, and will keep patients informed as the landscape evolves.
ThrivePath operates under California DCC License C12-0000654-LIC. The April 2026 federal rescheduling applies to state-licensed medical operators. This page reflects current understanding and will be updated as federal guidance develops. Nothing here constitutes legal advice.
Our Founders
Two decades of shared experience
ThrivePath is led by three partners whose collaboration spans more than twenty years in California's regulated cannabis industry. They have weathered bans, helped write the rules that brought legal cannabis back to Long Beach, and built operations from the ground up, learning the business at every level along the way. The expertise, relationships, and conviction earned across those decades are the foundation of everything ThrivePath builds today.
Haik Aslanian
Co-Founder & CEO
Haik is the architect behind ThrivePath's operational backbone. He directs day-to-day operations and regulatory compliance while overseeing finance and technology, translating complex state and local requirements into systems that simply work. His discipline is the reason the business runs clean, accountable, and audit-ready at every level, giving patients and partners alike the confidence that ThrivePath is built to last.
Greg Lefian
Co-Founder & Public Affairs
Greg is ThrivePath's voice in the community and at the policy table. He works hand in hand with city council, municipal departments, and state regulators, and was a driving force behind the passage of Measure MM. Equally at home with neighbors, local businesses, and patients, he listens first and builds solutions that serve everyone, strengthening both sound cannabis policy and the trust ThrivePath has earned in Long Beach.
Akop Kyutunyan
Co-Founder & General Manager
Akop is the heart of ThrivePath's product program and the steady hand running its daily operation. With more than twenty years immersed in strains, terpenes, and cannabinoids, he partners directly with farms, botanical and natural-terpene producers, and manufacturers to formulate products with real intention, never chasing trends, always chasing what works. His instinct for matching a patient's needs to the right cannabinoid and terpene profile turns a simple recommendation into genuine relief, and has earned the trust of a community that returns to him again and again.
A Shared Legacy
The founders have stood at the center of Long Beach's cannabis movement for over a decade. As founding members of the Long Beach Collective Association (LBCA), they helped lead the fight to bring safe, legal, and regulated cannabis back to the city after the 2012 ban, and were a driving force behind the passage of Measure MM and Measure MA in 2016, the measures that restored medical cannabis to Long Beach and established its regulatory and tax framework.
Through every transition, they have championed patient education, fair policy, and lower cannabis taxes, working hand in hand with city and state regulators. That same advocacy, research, and hard-won experience is now cultivated into ThrivePath.
Exploring the science below? Get launch updates and delivery availability in your inbox while you read.
The Science
The endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the body's master regulators, a signaling network that helps keep physiological processes in balance, from pain and mood to appetite, sleep, and immune response.
Your body produces on demand
THC and CBD fit these same receptors, supporting a system your body already built.
The nervous system
Concentrated in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. CB1 signaling influences how the body experiences pain, mood, appetite, and memory by modulating neurotransmitter release.
The immune system
Found mainly in immune cells and peripheral tissue, including the gut. CB2 signaling plays a role in inflammation and immune regulation throughout the body.
The Key Players, tap to explore
Research & Development
The full cannabinoid spectrum
Cannabis produces more than a hundred distinct cannabinoids, each interacting with the ECS differently. ThrivePath works across the full library of legal cannabinoids, exploring custom formulations to help patients find what works for their needs.
Custom ratios
Precise cannabinoid blends, beyond THC alone, designed around the entourage effect and individual patient goals.
Lab-verified
Every formulation is lab-tested and tracked seed-to-sale, so what's on the label is what's in the product.
Patient alternatives
An ongoing search for cannabinoid alternatives when conventional approaches fall short, guided by emerging science.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cannabis products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information here is educational and not medical advice. Consult a licensed physician about your individual needs.
Understanding Terpenes
The aromatic compounds that shape the experience
Terpenes are the natural aromatic molecules found in every plant. They are why lavender smells calming, why citrus feels energizing, and why a pine forest has that particular clarity. Cannabis is exceptionally rich in terpenes, and each variety carries its own unique blend. Beyond scent, terpenes interact with cannabinoids to shape the overall effect, which is why two products with identical THC levels can feel completely different. Tap any terpene to learn more.
Also found in: Mango, hops, lemongrass, thyme
Myrcene is the most common terpene in cannabis. It is responsible for that deep, earthy, slightly fruity base note you smell in many varieties. You have already encountered it, that warm, musky sweetness in a ripe mango is mostly myrcene. It is widely associated with a relaxing, body-settling quality and is thought to help other cannabinoids absorb more easily.
