Weediversary: dispensary owners see positive change in attitude

Cannabis use has come a long way.

It’s been a month since California began allowing legal sales of recreational marijuana. Some dispensary owners said they are already seeing positive changes.

“I’m seeing a more relaxed attitude from our customers as they are becoming more accustomed to what a dispensary is and what it means to be a recreational user,” said Lonna Blodgett, owner of Emerald Skyway dispensary.

Businesses are also getting used to the different regulations, starting with a licensing mandate.

In the city of Salinas, 20 licenses have already been issued.

“The very good thing about that is it creates a much tighter network of people, so that everyone tends to look upon everyone else as someone they can trust … rather than how others have operated without that regard. And it’s actually, in the long run, going to be far easier,” Blodgett said.

Local and state governments are also exploring uncharted territories in streamlining the cannabis industry.

“All over the state, businesses are in different phases and so you are looking at challenges in the supply chain, challenges, you know, in getting the product sold. It’s going to be interesting to see how this all plays out,” said Andy Myrick, Salinas’ economic development manager.

Another challenge is banking for this mostly cash business.

“We all know that the state of California is working on that right now and we are all hoping that that is going to evolve into our own banking system if necessary,” Blodgett said.

New federal data shows more banks are willing to open accounts for marijuana businesses, from 340 in January to 400 in September 2017.