Marijuana, as of this writing, is illegal under Federal law. However, 14 states have adopted laws that allow the cultivation and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In compliance with those laws, and for various reasons, many people have learned how to start a medical marijuana dispensary. If that is something that you wish to look into, this post provides some guidelines as to what to consider before taking steps to open up a “pot club”, “pot dispensary”, or “medical marijuana dispensary”.
This article is for informational purposes only. Do not rely on it for professional, medical, or legal advice. While the article presents useful tips, it is also just a summary.
Click here for complete instructions on how to start a dispensary.
First and foremost, you must ask yourself why you want to open a dispensary in the first place. If your incentive is to sincerely help people get the medicine they need, to be of service to those who need a safe way to obtain relief from their conditions, then opening a cannabis dispensary can truly be a rewarding endeavor.
Consider one of the most successful dispensaries in California – Harborside Health Center in Oakland, CA. Not only do they provide cannabis, they also provide other wellness services such as free acupuncture, hypnotherapy, chiropractic, Reiki, Naturopathy, Yoga, Herbalism, and other classes and sessions.
It’s to your advantage to consider Harborside’s example when looking at the following key areas in starting a marijuana dispensary:
Know the Laws
It goes without saying that before you do anything you need to fully understand what the laws in your state allow and what they don’t. If your purpose is just to make money, know that there is a lot of controversy right now about the legality of for-profit dispensaries, depending on the how the laws were written for each state. Understand the laws and how they apply to your dispensary.
You should consult an attorney who is familiar with this subject.
Training and Preparation
Running a dispensary is just like running any other business. There are two main areas that are critical to know – how to run a business in general, and what is unique about this business.
It’s a good idea to learn from an established dispensary in your area. Even if you have to pay for it, the knowledge gained is well worth it. You also want to become a patient as that will give you the freedom to deal with the product and will also give you a better understanding of other patients.
Other details:
- Establish the collective: You’ll need to establish the collective as a non-profit, then you can get the necessary licenses and permits. Hire a lawyer to make sure you have everything covered.
- Get a location: Sign a lease for the space you want to use, once you’ve found a suitable location. Again, you need a lease before filing for licenses and permits.
- Get your licenses and permits: Typical fees for a license can run around $100 a year.
- Get set up to pay taxes: Most transactions, even for medical marijuana, are taxable by law.
Starting the Dispensary
Following is a list of what you will need for your dispensary:
- Staffing: At a minimum you’ll need a front desk person, a bud tender, someone to handle the transactions, and security staff.
- Security: The security staff is for the safety of your patients as well as your product. You should also have at least one security camera set up. Keep an eye on the parking lot and make sure people aren’t loitering.
- Facilities layout: Make sure there are signs to help patients understand the process and what is expected and what is not allowed. You should have a waiting room where patients can check-in and have their eligibility verified. This must be separate from the bud tending area.
- Advertizing: You’ll need some way of getting the word out that you are open and available to meet patients’ needs.
When you finally open your cannabis dispensary, you’ll be on your way to running a successful venture. And you’ll be helping people obtain needed medicinal cannabis safely and legally.
Hi guy, I just heard on the radio that the government is busting Marijuana dispensaries in California. The state says it’s legal but the federal government is having a great time busting all these people who thought they were legal. Land of the free, home of the brave. Anyways I subscribed to you blog on kindle, thought you have some interesting ideas.
sue
Thanks for the comment, Sue. Yes, that is a disappointing development on the part of the feds. As if there aren’t more important issues for the President to deal with. But we haven’t heard the last word. From what I understand, they seem concerned with dispensaries that are a front for the cartels. Sounds like a smokescreen, to me, though. The cannabis legalization movement is not going away.
Wow, you found my blog on kindle! That’s great! I just put it up there this week, too, with no announcement.
I guess its always a good idea to really look hard at the reasons you would like to start one up. I know its not for me as I would be baked most of the day. Although I was watching a documentary about this and most of the people that go to these so called “medical” Marijuana shops have nothing wrong with them at all!
Never did, they just enjoy the odd smoke. I don’t see the problem with smoking Marijuana in small amounts, and selling it this way supplies it in a controlled way. Just don’t take me on as an employee unless you want someone to sample the quality of the goods!
This is great information to cover the basics. One of the most important things to take into consideration is not just the state, but also the community or city youre wanting to be in. They have the final say ultimately. And even if it is legal according to the state youre in, the city may have moratoriums.