Cannabis dispensaries in the United States


Cannabis dispensaries in the United States or marijuana dispensaries are a 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. First modeled in Amsterdam in the late 1970s where they were innocently called coffee shops, it would take the Americans more than a generation to successfully duplicate the idea of a retail cannabis storefront. Unlike the Dutch coffee shops, today dispensary customers are prevented from consuming cannabis on the site of a regulated dispensary in all known markets.
In a traditional Medical cannabis dispensary store a patient receives cannabis medication as allowed per the patient's doctor's recommendation. These dispensaries sell cannabis products that have not been approved by the FDA and are not legally registered with the federal government.
As of 2016 there are state regulated marijuana dispensaries in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.
A cannabis dispensary differs from similar retail stores known as head shops, in that only state licensed cannabis dispensaries are authorized to sell cannabis.

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

Medical dispensaries

Twenty three of the United States regulate some form of medical cannabis sales despite federal laws. As of 2016 seventeen of those states have at least one medical marijuana dispensary, with varying product laws.
The medical dispensaries in these states buy their exit shop products, 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 and even childproof joint tubes.
For example, according to Title 16 C.F.R. 1700 of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act 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

Today seven states Alaska, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington currently regulate recreational sellers. These are stores where any adult 21+ can enter to purchase cannabis and or cannabis smoking accessories.

Notable dispensaries

, Oakland and San Jose, CaliforniaSteve DeAngelo, C.E.O.Harborside is considered the "largest pot shop" in California and was featured in a four-part reality show. It is hard to verify such a claim as the state does a very poor job regulating the industry and therefore few reliable records actually exist. Harborside Health Center has been doggedly pursued as a criminal enterprise by the western region Department of Justice Attorney General for the Northern California Region, Melinda Haag. The City of Oakland tried to help the marijuana dispensary by filing a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, but the effort was thrown out by a federal magistrate.
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.
Kind for Cures was the first shop to make national press by taking over a defunct KFC.
Coachella Valley Church in San Jose, California made national headlines by offering sacramental marijuana to their members.

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 It is not uncommon for a regional independent newspaper who offers a marijuana dispensary locating service or map.

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.
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.