Since California voters passed Proposition 64 in 2016, running a state-licensed cannabis dispensary has become a legal business. Dispensaries are burgeoning in areas that permit them, including Santa Rosa and San Francisco. The California Bureau of Cannabis Control website notes that there were 1,045 licensed cannabis distributors dotting the state as of November 4, 2021.
If you currently run, or are considering developing, a cannabis dispensary, thoughtful dispensary design is essential in differentiating your business from others in your area.
Know Local Laws
The first issue facing anyone considering opening a cannabis dispensary is making sure your store follows state and local laws. Although medical and recreational use of cannabis is legal in California, many municipalities place restrictions on growing and dispensing it. The Cannifornian has a database of cities that details what is and isn’t legal regarding cannabis.
Use Proven Retail Design Strategies
Many of the same guidelines for designing retail space for other businesses – differentiation, retail design planning, human-centered design – can help you make your cannabis dispensary successful. This business, however, has some special considerations, thanks to its customers’ needs, its recent status change and the historical stigma associated with cannabis.
Make It Accessible and Comfortable
Because many people seek out cannabis products to help with medical problems that cause pain and disability, it’s especially important that your dispensary provide thoughtful accommodations for them.
The most basic accommodations include wide and uncluttered lobbies and aisles for those who may use mobility aids, plus good lighting and clear signage for people with low vision. Make sure you have counters and consultation space that are accessible to those who may be using wheelchairs, and consider providing seating in both the lobby and the consultation areas.
An added accommodation that can help you stand out from local competitors is adding automatic doors, which can be very helpful for those using mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters.
Keep It Safe and Professional-Looking
Despite legalization, the cannabis business retains a stigma. For many people, it still conjures images of shady backlot deals, dilapidated storefronts and head shops. Some of your clients, especially first-timers, may be nervous about coming into a cannabis dispensary.
You can set them at ease by making sure your dispensary is welcoming and professional and that it feels safe. Make sure your parking area and storefront are clean and well lit, and that your doors are clearly marked and easy to operate.
Your interior lighting should be carefully planned. You want to promote a professional look and feel while also providing comfortable light that doesn’t glare. Maximizing natural light is a great solution; it can keep a space bright and relaxing at the same time, with the bonus of helping save energy. Large windows to the lobby can let natural light in while sending a message that your cannabis dispensary is a proud member of your local retail community. Sun holes or skylights can also provide light to interior areas that don’t have windows.
If you plan to have a lounge area where clients can enjoy your products, make sure it is well separated from your lobby or consultation areas. This will allow clients to use your products in a private, relaxed area while keeping any odor from overpowering your lobby and consultation areas.
Provide Privacy for Clients
Because many clients will want to consult your staff regarding sensitive health issues, you’ll want to provide one or more private consultation areas where they can ask questions and discuss concerns without the fear of other clients listening in. This can be an area set off from the main retail space or a separate room, but make sure clients have both visual and acoustical privacy. If you don’t have a separate room for consultations, your architect can recommend ways to minimize sound transfer between your consultation and retail areas.
Create an Inviting Retail Space
For clients that don’t need or want a consultation, have a showroom space that displays your products. This can be a wall or a display case, but here again, adequate lighting is essential.
Think about how your clients are likely to shop for products, and display your wares accordingly. If clients are likely to shop by concern, group products for each symptom together. This can help introduce them to products and formats they may not have been aware of.
Finally, make sure there is adequate space around the displays for clients to move freely and for staff to be available to answer questions without making clients feel crowded or watched too closely.
Consider an Express Lane
Some clients know what they want and prefer to get it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Having a checkout kiosk or counter close to the entry/exit where they can pick up pre-orders can help them get in and out with a minimum of fuss. Consider keeping a small stock of your most popular products there for clients who haven’t pre-ordered but might want to make a quick trip – or an impulse buy!
Following these basic guidelines can help put your cannabis dispensary on the track to success, but working with an experienced commercial architect who knows your community can help you design a space that will make you stand out in the business’s increasingly crowded landscape.