Cannabis dispensaries in the United States

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Cannabis Station, a medical cannabis dispensary in Denver, Colorado Cannabis Station.JPG
Cannabis Station, a medical cannabis dispensary in Denver, Colorado
Cannabis flower stored in jars at a dispensary in Colorado Cannabis Dispensary flower.jpg
Cannabis flower stored in jars at a dispensary in Colorado

Cannabis dispensaries in the United States or marijuana dispensaries are a type of cannabis retail outlet, local government-regulated physical location, typically inside a retail storefront or office building, in which a person can purchase cannabis and cannabis-related items for medical or recreational use.

Contents

First modeled in Amsterdam in the late 1970s where they were innocently called coffeeshops, it would take the Americans more than a generation to successfully duplicate the idea of a retail cannabis storefront. Unlike in the Dutch coffee shops, today most dispensaries do not allow for the smoking or other consumption of cannabis. However, some dispensaries (such as some in California) do have legal permission to set up "cannabars" to allow onsite consumption.

In a traditional medical cannabis dispensary store a patient receives cannabis medication as allowed per the patient's doctor's recommendation. [1] These dispensaries sell cannabis products that have not been approved by the FDA and are not legally registered with the federal government. [2]

As of 2021 there are state-regulated marijuana dispensaries in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. In California, Native American gaming operations are also intended to include dispensaries going forward. [3]

A cannabis dispensary differs from similar retail stores known as head shops, in that only state-licensed cannabis dispensaries are authorized to sell cannabis. [4]

Approximately 12 US States have drive thru capabilities. These states include; California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington [5] [6]

History

The first dispensary San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club was founded in 1992 by Proposition 215 coauthors "Brownie Mary" Rathbun, Dennis Peron and Dale Gieringer. [7] Shortly after was founded the Berkeley Patients Group, remaining as of 2024 the oldest continuously-operating dispensary in the country. [8]

Washington state became the second state in the U.S. to develop a regulatory framework for marijuana dispensary operators to improve the access to cannabis patients beyond the caregiver model. [9]

The term "marijuana dispensary" in the United States is most often used to refer to private organizations or companies that sell cannabis, particularly in the states of California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. "Cannabis dispensary" is starting to become a more politically correct term as conscientious people prefer the use of the word cannabis which avoids using the more common Spanish slang word "marijuana".[ citation needed ]

Medical dispensaries

Medical cannabis Blackberry medical cannabis.jpg
Medical cannabis

Thirty seven of the United States regulate some form of medical cannabis sales despite federal laws. [10] As of 2016 seventeen of those states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Washington, D.C.) have at least one medical marijuana dispensary, with varying product laws. [11]

The medical dispensaries in these states buy their exit shop products (excluding medical marijuana), like child-proof safety bags, and in-store storage products, from a plethora of new manufacturing companies in mainly China via importers based in the U.S.

The growing need of dispensaries to comply with various legislative laws has given birth to thousands of new products ranging from vials with child locks on them to, to pop top bottles that are childproof [12] and even childproof joint tubes.

For example, according to Title 16 C.F.R. 1700 of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act [13] in Washington, any marijuana products, whether they are edibles, concentrates, or waxes that can be consumed either by inhaling or swallowing must be sold in child-resistant packaging.

Recreational dispensaries

Colorado was the first state to license a Recreational Dispensary, with 37 stores licensed to sell to adults 21+ on January 1, 2014. The first customer on record to legally purchase marijuana was Sean Azzarati, an Iraq war veteran, who was raising awareness for the cause that PTSD was not a "qualifying condition" for a medical marijuana recommendation in Colorado at the time (PTSD was added to the list of qualifying conditions in 2017). [14]

U.S. Representative Don Young tours an Alaska dispensary in 2019 Don Young behind the counter at Raspberry Roots with owner Kim Kole and employees. October 2019.jpg
U.S. Representative Don Young tours an Alaska dispensary in 2019

As of March 2024, 25 states regulate recreational dispensaries. [15] A partial list includes Alaska (Alaska Measure 2 (2014)), Arizona (2020 Arizona Proposition 207), California (2018), Colorado (Colorado Amendment 64), Illinois (2020), Maine (2020), Massachusetts (2018), Nevada (2017), Oregon (Oregon Ballot Measure 91 (2014)), Michigan, and Washington (Washington Initiative 502). [16] These are stores where any adult 21+ can enter to purchase cannabis and or cannabis smoking accessories.

