Cannabis dispensaries in the United States

Cannabis dispensaries in the United States or marijuana dispensaries are a type of cannabis retail outlet, local government-regulated physical location, typically inside a retail storefront or office building, in which a person can purchase cannabis and cannabis-related items for medical or recreational use.

First modeled in Amsterdam in the late 1970s where they were innocently called coffeeshops, it would take the Americans more than a generation to successfully duplicate the idea of a retail cannabis storefront. Unlike in the Dutch coffee shops, today most dispensaries do not allow for the smoking or other consumption of cannabis. However, some dispensaries (such as some in California) do have legal permission to set up "cannabars" to allow onsite consumption.

In a traditional medical cannabis dispensary store a patient receives cannabis medication as allowed per the patient's doctor's recommendation.^[1] These dispensaries sell cannabis products that have not been approved by the FDA and are not legally registered with the federal government.^[2]

As of 2021 there are state-regulated marijuana dispensaries in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. In California, Native American gaming operations are also intended to include dispensaries going forward.^[3]

A cannabis dispensary differs from similar retail stores known as head shops, in that only state-licensed cannabis dispensaries are authorized to sell cannabis.^[4]

Approximately 13 US States have drive thru capabilities. These states include; California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington^[5]^[6]

^ Lee V. Barton (2007). Illegal Drugs and Governmental Policies. Nova Publishers. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-60021-351-9.
^ Brian F Thomas; Mahmoud ElSohly (2015). The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis: Quality Assessment, Assurance, and Regulation of Medicinal Marijuana and Cannabinoid Preparations. Elsevier Science. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-12-804670-8.
^ https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article257934393.html ^{[bare URL]}
^ David Neubauer; Stephen Meinhold (2013). Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Cengage Learning. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-133-71178-0.
^ Ryser, Rob (May 5, 2021). "Medical marijuana dispensary moving to Danbury hopes to make use of drive-thru opportunity". Newstimes.
^ "Drive-Thru Dispensaries - the New Normal?".

[Barton2007-1] Lee V. Barton (2007). Illegal Drugs and Governmental Policies. Nova Publishers. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-60021-351-9.

[ThomasElSohly2015-2] Brian F Thomas; Mahmoud ElSohly (2015). The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis: Quality Assessment, Assurance, and Regulation of Medicinal Marijuana and Cannabinoid Preparations. Elsevier Science. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-12-804670-8.

[3] ttps://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article257934393.html ^{[bare URL]}

[NeubauerMeinhold2013-4] David Neubauer; Stephen Meinhold (2013). Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Cengage Learning. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-133-71178-0.

[5] Ryser, Rob (May 5, 2021). "Medical marijuana dispensary moving to Danbury hopes to make use of drive-thru opportunity". Newstimes.

[6] "Drive-Thru Dispensaries - the New Normal?".

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