Here's What To Look For When Searching For a Marijuana Dispensary

There are more than 900 marijuana business licenses in Colorado for dispensaries. So with all of these choices, how can you possibly pick the perfect pot shop?

Cannabis consultant Will Evans says it's all about customer service and branding in Colorado's current cannabis climate.

There are two types of shoppers in legal recreational cannabis: The wet-behind-the-ears newbie and the veteran toker. And while they explore pot shops differently, what makes them stick around — and ultimately return — remains the same.

“People want to shop where they see themselves, right? They want to go into a space that feels good,” says Evans.

The shopper who is new to the scene in Colorado will choose a pot shop based on a few quick factors. For instance, a taxi driver could be the voice of the industry when choosing where to bring a curious tourist fresh off the plane. Or, a buddy who visited Colorado last year could recommend the place they shopped at then. Ultimately, the tourist is likely to go where they're told to go.

The experienced smoker has a different insight into the retail scene. A number of apps exist to help find the best deals in an area or to find a specific strain in a city, and there also are entire marijuana social networks. They could already know which shop's “Shatterday” will save them more than another shop's.

According to Evans, the more difficult task store owners and managers face is enticing all of these customers to become regular, dedicated friends of the shop.

Some shops have armed guards behind a couple of inches of bulletproof glass, and you'll be escorted into an adjoining room by yourself. For some, this could feel like a safe environment for exploring or asking questions, without fear of others nosing around. Meanwhile, some shoppers might question the “back room” feel of the transactions in this setting and wonder if they're doing something wrong.

Other dispensaries could offer the polar opposite: Open and airy rooms with customers walking between rows of product, chatting with bud tenders or friends about the deals of the day. The customer who was comfortable and happy in the private-room situation might not feel as relaxed in this environment.

Evans says that the successful shop will be the one where customers already feel like they're home when they walk through the door.

So, whether you're a novice or a longtime user, it could be worthwhile to explore a few different types of pot shops to see the variety available. You'll know when to stop.

This post was originally written for The Cannabist.

Citations: Picking the perfect pot shop: Are you experienced? (The Cannabist)