Notable dispensaries

Harborside Health Center, Oakland and San Jose, California describes itself as the "largest pot shop" in California [17] and was featured in a four-part reality show. [18]

An economic impact study conducted by the University of Denver examined the Colorado Harvest Company dispensary chain's contribution to tax revenue, jobs, and income to Denver and the state of Colorado. [19]

Kind for Cures was the first shop to make national press by taking over a defunct KFC. [20]

Coachella Valley Church in San Jose, California made national headlines by offering sacramental marijuana to their members. [21]

MedMen's operation grew to include thousands of employees, dozens of retail locations across multiple states in addition to processing and grow facilities; MedMen aims to be the “Apple Store” of weed. [22]

Locating services

As dispensaries grow in popularity, several locating services have been created such as NearGreen, Leafbuyer, Weedmaps, Texas Weed Syndicate, Merry Jane and Leafly [23]

Cannabis dispensary in East Village, New York City Recreational (52914290984).jpg
Cannabis dispensary in East Village, New York City

Case law

Weed Wars is a four-part reality show broadcast on the Discovery Channel which highlights the Harborside Health Center in Oakland California, a medical marijuana dispensary. [24]

The third episode of the 14th season of South Park is named "Medicinal Fried Chicken" and contemplates a marijuana dispensary taking over a recently closed fast-food chicken restaurant named "KFC".

Popular American comedian D. L. Hughley's short-lived and controversial news program on CNN ends with the artist visiting a California dispensary to treat back pain.

Related Research Articles

Oaksterdam is a cultural district on the north end of Downtown Oakland, California, where medical cannabis is available for purchase in cafés, clubs, and patient dispensaries. Oaksterdam is located between downtown proper, the Lakeside, and the financial district. It is roughly bordered by 14th Street on the southwest, Harrison Street on the southeast, 19th Street on the northeast, and Telegraph Avenue on the northwest. The name is a portmanteau of "Oakland" and "Amsterdam," due to the Dutch city's cannabis coffee shops and the drug policy of the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Oregon</span> Use of cannabis in Oregon

Cannabis in Oregon is legal for both medical and recreational use. In recent decades, the U.S. state of Oregon has had a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding use of cannabis. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and among the first to authorize its use for medical purposes. An attempt to recriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis was turned down by Oregon voters in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in California</span> Legality, use and culture of medical and recreational cannabis in California

Cannabis in California has been legal for medical use since 1996, and for recreational use since late 2016. The state of California has been at the forefront of efforts to liberalize cannabis laws in the United States, beginning in 1972 with the nation's first ballot initiative attempting to legalize cannabis. Although it was unsuccessful, California would later become the first state to legalize medical cannabis through the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which passed with 56% voter approval. In November 2016, California voters approved the Adult Use of Marijuana Act with 57% of the vote, which legalized the recreational use of cannabis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Colorado</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Colorado, U.S.

In Colorado, cannabis has been legal for medical use since 2000 and for recreational use since late 2012. On November 7, 2000, 54% of Colorado voters approved Amendment 20, which amended the State Constitution to allow the use of marijuana in the state for approved patients with written medical consent. Under this law, patients may possess up to 2 ounces (57 g) of medical marijuana and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants. Patients who were caught with more than this in their possession could argue "affirmative defense of medical necessity" but were not protected under state law with the rights of those who stayed within the guidelines set forth by the state. The Colorado Amendment 64, which was passed by voters on November 6, 2012, led to recreational legalization in December 2012 and state-licensed retail sales in January 2014. The policy has led to cannabis tourism. There are two sets of policies in Colorado relating to cannabis use: those for medicinal cannabis and for recreational drug use along with a third set of rules governing hemp.

