Member Blog: Personal Touches for Successful Cannabis Dispensaries

Everyone in the retail dispensary industry is trying to create unique and memorable ways to bring in more customers and up the per ticket sales. The trend of the past few years has been to try to appeal to as many people as possible, and take on almost a generic, fast food style. This is exactly what the big guys do. Cookie cutter locations that lack personality and individuality. While this may be tempting to replicate and seem like a sure fire win, designing your location to appeal to everyone ends up boring your ideal customer. Cannabis retail experiences should have an on brand wow factor. If customers didn’t want that, they could just order online and pickup.

Dispensaries strive to create unique and memorable experiences for their customers. As a retail interior designer with a focus on dispensary design, incorporating personal touches can significantly contribute to the success of the dispensary. These special touches also boost your brand identity and be a great starting point for marketing and social media content for your brand.

How do you reflect your brand identity?

One of the key aspects of dispensary design is ensuring that the space reflects the brand identity of the cannabis retailer. Incorporate elements that showcase the company’s values, mission, and overall aesthetic. I love when I walk into a dispensary and learn the “why” behind the brand. Why are they doing this? Who are they impacting? A favorite ‘personal touch’ of mine happens to be a mural dedicated to the store owner’s mother who had passed away from cancer. My client opened his dispensary to provide relief to other cancer patients. The murals featured her namesake flower as well as her favorite colors. He is an aquaponic grower, hence the fish.

From custom signage to branded displays, and incorporating unique and personal touches ,a cohesive visual identity contributes to a memorable and recognizable dispensary experience.

How can I merchandise?

Creative merchandising plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining customers. It also goes way beyond just how something looks on a shelf or wall. Use personalized displays to highlight featured products, promotions, or staff picks. This doesn’t necessarily mean more info cards or signage. Incorporate unique shelving, display cases, or even interactive elements that engage customers and encourage exploration within the space. A great example of this is at the Woods. Check out how a very simple wall mounted box display fits the personality of the shop and also engages people to take a longer peek.

How can I represent my culture & philanthropy?

Infusing your proud culture and art into the dispensary design is a great way to show people who you are, who you support and where you came from. Whether it’s through local artist artwork, murals, or installations, integrating artistic elements adds depth and character to the space. Collaborating with local artists to create custom pieces that resonate with both the brand and the community. Talk about organizations that you support and what they do. I have a great client who includes a small card in each bag that says “Thank you for your purchase. We donate 10% of our profits to the Friends of Puerto Rico.” They also feature contemporary Puerto Rican Artists in their hall gallery and entry area.

Ultimately, dispensaries will compete for customers and sales, like it or not. In the competitive retail world, personal touches set cannabis retailers apart and contribute to the overall success. Whether through reflecting brand identity, engaging visual merchandising, artistic influences, comfortable spaces, personalized interactions, interactive technology, or sustainable elements, the goal is to create a unique and welcoming experience for customers. As a retail interior designer, embracing these creative ideas elevate the dispensary’s aesthetic and establish a lasting connection with its clientele.

Elevate Your Dispensary’s Presence In 2024 Using These Promotion Tricks

As we step into 2024, it’s safe to say that the cannabis industry is not just growing; it’s thriving! The reports reveal that the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the US has observed a 1.7% jump from the previous year- totaling 5,142 in 2022.

Moreover, the industry is expected to skyrocket, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.66% from 2023 to 2028, reaching a market value of US$67.15 billion by 2028. Isn’t that amazing?

In such a booming market, the potential to earn profits is enormous. But how can you capitalize on this opportunity and make your dispensary the go-to place for cannabis products?

Are you also wondering the same? If so, we’ve got you covered! We have compiled a list of effective promotion tricks to help you elevate your dispensary in 2024. Let’s explore them together!

Focus On Local SEO To Maximize Your Visibility

Have you ever noticed that some dispensaries seem to have a never-ending stream of customers while others struggle for the same despite offering similar products and services?

If yes, the reason for such a difference is the savvy use of Local SEO. According to statistics, 46% of people search for local businesses on Google. What’s even more surprising is that around 80% of these local searches result in conversion.

