Medical and Recreational Marijuana: An Overview of the Various Issues Involved in Starting and Operating Marijuana Dispensaries Part 4

In an article published by Cannabis Business Executive on May 14, 2020, Reggie Snyder and Tres Dye discusses the legal issues, operational challenges, and regulatory hurdles that marijuana dispensaries frequently encounter. 

The authors address the real estate-related issues that marijuana dispensary owners grapple with as they attempt to secure a location for their business; the various terms of commercial lease agreements that could affect a marijuana dispensary’s operations; the various operational issues that marijuana dispensaries frequently encounter; and present specific, proposed strategies that marijuana dispensary owners should consider implementing to help protect their businesses.

"It’s no secret that the marijuana industry has experienced tremendous, sustained growth," say the authors, add that "The U.S. may be dominating global marijuana sales right now, but over the coming years, the sector will become more balanced, as markets like Canada mature, and as Europe and other international markets either open up or mature." 

The explosive growth of the marijuana industry in the U.S. and around the world presents a unique opportunity for marijuana dispensary operators, but marijuana’s continued status as an illegal drug under federal law also presents a unique set of challenges for all MRBs, including marijuana dispensaries.

"While operating a marijuana dispensary is a potentially lucrative business enterprise, it’s also a highly regulated business that’s fraught with many traps for the unwary and uninformed," explain the authors.