Living Local: After terrifying diagnosis, Middle GA woman opens dispensary to help others

(Editor’s Note: This is part of a regular series featuring a look inside local businesses, the things they make & services they provide, and their impact on the community.)

In 2013, Peach County resident Tansy Salzman received a terrifying medical diagnosis. Doctors told her she had Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, a rare brain disorder.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) happens when high pressure around the brain causes symptoms like vision changes and headaches, according to the National Eye Institute.

For more than a decade Salzman suffered in pain with no relief for her agonizing symptoms.

“Some days I can’t walk properly, some days I can’t speak full thoughts — everyday there is pain,” she said.

Salzman had heard much about the benefits of cannabis for those struggling to find a way to alleviate pain due to illness or other issues. However, growing up in a strict household made her reluctant to give it a try.

“I came from a rather strict household where those things were very taboo,” she said. “I was quite hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect.”

“I was 35 before I tried cannabis for the first time, and only after a lot of research,” Salzman said. “The more research I did, the more I learned that cannabis was the best treatment for what I have in states where it’s legal.”

Salzman said the relief she felt was so drastic that she knew she wanted to advocate for others to be able to find the same level of normalcy she felt after suffering for so long with no answers.

So, along with business partner Tiffany Frizzi-Garcia, Salzman opened Herb & Tonic Apothecary, a botanical cannabis dispensary in Byron.

The business offers hemp derived topicals, edibles and smokables that are sourced from award-winning small businesses across the industry.

“Our flower comes from a family run animal sanctuary farm in Oregon and it is the best I have sourced,” Salzman said. “We also have functional mushroom products and organic herbs.

“We also research and educate ourselves, in order to better understand and help those who come into our Apothecary,” she said. “This is a service you don’t find at other smoke shops or CBD stores.”

Herb & Tonic Apothecary caters to a large clientele with the majority being seniors, according to Salzman.

“A majority of my clients are seniors. They are not there to just have a good time, though that’s a bonus, but they are there to reach out for a helping hand, a kind word, and often a shoulder to cry on,” she said.

Salzman said she also sees those in their 30s and 40s who struggle with anxiety, awkwardness and pain, and who just want a sense of normality in their world.

And, she said she wants people to know the business is more than just a place that sells THC.

“We are not just a store, we are a sanctuary for those who need a smile, someone to listen, someone to commiserate, someone to understand them,” she said. “Byron is happy to have us and we are ecstatic for that. We want to be a part of the events and goings on, to educate and support alternative health solutions.”

Salzman said her community and family mean the most to her and sometimes giving a lending ear can be just as healing as the products the business offers.

“My love language is to give; give a smile, give hope, give inspiration. When you walk in our doors I want you to feel at home, comfortable, feel like someone cares, and to be able to ask the ‘silly’ questions,” she said. “This is often as much of a healing experience as using the botanicals that we offer and is such an important part of what we do.”

In 2023, Herb & Tonic Apothecary was named Best in Georgia by Georgia Business Journal for products sold by a small business across the hemp industry.

Herb & Tonic Apothecary will be involved in many upcoming events including Puff & Paints, Beards, Buds and Bluegrass competition, Best Munchies of Byron competition to feature local restaurants and food trucks, and its annual Halloween and Krampus Christmas events.

Salzman will soon be opening The Joint, a 21 and over vape lounge where residents can go to enjoy a smoke of herbal blends or a Chronic Tonic mocktail in a quirky, fun, artistic environment meant to inspire and soothe.

The Joint will also feature a stage to host mic nights, local bands, and dancing performed by members of Perry Bellydance.

Herb & Tonic Apothecary is located at 218 Highway 49 North, Building E in Byron. Current hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, go here.