Let’s take a look at this using an example. Suppose you own a dispensary in Buchanan, MI. In that case, if you want your buchanan dispensary to be the talk of the town, you must focus on Local Search Engine Optimization. This includes several steps, and a few of them are given below:

Ensure your Google My Business (GMB) profile is complete and accurate. It includes up-to-date contact details, operating hours, and high-quality images.
Use relevant keywords in your business description, focusing on terms potential customers might use. For instance, “Dispensary in [Your City] such as Buchanan, MI.”
Create localized and reader-friendly content on your website, such as blog posts about community events or local cannabis news.
Have a mobile-friendly website, as most local searches are done on mobile devices.
Build local backlinks by collaborating with other local businesses and participating in community events. It will boost your local search rankings.

Provide Exclusive Deals On The Home Page

After fine-tuning your local SEO, your website homepage becomes a vital touchpoint for capturing visitor interest. Picture this: a potential customer, drawn in by your high search ranking, lands on your site and gets greeted with an offer they can’t resist. That’s the power of providing exclusive offers right on your homepage.

As a matter of fact, these offers do more than just grab attention. They provide compelling reasons for them to stay and explore the entire website. It’s like saying, “We value your visit, and here’s how we show it.”

Now, the question is- How can you craft deals that not only entice but also resonate with your audience? No need to worry; we’ve got you covered! Here are a few types of discounts/deals you can provide to your target customers:

First-Time Buyer Discounts: Offer a special discount for first-time customers to encourage them to make their initial purchase.
Loyalty Rewards: Create a loyalty program where repeat customers earn points that they can redeem as discounts on future purchases.
Seasonal Promotions: Use holidays and seasons like Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year with themed discounts or bundles.
Exclusive Access: Provide early access to new products or special editions for regular customers.
Referral Bonuses: Encourage customers to refer friends by offering them a discount or free product for each successful referral.
Bundle Deals: Create product bundles at a reduced price to promote purchasing new products.

Offer Multiple Purchase Options

It goes without saying that customers prioritize convenience above all, especially when it comes to purchasing options. That means, by providing multiple ways to buy cannabis and related products, you make each customer feel catered to, regardless of their buying preferences.

For instance, some customers prefer browsing online but enjoy the experience of picking up their orders in-store. On the other hand, some value the convenience of home delivery. By providing options like online ordering with in-store pickup, home delivery, and direct purchases at your location, you’re taking steps to enhance their shopping experience.

All in all, if your dispensary can effortlessly meet their needs, you’ll quickly become their go-to choice. Yes, it’s that easy! It builds a bridge of convenience and flexibility, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

But there’s a catch – you must understand exactly what your customers want. For this, you can try the following tips:

Surveys and Feedback Forms: Regularly ask for customer feedback through surveys or feedback forms, either in-store or online.
Focus Groups: Conduct focus groups with a diverse set of customers to gather in-depth insights into their preferences and needs.
Customer Service Interactions: Keep track of common queries and requests received by your customer service team.
Sales Data Analysis: Examine your sales data to identify trends and popular products among your customers.
Observational Research: Observe customer behavior and preferences in-store to gain real-time insights into their shopping patterns.

Try Social Media Storytelling

Does your dispensary have a social media account? If so, think about what you often post. Typically, businesses post about product updates and promotions. However, social media is an excellent platform for building an emotional connection with your target audience by sharing compelling stories and experiences.

For example, you can create reels about the journey of your business. Or, post customer testimonials on how amazing your service or products are. This type of content allows your audience to connect with your brand on a more personal level, seeing it as more than just a dispensary but as a community pillar.

In essence, using storytelling as social media marketing helps create a loyal community that resonates with your brand’s values. When they see the dedication and passion behind your products, they feel an intrinsic part of your dispensary’s story.

Having said that here are some elements that you must include in your social media storytelling:

Ensure your stories reflect your brand’s genuine values and mission. Authenticity resonates with audiences.
Include interactive elements like polls, questions, or calls to action to encourage audience participation.
Use high-quality images and videos to make your stories visually compelling.
Create a story that evokes emotions, whether it’s joy, empathy, or inspiration.
Share content that is relevant to your audience’s interests and current trends.
Offer glimpses into the daily operations of your dispensary, showcasing the people and processes behind your products.

Say Yes To Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Saying ‘yes’ to event sponsorship opportunities can open doors you never knew existed. It’s about putting your brand in the spotlight but in a way that feels genuine and community-oriented.

Just imagine your dispensary in Buchanan sponsoring a local music festival, art show, or wellness fair. These events aid you to resonate with your target audience and also position your brand as an active and supportive member of the community.

It’s worth noting that event sponsorship isn’t just about adding your logo to a banner. It’s an opportunity to engage with potential customers face-to-face, showcase your products, and build a positive brand image.

