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/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / DECEMBER 2014
Designing Marijuana Dispensaries
F
or the first time in years, architects are en-
countering an entirely new retail sector – the
recreational marijuana dispensary. Because
many dispensary owners are making the move
from medical to the more marketing-driven rec-
reational model, they often lack direct retail expe-
rience. Nearly every aspect of the two is approached
differently – including how the product is displayed,
how customers shop, what the experience is like, and
how the product is purchased. Yet, like the casino in-
dustry, there are very specific rules and guidelines re-
garding issues like security, the amount and size of live
products displayed, regulations regarding separate en-
tries, and what can and cannot be consumed within the
store.
In terms of design, there are essentially five different
kinds of spaces this industry must consider: the recre-
ational dispensary, the medical dispensary, the produc-
tion kitchen, extraction kitchen, cultivation and growth.
In this article, I am referring to the recreational dispen-
sary only.
Fortunately, the ingrained stigma associatedwithmar-
ijuana is fast becoming a relic of the past. Newdesignap-
proaches for recreational and medicinal spaces already
are becoming more mainstream in terms of applying
retail concepts that have been effective in similar sen-
sorial spaces, like spice, olive oil, cheese and wine shops.
Further, while people are ultimately there to purchase
marijuana, they are also buying off-the-shelf products,
like shirts, hats, glassware and accessories. Thus, the most
cutting-edge approach to dispensary design focuses on
the overall experience associated with the use of mari-
juana, and how one can be confident he is making the
correct purchase for his particular situation and desires.
That said, the educational experience is paramount.
While the dispensary shopping experience will like-
ly continue to be reliant on a more personalized, one-
on-one relationship between patron and staff for some
time, there is a growing interest in allowing customers
to browse for products, just as it is done in other retail
sectors.
When designing a dispensary, we recommend that
owners consider “invisible security” techniques employed
in other high-security government facilities to help
downplay that aspect of the business. As well, utilizing
deli, food, coffee shop and even jewelry store display strat-
egies can securely, but effectively, display strains, concen-
trates, edibles and accessories. In terms of layout, creating
more intimate one-on-one spaces for multiple patrons
within a broader retail environment allows for greater
education and personalized shopping. And finally, be-
cause most dispensaries are essentially marketing the
same products, proprietary items should be highlighted
to create a unique andmemorable shopping experience.
Jeffrey L.
Sheppard
Cofounder
and Design
Principal,
Roth
Sheppard
Architects
TRENDS
in Retail Marijuana
