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V O L . X X V I I I N O. X I I I J U N E 2 7 , 2 0 2 2 14 B U S I N E S S O F C A N N A B I S F O C U S Although Boothe and Heinrici didn't want to specify all security measures, the baseline includes video camera coverage, keycard access and armored areas. "We had a security consultant onboard," adds Boothe. ere are specific security protocols for staffers to follow. "For instance, if you're taking a deliv- ery, we've created almost an airlock sys- tem where, if one door's open, the other is closed," says Heinrici. "ere are a lot of common sense things to protect first and foremost the employees, then the product and the cash." Taking cues In a lot of ways, designing for mari- juana retail is no different than for any other type of retail operation. "Whether it's cannabis or sell- ing food in a restaurant, we take a lot of pride in being able to provide an experience that helps elevate their product," says Boothe. But the industry, emerging from the shadows, does providing opportu- nities for new thinking about design. "With cannabis, what was differ- ent is that no one had ever done it in Maine before," says Boothe. "We had to take cues from other states that had some history with it, like Washington and Colorado." "A lot of people who take the effort to hire an architectural designer to do their dispensary design have enough business savvy to realize how impor- tant that is," says Johnnie Rush, head of innovation for Manchester Center, Vt.-based McBride Co., which per- formed the conceptual, graphic and interior design work for Grass Monkey Cannabis Co.'s dispensary at 85 Western Ave. in South Portland. Playful art "With legalized cannabis use becom- ing more mainstream, there's a grow- ing opportunity for dispensaries to embrace the counter culture from which it began, and engage custom- ers with playful art and design," says Ryan McBride, creative director for the McBride Co. "At Grass Monkey, we brought to life a dispensary experi- ence that invites customers to share in the fun side of the cannabis commu- nity that has been lost in many of the original dispensary environments." e approach for Grass Monkey was to create something of an art gallery experience. e 2,000-square- foot dispensary includes artwork and » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E 100% EMPLOYEE OWNED HELPING BUSINESSES & COMMUNITIES GROW SINCE 1978 ME, MA, FL | HALEYWARD.COM | 207.989.4824 It's Time to Take Command #DCTakeCommand " Clark Insurance's strong growth is supported by what our people are learning in Dale Carnegie classes. " — Jeff Shaw A family-owned business @dale.carnegie.maine / Dale Carnegie Maine / @dalecarnegiemaine maine.dalecarnegie.com / maine@dalecarnegie.com / 207.518.8085 Are your employees fully engaged? Could your productivity improve? contactDCmaine.com Follow us on Instagram and mention this ad to receive your first class FREE FREE! EXCLUSIVELY FOR MAINEBIZ READERS

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