When people enjoy an event and see your dispensary contributing to that experience, they associate those good vibes with your brand. It’s a powerful way to build trust and recognition, turning attendees into loyal customers who remember your name long after the event is over.

Now, you may ask: How to avail such opportunities? Here are a few things you can try:

Collaborate with Local Businesses: Partner with local businesses that share a similar customer base for joint sponsorship opportunities.
Network in Industry Events: Attend cannabis industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events to connect with organizers and other businesses.
Contact Event Organizers Directly: Reach out to organizers of local events, festivals, and community gatherings to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.
Join Local Business Associations: Become a member of local commerce chambers or business groups to access insider information on upcoming events.
Utilize Social Media: Engage with local event pages on social media and express interest in sponsorships.

Tap into Nostalgia Marketing

Have you ever noticed how certain smells, sounds, or sights can transport you back in time? For example, the aroma of fresh pine might remind you of winter holidays spent with family.

This is the essence of nostalgia marketing, a powerful yet underrated tool that can make your dispensary stand out in 2024. By tapping into the fond memories of your customers, you create an emotional connection that goes beyond the product itself.

Now imagine adding similar retro themes to your product lines or store decor. It could be as simple as playing classic tunes from different eras in your dispensary. These subtle nods to the past can evoke warm, nostalgic feelings in your customers, making their experience with your brand more memorable and personal.

Perhaps we can say that this marketing technique is not just a trend; it’s about creating a sense of familiarity and comfort. When customers associate your dispensary with good old memories, they’re more likely to return and share their experiences with others. It’s a unique way to build a loyal community around your brand.

Below are a few nostalgic marketing tips you can try for your dispensary:

Retro Product Packaging: Design your product packaging with a vintage or retro theme reminiscent of past decades.
Classic Strain Revival: Introduce or highlight classic cannabis strains that were popular in past decades.
Throwback Events: Host themed events celebrating different periods, inviting customers to dress up and enjoy era-specific activities and products.

Connect Via Podcasts

Finally, podcasts are another popular way to connect with audiences on a more personal level. Using this tool, you can dive deep into the world of cannabis, discussing everything from the latest strains to the ins and outs of responsible usage.

It’s not just about providing information; it’s about building a community. By featuring guest speakers, such as industry experts or satisfied customers, you add different perspectives and voices to your brand. This approach makes your dispensary more relatable and trustworthy.

In other words, starting a podcast gives you a platform to tell your brand’s story, share knowledge, and engage with listeners who share your passion for cannabis. It’s a unique way to establish your dispensary as an authority in the field while creating a loyal listener base.

With that in mind, here’s how you can start a podcast:

Define Your Niche: Decide on a specific focus for your podcast, like cannabis education, industry news, or strain reviews.
Get the Right Equipment: Invest in a good quality microphone, headphones, and recording software.
Plan Your Content: Outline your episodes, decide on formats (interviews, solo talks, etc.), and prepare talking points.
Record and Edit: Record your episodes and use editing software to refine the audio quality.
Choose a Hosting Platform: Upload your podcast to a hosting platform like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or SoundCloud.
Promote Your Podcast: Share your podcast on social media, your website, and through email newsletters.

Final Thoughts

In 2024, standing out in the bustling cannabis market requires creativity and connection. By embracing these promotion tricks, your dispensary can attract customers while building a community. Just remember to engage with your audience and adapt to their evolving needs.

Committee Blog: Everything You Wanted to Know About Cannabis Facilities but Were Afraid to Ask Field Guide – Part 4 – Retail

by NCIA’s Facilities Design Committee
Jacques Santucci, Brian Anderson, David Vaillencourt, and David Dixon

Continuing our five-part series on the behind-the-scenes workings of the legal cannabis industry. This series focuses on all of the inner dealings and industry advice from established professionals to craft this unlimited How-to-Guide to assist you in setting up your own facility. These articles cover cultivation, extraction, infused products, and retail facilities as well as support activities. In general, remember to be compliant with all local rules and regulations and contact a licensed contractor and industry expert.

Part Four, Retail & Dispensaries: Top Things to Consider When Planning Your Cannabis Dispensary and Retail Operations

Retail and dispensary design presents challenges that are distinct from the other areas of cannabis production and manufacturing. The biggest difference is that the design must now account for customers as well as employees. Listed below are a number of issues that an operator should consider as they are in the process of designing their retail or dispensary operations. Always remember to be compliant with all local rules and regulations.

