Curious About Cannabis: Part 3
MARYLAND – Marijuana dispensaries in Maryland have only been accessible to medical patients since 2014.
“Working feverishly,”
That is set to change, as legal adult use recreational marijuana sales begin on July 1st.
“Our team has been working feverishly, night and day, in improving our hardware, improving our systems,” said Vice President of Brand Development for Far and Dotter dispensary, Anthony Darby. “We’re expanding our lower level to add express curbside, because we know we’re going to have double or triple the amount of folks coming through the door.”
A New Set of Customers
For the past several years, Far and Dotter has been dispensing medical marijuana to patients around the Baltimore area. And now, they’re preparing to welcome a whole new set of customers.
“It’s kind of cool to see the excitement. Folks are already signing up, even though they haven’t been able to come in and shop with us yet,” said Darby. “We always had a wellness focus here. We’re going to continue that focus. But now, instead of having a card certified by a physician, we’re opening out to the public; all those 21 and over who are interested about cannabis, we’re the place to go.”
What to Expect at the Dispensary
Darby says when you walk into their dispensary, it might not be what you’re expecting; and, that’s important.
“When they walk in, and see a really clean and vibrant atmosphere, and a really professionalized way of delivering cannabis, I think it’s mind-blowing to a lot of folks,” said Darby. “It’s important that when you’re thinking about your first experience, you’re choosing a responsible dispensary, you’re choosing somewhere where you can go and get an education on how to use the products safely and effectively, so that you have that great experience that you’re looking for.”
Darby is no stranger to what folks from Delmarva can expect if it’s their first time visiting a marijuana dispensary. In 2015, he co-founded Peninsula Alternative Health in Salisbury, which is still open. And, it was among the first dispensaries in Maryland to receive a license from the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission.
“We’re going to check your ID, make sure you’re 21,” said Darby. “We’ll lead you through education, we’ll go through the product offerings that we have, and really just guide them through their journey. Some folks are going to want to smoke a joint, some folks are going to want edibles. We want to make sure that we have a consultative approach, to guide folks, and make sure they’re doing it safely and effectively.”
Guiding Newcomers
Curio Wellness supplies Far and Dotter. Curio’s cofounder, Wendy Bronfein, says the company will make sure recreational users are clear on which products are the best for them, and that safety remains a top priority.
“The whole reason for considering a legal product is the safety of it. There’s a quality that we put into it, in being [Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the FDA] certified, and how we do things; the attention to detail, the supply chain, our people, our processes,” said Bronfein. “Everything that’s produced and gone to a dispensary, is going to go through a third-party lab that’s licensed by the state, and tested not only for its potency, so you understand the cannabinoids and terpenes in the product; but also that you know that it’s passed from a safety perspective, and it is safe for you to ingest or inhale into your body.”
Bronfein says that can only happen when the dispensary is staffed with experts. She says they can educate you on which products might be the best personal choice.
“It’s been a very exciting five years, leading up to this moment. We are very medicinally bent, in terms of the wellness that cannabis can offer. And, I think that comes along here in adult use to a much larger audience,” said Bronfein. “We expect a ton of education on the dispensary level. In our dispensaries, we have excellent staff who are really well-educated, and really do a great job of connecting person to product.”
A New Day
Legalization day is a day that Darby says he never fully expected to come. And now that it has, the focus is on safely, and effectively, serving newcomers.
“Seeing how well-received the medical program has been, and seeing how the actors have been so responsible, I thought this would be the foregone conclusion. So, I’m very happy that we’re here. It’s tough for me to believe that we are here in Maryland, my home state, where cannabis is legal,” said Darby. “It’s very important that folks have access to safe and effective cannabis, and currently, people are forced to go to the street, have diversion. No one knows what they’re getting, [on the streets] right? And, this is an opportunity where we know that cannabis is safe.”
And, it’s not just a new day for marijuana users in Maryland; Bronfein says legalizing adult use recreational cannabis will make big waves in the state’s economy.
“I think what’s really exciting in the cannabis sector, is it’s a multifaceted industry. So, if you’re interested in agriculture, or manufacturing, compliance, quality control, retail experience, or any sort of administrative or typically corporate jobs, they’re all available in this sector,” said Bronfein. “I think there’s a great framework for expanding the licenses, and focusing on social equity licenses. I think there is more to be done, that can open the opportunities. And, I think we’ll start to see that as they go through the process. But, I think we’re off to a great start.”
Leveling the Playing Field
Bronfein says Curio is doing their part to help level the playing field for those interested in the industry. That includes an investment fund to support franchising of the Far and Dotter concept, leading to full ownership.
“We have a $30 million investment fund that allows us to give the nest egg that’s required to open up a franchise to women, BIPOC, or disabled veteran candidates,” said Bronfein. “We’re in a highly diverse community, and have been a very diverse organization since the beginning. Our chart has always represented that diversity from top to bottom; the leadership team to an entry level staffer.”
“Feels like home,”
And as a new day prepares to dawn on existing dispensaries across Maryland, Bronfein says she’s excited to see the door to open to those who are curious about cannabis.
“I know a lot of people are focused on that there is tax revenue to be had. But really, it’s about job creation and great products, and being prideful of what we build here, and what we make available to our customers,” said Bronfein. “[Far and Dotter] feels like home. You quickly know us, and we know you. It’s very comfortable. You feel like you have a great experience, but you also feel like you are able to buy whatever you want. But, the things that you’re buying are totally matching your needs.”
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