Can Cannabis Infuse Passion Into Retail? An Exclusive Look at Colorado’s Newest Premium Dispensary
1 Mar 2017
By: Kate Senzamici
Medical and adult-use marijuana retail franchise Diego Pellicer is commonly referred to as “the Starbucks of weed” – a far cry from the image of shady, underground pot operations that has traditionally dominated public conception of the industry. In trend with the U.S. recreational cannabis retail landscape (which exists now in some form in eight U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia), Diego Pellicer (DP) stores provide a differentiated, formal, and decidedly premium retail experience. The second U.S. location opened February 14 in Denver following a $1 million renovation (the first opened in Seattle in October 2016) as an independent brand licensee focused on owning and operating legally compliant dispensary and grow operations. I spoke with Diego Pellicer Colorado CEO Neil Demers about what goes into introducing a new retail format and CPG product to the mainstream retail landscape—and what traditional retailers can learn from cannabis.