Security Camera: Minimum Area of Coverage

Most states require a hundred percent minimum security coverage in any area where marijuana products are stored, displayed, or sold. Designing a camera system and placements to avoid “dead spots’ ‘ (i.e. areas with no camera coverage) can be challenging, especially if the operation is taking over an existing space, as opposed to building a new facility from scratch.

Bonus Consideration: Think about having an HVAC system specially dedicated to your security room. Security rooms for video monitoring and storage can sometimes be an afterthought. But these locations should be treated more like computer server rooms as opposed to standard office space. And with the amount of technology placed in a (typically) small space, things can overheat rather quickly. This can lead to damage to the system and ultimately, you could be out of compliance for video storage and retention.

Another Bonus Consideration: do not forget about placing security cameras to cover the entrance and exit points to the parking lot. Think about the field of view around doors, especially if the door is near the corner of the building or if there are other obstructions that can block the camera’s view of the area. Multiple cameras may be needed for this critical function. Contact a licensed professional.

Security Camera: Minimum Data Storage

Video storage and retention requirements for cannabis facilities are fairly stringent. Typical requirements include 90-days of on-site storage and up to five years of off-site storage. Off-site data storage is required for future legal needs. Many states require a minimum video resolution of 1080p. The video storage needs for even a moderately sized facility can amount to petabytes of data. For this reason, many facilities outsource this function at least in some measure. If you do decide to handle this all yourself, you should be sure that you have the technical expertise on your staff to handle this potentially complex technical issue.

Security Alarm: Monitoring

Like it or not, retail cannabis facilities will probably always be targets for crime. Having a security system probably seems like a no-brainer. But simply having an alarm system isn’t typically enough. You will need a system that is actively monitored. This allows the company to initiate actions on your behalf depending on the alarm status (e.g., call the police or fire department in response to a remote alarm). Your alarm should be monitored by at least one reputable company. Redundancy might not be needed, but check to be sure that you are in compliance with local rules and regulations. Talk to your licensed professional.

Security: Line of Sight

Customers should only see the public retail area of the location. Customers should not see the back-of-house operations. There is no need for them to see how business is conducted other than at the sales counter. Similarly, there is no need for customers to be able to view the offices, inventory areas, working areas, employee break room, etc. Keeping these areas private helps to avoid bad actors from learning operational routines that might make it easier for them to exploit.

Safety and Injury Handling

This is an easily overlooked area but can definitely get your dinged upon inspection. Be sure you have the appropriate amount of first aid kits and burn kits onsite as reunited by local regulations. Pay particular attention to the regulations about the placement of these kits as they are sometimes required to be within visual distance of specific rooms within your facility. It can be a hard pill to swallow to not be able to get your operation certificate for forgetting such a simple item, but it happens all too frequently.

Employee Access

Having a non-customer door or access point is a best practice. Non-customer access points are where employees and products are brought into the facility without customer line-of-sight. In some states, this is a requirement so check to be sure your facility is in compliance with laws and regulations.

Product Delivery

Getting cannabis products into a retail facility is a critical part of the merchandise flow and one of the most vulnerable points for theft. For maximum safety and control, consider the use of an air-lock/man trap/sally port door arrangement. If not possible due to location or architecture, planning for business hours separation and process can keep customers separated from deliveries.

Employee and Counter Safety

The counters where transactions occur in a cannabis retail setting can pose some risks especially since most facilities are cash-based operations. An open style counter can open up opportunities for theft. Consider a security barrier counter. The idea is to attempt to prevent customers from having access to products, cash, or employees where possible.

Security: Egress

Customer flow can be somewhat challenging, especially in facilities that have a registration lobby that is physically separated from the retail sales floor. Having separate entry and exit doors for customers can help with the flow of customers. Not a requirement but potentially a good customer experience design.

Customer Environment

Dispensaries and retail locations can be busy places at times. In COVID times, this can be a big issue. But even under non-pandemic circumstances, there may be a need to control the number and spacing of customers for both safety and privacy. Social distancing- the process of limiting the number of customers for the available space within the building- can be enhanced through various design elements. These can range from the use of rope and stanchion barriers, to signage and floor stickers.

Lobby design for restricted access – if access to the sales floor is restricted to registered customers, a secure lobby space should be provided with a separated check-in space and access-controlled doors both for customer entrance and egress.

