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Alternaleaf Overcomes Technical and Social Challenges to Provide Online Medicinal Cannabis

The Digital Artisan

Sep 11, 2024 — 1 min read

Alternaleaf and the Challenge of Online Medicinal Cannabis

Alternaleaf, Australia's largest online alternative health clinic, encountered substantial resistance when Myles Lawlor, the company's chief technology officer, first reached out to tech vendors to discuss their needs. Overcoming the stigma associated with medicinal cannabis was a daunting hurdle, leading many vendors to refuse to provide their services to the company.

The Search for Acceptable Technology

Alternaleaf's attempts to use popular platforms such as Shopify for e-commerce and Stripe for payment processing were met with rejection. This forced the company to adopt a unique approach, prioritising the creation of their technology over purchasing external solutions. As a result, Alternaleaf has now hired more than 200 IT professionals to develop their technology.

From Rejection to Major Tech Contributions

Through its commitment to building rather than buying, Alternaleaf has become a major contributor to open source projects such as cal.com. This custom scheduler helps Alternaleaf to manage bookings with their pool of doctors and nurses, crucial for their business model of providing quick online consultations.

Fulfilling Unique Needs with In-house Tech

Alternaleaf faced the unique logistical challenges that come with delivering medicinal cannabis. Due to legal requirements, medicine couldn't be delivered directly from warehouse to patient, forcing Alternaleaf to develop their own delivery tech. As a result, Alternaleaf's tech team continues to expand, working on tools for scheduling and logistics.

Recognition and Acceptance

Recently, Shopify and Stripe have acknowledged Alternaleaf's legitimacy and agreed to provide their services. This marks a significant stride for Alternaleaf in overcoming the stigmas and technical challenges associated with providing medicinal cannabis online.

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