AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 73-year-old died a little over two weeks after being shot on Gay Drive earlier this month, the Richmond County Coroner told us on Tuesday.

The Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen says on Aug. 9 in the 1900 block of Gay Drive, Larry Drayton, was shot at least one time and transported to Wellstar/MCG by EMS.

Drayton was later transferred to Pruitt Healthcare Nursing Facility where he was pronounced dead on Monday, Aug. 26. at 9:31 p.m., Bowen says.

Bowen told us on Tuesday that an autopsy has been performed and there is no further information at this time.

The shooting comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 170 lives in a little over two years across the CSRA.

The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For years, some Georgians have had to drive hours to get their hands on the medicine they’ve been prescribed.  

Medical cannabis is legal in the Peach State with a medical THC card but the access to that medicine has been hard to come by.  

Now, access to the drug is as easy as going to a local pharmacist.  

One of the first pharmacies in the state to stock their shelves is right here in Augusta. 

“As long as you have your medical card, you can purchase the product here at a dispensary or at my pharmacy and it allows us to just make that transaction at the register,” said Vic Johnson, pharmacist at Living Well Pharmacy.

It’s a first for Johnson and Living Well Pharmacy.

“It’s an exciting time that pharmacies can be involved in actually helping people with a drug that really can change their lives, but then also be able to still know what they’re taking on their regular pharmaceutical medicines,” said Johnson.

There are nearly 50 pharmacies listed on the Georgia Department Of Community Health’s website that are licensed to dispense medical cannabis, but there’s only one in Augusta.

“We are able to dispense the medical grade THC products for a number of different illnesses,” said Johnson.

The Georgia Department of Public Health lists 21 illnesses like Crohn’s disease, arthritis, cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

“Pharmacists can know things about their current medication, even if they are not a member of that pharmacy. Certainly, we can ask them what their medications they’re on questions and help things that were not being asked in dispensaries,” said Johnson.

Johnson says there are more than 600 people with a medical card in Richmond County.

“If we can get a percentage of those people to come in, then it will add, you know, it could add 50% to my current business model,” he said.

Until now, many people were driving hours to get access to a product already prescribed to them.

“Wellbeing is something we call striving for. Nobody wants to be hurting as they age. Nobody wants to, you know, wake up every day and they’re afraid to go out of the house. Or the sleep disorders that this, this drug can help with people,” said Johnson.

On September 26, Living Well Pharmacy is hosting a card event where they’ll have doctors on site to help people learn if they are qualified to get a medical THC card and assist in the application process.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the FreshTake grocery store on Washington Road.

We went to the store on Friday to see the progress.

Originally, the store projected it’d be open Aug. 30, but it looks like it’ll be a while longer.

As far as groceries go, FreshTake will have traditional items as well as organic and specialty offerings.

The store will reportedly have many take-out and catering options plus a beer and wine bar with small bites, sushi bar, coffee bar, pizza and pasta bar, hot bar, bakery, sandwich and salad bar, seafood, juice and smoothie bar, specialty cheese and an outdoor barbecue smoker.

FreshTake has been taking shape in recent months at 2907 Washington Road near Bonefish Grill.

It’ll be a focused on the customer experience, with ample places to hang out, including a two-story indoor/outdoor seating area with balconies. And being about a mile from Augusta National Golf Club, it’ll have a putting green.

The store will also include a “beer cave,” a flower department and a pharmacy that’ll offer vaccinations.

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