And do not forget bathroom access for customers. You can have a single facility that is unisex but it should also be ADA compliant.

Environmental Consciousness

Unfortunately, like most other retail spaces, cannabis retail still generates a significant amount of waste. And much of it may be recyclable. Business recycling bins should be provided.

Energy-saving considerations can also be important for retail facilities. Motion detecting light systems can reduce energy consumption in non-occupied spaces. At the very least, interior lighting switches should be located in the same area for easy use upon space exit. HVAC systems should have an occupied and unoccupied night setback capability.

Parking Lot

Depending on the total number of employees and customers you anticipate visiting your business at its peak times, you will need to design a minimum number of accessible parking spots.

If curbside pickup is legally allowed in your area, be sure to map out and reserve spaces exclusively for this activity. It should be close to the exit door where the product will be delivered to the customer. Remember to keep parking spaces for handicapped people and even maybe for motorcycles.

Check Out These Related Articles for More Top Things to Consider When Planning:

Part 1 – Cannabis Cultivation Facilities
Part 2 – Cannabis Extraction Facilities
Part 3 – Cannabis Food Production Facilities
Part 4 –Cannabis Retail & Dispensary Facilities
Part 5 – Cannabis Facility Support Areas

Member Blog: 9 Standard Operating Procedures Every Dispensary Should Have

by Tommy Truong, Director of Partnerships at KayaPush

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are the documents, protocols, systems, and procedures that your cannabis dispensary should have in place to manage day-to-day operations.

SOPs help dispensaries in many ways: From optimizing proper employee management systems such as dispensary payroll and onboarding to ensuring compliance with regulations are consistently met, and more.

What are the top dispensary SOPs to use?

There are hundreds of dispensary SOPs that could be created, and they should constantly be evolving as your store grows.

Overall the goal of dispensary SOPs is to increase efficiency and help you become more profitable in the long run. That being said, these are the 9 types of dispensary SOPs we recommend you start with as you build and scale your dispensary store.

1 – Opening & closing procedures and SOPs

All brick and mortar retail stores should have SOPs in place for opening and closing the store. But especially stores that require high-security measures like cannabis retail stores.

Opening and closing checklists for this special breed should include the following:

Opening checklist:

Vibe check: Turn on lights, music, temperature, put out signs, clean.
Check for any signs of a break-in or forced entry every morning.
Make sure that all products in the display and stores are accounted for.
Put away any orders.
Review inventory.
Turn on and start up all software systems.
Ensure you are in dress code (if applicable)

End of day checklist:

Check that the security cameras are working.
Lock all the doors and display cabinets.
Check and report any obvious security threats/ logbook.
Generate sales and compliance reports.
Cash-out protocols.
Closing the cash registers and POS system.
Turn off lights, music, bring in signs.
Clean and sanitize the store.
Lock all doors and perform security checks.

2 – Customer check-in procedures and SOPs

Many cannabis dispensaries violate their customer check-in procedures and end up facing fines and license suspensions by regulators. Due to this, it is crucial that you implement customer check-in SOPs to ensure compliance.

Customer check-in procedures include:

Proper budtender training on protocols beforehand.
Screen every customer entering the store to ensure they are of legal age.
Ensure customers have a valid license to purchase cannabis.
Scan the customer’s ID to make sure it is genuine and valid.
Check the customer’s age, and enter these details into your customer database or tracking system.
Check the system to ensure the customer has not already gone over their purchasing limit at a different store.
Follow proper serving protocols.

3 – Sales transaction process and SOPs

Sales transaction processes are crucial to the business because this is how the company generates its revenues. Keeping track of these is key. Do you have the following sales SOPs?

Sales transaction processes could include:

Greeter procedures (first customer contact),
Boxing and packing procedures.
Cashier procedures.
Answering customer product questions.
Recording product sales information into tracking systems.
Recording shipping information.
Processing various forms of payment.
Gathering sales tax to submit.

It would help if you integrated your SOPs with the technology you’re using, like cannabis-compliant POS systems.

4 – Delivery procedures and SOPs

Cannabis deliveries can get complicated as they tend to include strict guidelines around logistics. This is why it’s essential there are SOPs built around these logistics.

Delivery procedures could include:

Packaging and shipping guidelines with regards to the different types of products.
Procedures in place to pack and mark fragile deliveries — like glass bongs — clearly to ensure safe delivery.
Details and SOPs around third-party deliveries.
Sop’s around management tools or software.
Inputting data into the tracking software or POS system.
Proper accounting and documentation of the aforementioned.