WeedMaps is a tech company serving the cannabis industry, founded in 2008 by Justin Hartfield and Keith Hoerling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction</span>

In the United States, cannabis is legal in 38 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. At the federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, prohibiting its use for any purpose. Despite this prohibition, federal law is generally not enforced against the possession, cultivation, or intrastate distribution of cannabis in states where such activity has been legalized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Colorado Amendment 64</span> Ballot measure in Colorado legalizing marijuana

Colorado Amendment 64 was a successful popular initiative ballot measure to amend the Constitution of the State of Colorado, outlining a statewide drug policy for cannabis. The measure passed on November 6, 2012, and along with a similar measure in Washington state, marked "an electoral first not only for America but for the world."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span> Historical list in chronological order of U.S. cannabis law

The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Massachusetts</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Massachusetts, U.S.

Cannabis in Massachusetts is legal for medical and recreational use. It also relates to the legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. A century after becoming the first U.S. state to criminalize recreational cannabis, Massachusetts voters elected to legalize it in 2016.

Cannabis tourism in the United States is a form of drug tourism that exists in recreationally legal cannabis states. As of May 2023, 23 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam have legalized recreational cannabis.

Harborside, formerly Harborside Health Center, is a recreational and medical cannabis dispensary, with its flagship location in Oakland, California, and an additional location in San Jose. Founded in 2006 by Steve DeAngelo, Harborside operates as a non-profit patient collective. In December 2011, Harborside Health Center was featured in the Discovery Channel's four-part documentary series, Weed Wars. In June 2013 CNN premiered "Inside Man", an 8-episode documentary hosted and produced by Morgan Spurlock. The show's first episode provided a detailed, inside look at California's medical marijuana industry and featured Spurlock working in Harborside Health Center, as well as it described the legal troubles of the center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Nevada</span> Legality of marijuana in Nevada

Cannabis in Nevada became legal for recreational use on January 1, 2017, following the passage of Question 2 on the 2016 ballot with 54% of the vote. The first licensed sales of recreational cannabis began on July 1, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Illinois</span> Legality, use and culture of medical and recreational cannabis in Illinois

Cannabis is legal in Illinois for both medical and recreational use. Illinois became the eleventh state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana effective January 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in New Jersey</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in New Jersey, U.S.

Cannabis in New Jersey is legal for both medical use and recreational use. An amendment to the state constitution legalizing cannabis became effective on January 1, 2021, and enabling legislation and related bills were signed into law by governor Phil Murphy on February 22, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington (state)</span> Overview of cannabis use and culture in Washington state

Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.

Christian Hageseth is an entrepreneur, author, marijuana rights advocate and business owner. He was born in Pensacola, Florida, and grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1992 with a degree in Political Science. He is the founder of Green Man Cannabis, an award-winning marijuana cultivation and dispensary business in Denver, Colorado. He is also the founder of American Cannabis Partners (ACP), a cannabis business development firm, which is developing the Colorado Cannabis Ranch. Hageseth is the author of Big Weed: An Entrepreneur's High Stakes Adventures in the Budding Legal Marijuana Business, published in 2015 by Macmillan.

Cannabis product testing is a form of product testing analyzes the quality of cannabis extracts, edibles, and THC and CBD levels in an emergent consumer market eager to sell adult use products. Analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories are important entities in consumer protection. These labs not only determine the condition and viability of cannabinoids, water content, heavy metals, pesticides, terpenes, yeast, but also the presence of mold, mycotoxins, and solvents. These laboratories emerged when advocates of cannabis testing raised concerns about potential contaminants.

Women have been active in the cannabis industry, cannabis legalization, cannabis testing, and cannabis rights since the earliest days of commercialization, but they have also faced gendered obstacles impeding their growth in an industry worth over 12 million dollars since 2019. "The American cannabis industry accounted for $10 billion of 2018’s [global] figures, with the average U.S. dispensary pulling in $3 million a year."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cannabis industry</span> Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the cannabis industry. Investor's Business Daily said the industry was affected as "customers stock up on prescriptions and recreational customers load up on something to make the lockdown a little more mellow or a little less boring".