Also found in: Lemon and orange peel, grapefruit, cleaning products
Limonene is the bright, clean citrus smell you get when you peel an orange or walk past a lemon tree. It is one of the most recognizable aromas in the world and in cannabis it brings that same lift. Varieties high in limonene tend to feel more uplifting and energetic. It is also being studied for its effects on mood and stress.
Also found in: Pine trees, rosemary, basil, dill
Pinene is the smell of a pine forest, clean, sharp, and immediately clarifying. It is one of the most abundant terpenes in nature. In cannabis it is associated with mental clarity and alertness. Pinene may also counteract some short-term memory effects of THC, which is why it shows up in some balanced formulations.
Also found in: Lavender, rose, coriander, bergamot
Linalool is literally the compound that makes lavender smell like lavender. That calm, floral, slightly sweet scent that people have used for centuries to wind down and sleep, that is linalool. In cannabis it brings the same quality. If you have ever found lavender aromatherapy soothing, you have already experienced linalool working.
Also found in: Black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, basil
Activates CB2 receptors, unique among terpenes
Caryophyllene is the spicy warmth in black pepper, that slight tingle you get when you smell freshly ground pepper. What makes it special is that it is the only terpene known to directly interact with the body's cannabinoid receptors, specifically CB2, the immune and inflammation system. That means it acts like a cannabinoid itself, making it particularly useful for inflammation and pain without any intoxicating effect.
Also found in: Apples, nutmeg, tea tree, lilac
Terpinolene is harder to pin down than the others. It is a blend of fruity, floral, herbal, and slightly piney all at once, which is why it reads as fresh and complex. Think of biting into a crisp apple in a room with flowers. It is less common in cannabis than myrcene or limonene, but when it appears it tends to bring an uplifting, slightly stimulating quality.
Also found in: Hops (beer), ginger, ginseng, sage
Humulene is the earthy, woody, slightly bitter note you detect in a craft beer, it is the signature terpene of hops. In cannabis it adds a grounding, herbal depth. It is associated with anti-inflammatory properties and may suppress appetite rather than stimulate it, making it notable in a plant most associated with the munchies.
Also found in: Mint, basil, parsley, orchids, tarragon
Ocimene is a light, fresh, sweet-herbal terpene, the kind of clean green scent you get from a bunch of fresh basil or a sprig of mint. In cannabis it tends to appear as a top note, the first thing your nose catches before the deeper earthy or floral tones settle in. Often present in daytime-oriented varieties.
No two patients are alike and neither are their terpene needs. ThrivePath works directly with farms and botanical terpene producers to formulate products with specific profiles in mind. Tell us what you are trying to address, sleep, pain, anxiety, energy, and our team will guide you to a terpene and cannabinoid combination matched to your goal.
Terpene effects reflect commonly reported associations and ongoing research, not guaranteed medical outcomes. Individual responses vary.
Patient Information
How to become a ThrivePath patient
ThrivePath is a licensed medicinal cannabis dispensary serving qualified patients in Long Beach and surrounding areas. Here is everything you need to know before your first order.
Get a Physician Recommendation
You need a valid California physician's recommendation for medicinal cannabis. Your primary care doctor can provide one, or you can use a telemedicine service like NuggMD or Leafwell. The recommendation must be current.
Register as a Patient
Contact us with your physician's recommendation and a valid government-issued photo ID. Our team will verify your eligibility and set up your patient account before your first order.
Place Your First Order
Once registered, order by phone or online. Our team will help you find the right formulation for your needs. Delivery to Long Beach and surrounding areas, with ID verification at handoff.
Get in Touch
Contact ThrivePath
Mon – Sat: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Hours subject to change. Check back for updates.
Common Questions
What patients ask us
ThrivePath does not provide medical advice. All information on this site is educational. Consult a licensed physician about your condition and whether medicinal cannabis is appropriate for you.
Delivery & Location
Serving Long Beach
Delivery Check
Do we deliver to you?
Enter your ZIP code and email. We’ll tell you if you’re in our planned delivery area and notify you the day delivery opens.
Delivery Area
Long Beach and surrounding areas
Delivery zones and order minimums will be published when patient services commence.
Order & Contact
Phone and online ordering will be available when patient services commence.
Verify Our License
Look up C12-0000654-LIC at search.cannabis.ca.gov
Patient Guides