5 – Security, accounting, and cash management protocols and SOPs

Cannabis retail stores face many challenges when storing and moving cash from the store to the bank. Since dispensaries are not legal at the federal level in the United States of America, they are limited in the services they can receive from banks. As a result of those limitations, dispensaries struggle with large amounts of cash being stored on the dispensary’s premises, so tight SOPs surrounding how to navigate these challenges are crucial.

Security and cash management protocols could include:

What employees are allowed in sensitive areas like stores and cash safes.
How long to keep security camera recordings and how to report a robbery.
How often armored trucks can pick up cash.
Who gives the cash to the trucks.
How the cash is stored while at the dispensary.
Who is keeping track of accounting and line items?
Who is keeping track of inventory management?
How are taxes being filed and accounted for, and by who?

6 – Track-and-trace & inventory management and SOPs

Track and Trace SOPs are important for every cannabis dispensary. In order to comply with the regulations, you have to adopt track and trace SOPs into your inventory management system.

These track and trace SOPs should cover:

Inventory management processes like procurement.
Transportation to store.
Product transfers.
Audits.
Track and trace software procedures that comply with local regulations.

Given how important track and trace SOPs are for compliance, you should automate this process if possible. Track-and-trace automation software can help you define the roles for each activity and integrate compliance checks.

7 – Quality assessment SOPs.

Quality assessment SOPs will make sure your product is up to the required standard by the regulators and that you are not violating any laws over what ingredients can be included in your products and how they are made. Failure to comply with these SOPs or pass a quality assessment could leave a dispensary owner at risk of losing their license.

Quality assessment SOPs could include:

Purchasing products from verified sellers.
Ensuring products are tagged within tracking systems.
Ensuring you are selling products that you can legally sell within your geographic location.
Product feedback requests.

8 – Product recalls and emergencies and SOPs

Product recall SOPs will come into play when a defective product needs to be recalled from the market. This can be stressful for the team as it will lead to customers complaining, and management concerned about losses being recorded. One of the most valuable assets to have in this situation would be SOPs that guide your team on how to act in this situation without losing their cool or professionalism.

Recall SOPs could be:

How /who contacts purchasers.
Who is on top of product updates (do you have a compliance manager?).
Product recall script.

9 – Employee Management SOPs

Previously, these SOPs have been focused on inventory and store management, however, managing your staff is another large part of any dispensary operation.

When managing your staff it is recommended that you use employee management software to alleviate the stress of manually running operations such as dispensary payroll, scheduling, onboarding, or time clock adjustments.

Using software alone can eliminate the need for some of these SOPs but if you do choose to go the manual route you should have SOPs for the following procedures.

Employee management SOPs could be:

How do you onboard employees?
Who manages their forms and licenses?
Who writes and manages the schedules?
How do employees swap shifts?
How do staff clock into shifts?
How runs payroll?
How are staff paid?
How are taxes paid?
How are employees’ performances reviewed, and by who?

Conclusion

These are the major SOPs that we believe you should have in place before opening or scaling, but don’t forget that enforcing them is just as crucial as implementing them!

The best way to run a compliant, systematic, and streamlined dispensary is to use great technology to help you succeed!

Consider using a project management tool to help you stay on top of all your tasks, a people management solution for payroll, HR, time tracking, and scheduling, and a dispensary POS solution that integrates with track and trace technology and people management solution for the best results. By using the tools paired with standard operating procedures your dispensary is sure to succeed.

Author Tommy Truong is the Director of Partnerships at KayaPush; the cannabis software helping dispensary owners manage their employee HR, scheduling, and payroll. KayaPush also integrates with leading dispensary POS systems. Tommy loves hot sauce, fried chicken, and running with his Boston terriers.

Committee Blog: What Retailers Can Do To Support Social Equity

By NCIA’s Retail Committee

Social equity can be boiled down to a way of seeking remedy for the harms caused by the racist war on drugs and to help individuals, families, and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by prohibition. A big part of this is making sure that no one is left behind by the economic developments created by making cannabis legal. As local, state, and federal governments continue to grapple with implementing policies that effectively address this issue, there is a lot the industry can – and should – do to help make sure that the opportunities in regulated cannabis markets are inclusive and equitable, and to help support businesses owned by members of marginalized communities.