Since 2012, various jurisdictions in the United States have legalized cannabis for recreational use. Because there are no border controls between U.S. states and citizens are allowed to travel freely between them, this has resulted in the proliferation of cannabis dispensaries located in towns that border states where cannabis remains illegal. These dispensaries can often be a significant source of revenue for the local economy of a city; for example, the city of Ontario, Oregon generated $100 million in cannabis sales less than two years after allowing dispensaries.

References

  1. ↑ Lee V. Barton (2007). Illegal Drugs and Governmental Policies. Nova Publishers. p. 69. ISBN   978-1-60021-351-9.
  2. ↑ Brian F Thomas; Mahmoud ElSohly (2015). The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis: Quality Assessment, Assurance, and Regulation of Medicinal Marijuana and Cannabinoid Preparations. Elsevier Science. p. 83. ISBN   978-0-12-804670-8.
  3. ↑ https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article257934393.html [ bare URL ]
  4. ↑ David Neubauer; Stephen Meinhold (2013). Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Cengage Learning. p. 108. ISBN   978-1-133-71178-0.
  5. ↑ Ryser, Rob (May 5, 2021). "Medical marijuana dispensary moving to Danbury hopes to make use of drive-thru opportunity". Newstimes.
  6. ↑ "Drive-Thru Dispensaries - the New Normal?".
  7. ↑ David M. Fahey; Jon S. Miller (2013). Alcohol and Drugs in North America: A Historical Encyclopedia: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 124. ISBN   978-1-59884-479-5.
  8. ↑ "Berkeley Patients Group, Nation's Oldest Dispensary, Celebrates 20 Years with $1MM for Good Campaign". www.businesswire.com. September 11, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  9. ↑ History of Washington State marijuana laws http://www.ncsl.org/documents/summit/summit2015/onlineresources/wa_mj_law_history.pdf National Conference of State Legislators
  10. ↑ Ann O’M. Bowman; Richard C. Kearney (2015). State and Local Government. Cengage Learning. p. 67. ISBN   978-1-305-38847-5.
  11. ↑ "State Medical Marijuana Laws". National Conference of State Legislatures. 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Child Resistant Pop Top Bottles Dispensary Supplies". dispensarynecessities.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  13. ↑ "WAC 314-55-105: Packaging and labeling requirements". apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  14. ↑ "World's first legal recreational marijuana sales begin in Colorado". The Denver Post. January 1, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Marijuana Laws by State in 2024: A Legal Weed Map and Short Guide to Regulation". O. Berk. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Guido H. Stempel III; Thomas K. Hargrove (2015). The 21st-Century Voter: Who Votes, How They Vote, and Why They Vote [2 volumes]. Ohio University. p. 272. ISBN   978-1-61069-228-1.
  17. ↑ "Harborside Health Center Lawsuit: Judge Dismisses Oakland's Suit On Behalf Of Pot Shop". The Huffington Post . February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2016.3
  18. ↑ "World's Largest Medical Marijuana Dispensary" December 1, 2011. Weed Wars, Discover Channel 2011
  19. ↑ Strauss, Jack. "The Economic Impact of Colorado Harvest Company and Evergreen Apothecary on the Denver Region and Colorado" . Retrieved April 20, 2017.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ↑ John Geluardi (2016). Cannabiz: The Explosive Rise of the Medical Marijuana Industry. Taylor & Francis. p. 71. ISBN   978-1-317-26282-4.
  21. ↑ Ostrov, Barbara (December 22, 2017). "At 'pot churches,' marijuana is the sacrament". www.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  22. ↑ Sevack, Brendan (December 22, 2019). "Top Cannabis Names". brandbucket.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ↑ Nate Linhart (2016). "Medical marijuana lobbyist fights recreational marijuana initiative". Suntimes. Retrieved January 24, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. ↑ McKay, Hollie (December 8, 2011). "'Weed Wars' Goes Inside Medical Marijuana Dispensary". Fox News . Retrieved January 22, 2016.

Further reading

See also

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