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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 12 B U S I N E S S O F C A N N A B I S A few years ago, the Maine Legislature was inching toward how to regulate the adult-use cannabis market. Simultaneously, the leadership of SeaWeed Co. was thinking about the design of its first cannabis retail shop at 185 Running Hill Road in South Portland. "e concept was to make a really welcoming space that felt relaxing," says Kaspar Heinrici, SeaWeed's director of business development. Similar to a spa environment, the design would be Scandinavian influ- enced with a modern style using warm materials and textures such as tile and natural wood. at relaxing, clean and open feel was considered essential for the business. "Because cannabis is relatively new as a legal substance you can buy in a store, we want that experience, whether it's first-time or returning customers, to feel as inviting as possible," says Heinrici. "For a brand that focuses on education and the community, we want everyone to feel welcome and able to ask ques- tions and learn." No bongs on the wall e legalization of cannabis has birthed new opportunities for architects. "We're trying to make it approach- able to both the avid user and the person who hasn't thought to use it before," says Patrick Boothe, the commercial studio director at the Caleb Johnson Studio. Caleb Johnson Studio, which was founded by architect Caleb Johnson in 2006 and is based on Exchange Street in the Old Port, has a team of 30 archi- tects and designers. It is affiliated with Woodhull Construction and Woodhull Millwork. To this point, Caleb Johnson had been better known for its high- end homes, which are often featured in home magazines, and some specialty commercial projects, including store design and the revamp of the Higgins Beach Inn. Sales of adult-use cannabis were first allowed in October 2020 and in the industry's first full year in Maine, sales totaled $82 million. is year, sales are on pace to be more than $120 million, with the industry proving a boon to archi- tects, builders, HVAC companies and other vendors. Moving beyond the 'head shop' For the SeaWeed project, Caleb Johnson Studio served as lead architect in col- laboration with MAAM, an architecture studio in Los Angeles, on SeaWeed's Running Hill Road location and its Portland shop at 23 Marginal Way. e projects were carried out by Woodhull Construction and Woodhull Millwork. e goal, Boothe says, was to create an approachable environment that dis- pels the "head shop" image incorporating Maine aesthetics using Maine materials. "eir product is made in Maine and they wanted their brand and, by exten- sion, their building, to reflect that," he says. "is wasn't going to be a place you walk in and see bongs on the wall." Starting with the location, the build- ing's placement along busy Running Hill Road was tucked into a quiet corner overlooking an expansive wetland and nestled among tall grasses. P H O T O / C R E D I T F O C U S LEFT TO RIGHT: Kaspar Heinrici, director of business development for SeaWeed Co., Scott Howard, owner of SeaWeed Co., and Patrick Boothe, the commercial studio director at Caleb Johnson Studio, in the marijuana dispensary in South Portland. They say the goal at the cannabis shop was to create an approachable environment that dispels the "head shop" image. We're trying to make it approachable to both the avid user and the person who hasn't thought to use it before. — Patrick Boothe Caleb Johnson Studio cannabis of architecture The A new industry inspires new approaches to design B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r

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