As many as 70% of consumers want brands to take a stand on social and political issues. That’s a 66% increase from 2017, according to Sprout Social’s 2019 #BrandsGetReal survey. Customers are more likely to purchase from companies that take a stand on causes aligning with their values and more importantly, companies hold the power to make a difference; even if it’s encouraging people to take baby steps towards a larger solution. Data shows they might already be doing that, because 67% of consumers say brands are raising awareness around just causes, and 62% believe brands are educating them on important topics.

Here are just a few ways that cannabis retailers can help be a part of the social equity solution to economic unfairness created by the failed war on drugs:

Partner with Job Programs

Cannabis arrests or convictions can erect barriers in someone’s life. More specifically, they can affect housing, education, and career prospects. Consider partnering with city, state, and national programs and organizations that are creating pathways to cannabis ownership and employment – including the formerly incarcerated – to create job opportunities for underserved communities.

Expungement Days

Reach out to a local law firm or social justice organization and talk about hosting “expungement days.” Your efforts will help provide free legal measures for expunging low-level cannabis-related convictions. The Last Prisoner Project is a cannabis reformation project seeking to release prisoners currently convicted for cannabis-related crimes and help them assimilate back into society. However, local organizations may often have direct experience with this work in your communities and have well-established relationships with them to help better connect with the people who need these services the most.

Reach out to them and see what they recommend before planning your expungement day. You can also find out more information about expungement efforts nationally at the Collateral Consequences Resource Center.

Create shelf space

Socially conscious companies should show equity and racial justice on your stores’ shelves. Whether it is making a “social equity section” or finding ways to educate budtenders on the merits and stories behind the products, you will be moving sales in the right direction and promoting socially conscious consumer patterns. You can also provide tabling space for brand ambassadors to help promote social equity company products that you carry. This not only helps the brands but also creates greater loyalty to your store.

Find products that are both socially equitable and fit your dispensary’s needs. That way, you push the product because you love the product, not just because it’s trendy. But in doing so, you are contributing to positive social change and acceptance, and driving commerce toward BIPOC-owned companies. Remember, the goal is equity.

Form equitable partnerships for ownership

Are you a retailer, cultivator, or production company? Maybe you’re a vertically integrated, multi-state operation. You might not even touch the cannabis plant at all, but provide services to those who do. No matter who you are in cannabis, find ways to partner with social equity companies and help increase their recognition. Maybe it’s mutually beneficial joint venture projects on brands or another arrangement, but find ways to form fair and collaborative relationships.

Above all, keep it real

In the end, authenticity is key, and to take a stand in a way that inspires customers: your message can’t be filled with empty words. If you’re a company that’s looking for causes to rally behind, keep it in your wheelhouse and make sure your audience will resonate with the partnerships you’re creating.

Retail businesses have the power to become change agents and inspire customers to take action in their own backyards. Seek out opportunities like the ones we mentioned and provide opportunities for wealth generation, education, and social restoration in marginalized communities.

According to statistics, you’ll make a lasting impression on your audience, increase sales, and you’ll be a force for positive social change as you impact lives in your community and beyond. What’s better than that?

Member Blog: Building A Medical Cannabis Dispensary During The COVID-19 Pandemic

by David Fettner, Managing Partner at Grow America Builders

In late January 2020, Grow America Builders started construction on a new medical cannabis dispensary in Elizabeth, New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. It was scheduled to be a 12-week project. And then COVID-19 happened.

Every construction project has its own challenges and problems, but we never had to complete a project under those conditions.

The coronavirus pandemic hit the area fast and furious. Cases doubled by the day, stay at home mandates were put into effect, and there we were, in the middle of construction of a dispensary with a strict state-imposed deadline.

Most cannabis companies are given a state-imposed deadline to complete their dispensary or risk losing the license. As the chaos surrounding the virus was intensifying, the state of New Jersey was silent on whether or not there would be a time extension. We had no choice but to push ahead.

Hurdles, Speed Bumps, and Roadblocks

The first hurdle we faced was abiding by the new regulations. The two primary directives were that all workers must wear masks, and all entrances had to have a washing station with hot water or hand sanitizer. Every construction contractor has masks, but the second part was more of a challenge. As everyone remembers, hand sanitizer was a rare commodity in those first few weeks of COVID-19. If you had a jug of hand sanitizer you may as well have had a jug of gold bullion. Our project manager used the first of many favors and begged our plumber to come out on a Sunday to plumb a temporary sink so that we’d be operational by Monday morning.

The next problem was getting workers to the job site. Immediately, there was confusion as to who was allowed to work and who wasn’t. Some cities allowed essential work to continue, but others shut everything down except for medical personnel. Our guys were getting pulled over by law enforcement, and told that unless they were working at a hospital they would have to turn back. It was very confusing; even though construction was allowed in Elizabeth, it might not have been allowed in a neighboring town.

We lost subcontractors left and right. We assured our guys that construction was allowed on our project, but they didn’t want to risk getting continually pulled over. And then there were those who understandably didn’t want to endanger their health. The situation forced us to make modifications on the fly. We plowed ahead, finding alternate contractors and paying extra just to get bodies to the job.

It was about a month out from our deadline when we hit the biggest speed bump. One of the more critical elements of the project was a wall of interior glass separating the reception area from the sales counter. We wouldn’t get the occupancy permit without it. As soon as we were ready for the glass wall, we were told that eight members of the installation crew were out with COVID-19. They had been working on another job at which they were exposed to a bricklayer who had the disease. Regardless, the glass wasn’t even ready because the shop had closed down.

In late March, as we were frantically dealing with the glass crisis, we received an email from the city that stated all construction was to immediately cease and the building department was closed indefinitely. Internally, at Grow America Builders, this was henceforth known as “The Email.”

We had no indication that this was coming, despite the fact we had just had an inspection. The inspector probably didn’t know himself. We had about three weeks of construction remaining and roughly three weeks until the deadline. This left us with no room for error. We couldn’t afford a stoppage. We were spinning our wheels; how could we convince the city to let us finish our project when they’d shut down all other construction? It wasn’t long before the state released a list of “essential businesses” that could remain open. We scoured that list until we found what we were looking for: “medicinal cannabis dispensary.”

Were We Essential?

In a recent article on Marketwatch.com, Randal Meyer, executive director of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, recognized this and said, “There is a good reason for cannabis [retailers] to be treated like pharmacies. The basis is medical.” In the same article, it was reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom decided that dispensaries should be treated something like pharmacies. Every governor in a medically legal state followed suit.

As long-time advocates of cannabis, we were always on the side of “legalize it.” But since working in the cannabis industry, we’ve seen the cancer patients, the veterans suffering with PTSD and the epileptics who literally depend on cannabis on a daily basis. It wasn’t news to us that medicinal cannabis would be deemed essential. It was good to know that this now seemed to be the consensus.

We started making calls to the building department and arguing to anyone who would listen that if a medical cannabis dispensary is considered essential, then the construction of one should be as well. The sooner we could get the dispensary built; the sooner people could have access to their medicine.

Finish Line

About 48 hours later, we received verbal approval to continue working, and about a week after that the building department opened back up with limited hours. At this point we had a good routine established; we kept the electricians away from the plumbers, the plumbers away from the millworkers and the painters only worked nights and weekends. Glass was finally being fabricated and our final inspection was scheduled. We were ready.

On the morning of final inspections, our one item of concern was that the inspector wouldn’t be happy about walking around the glass installers who were still finishing up. The issue became moot because the inspector never showed up. He had fallen ill the night before our final inspection, and since he was apparently the only inspector who could pass us for occupancy, we had to wait until he could return to work.

Nobody knew when that would be. What we did know was that the state inspector was scheduled for the following day. This was new territory; we never had a state inspector come out for their inspection before receiving city inspections. To our relief, the state inspector still did their inspection and the dispensary received state approval prior to receiving occupancy from the city. About 10 days later, the building inspector came out and approved us for occupancy, and days later, the dispensary was open for business.

There were a million little things that we usually take for granted that were made that much more challenging under the shadow of COVID-19. It gives us great pride to know that we built that medical dispensary amidst the pandemic in the hardest-hit part of the country and that patients are finding it easier to gain relief in Elizabeth, NJ.

David Fettner is a managing partner of Grow America Builders, a national design-build construction company focused solely on the cannabis industry. Along with his partner, Mike Kaulentis, Grow America brings over twenty years of versatile construction experience, offering customers an end to end experience from concept through architecture, design and turnkey construction.

Video: Member Spotlight – A Therapeutic Alternative

Based in Sacramento, California, this month we meet Kimberly Cargile, director of the medical cannabis dispensary A Therapeutic Alternative, focused on holistic healing and patient support. Learn more about how her dispensary has integrated and become a part of the local community. They also offer additional holistic services such as yoga, massage therapy, sound therapy, meditation, and more.