mr.greengenes
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2009
- Messages
- 229
- Reaction score
- 193
I'm a rookie MMJ patient. I've been to 3 dispensaries thus far; Blue Sky Cafe in Oakland, City of Angels 2 and Patient to Patient Collective in South Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe trip was a mini vacation. I'm expressing my opinion because I want to help the industry understand the voice of the customer and improve its best management practices. Having expressed that, I have the following constructive criticisms:
At Blue Sky Cafe, you walk to the back of the joint and step into a room with 1/2 door where the budtender opens a binder full of various products. In my case, I had to sit and wait while the patient in front of me ordered from the menu. But then, a person, presumably an employee, pops in and shouts out an order. This routine he performed several times while I waited. Sort of like an express phone order to go. I understand the protocol at a fast food restaurant where you have dine-in customers and to-go customers both ordering from the same kitchen. But here, to the un-initiated, it looks like some loud mouth jerk is taking cuts in front of others. When it was my turn, I was shown sample products from the binder and chose a sativa bud for $22. Good smoke. Overall impression of Blue Sky - the operation needs work to help new customers assimilate to its business model. As I recall, the bud was provided to me in a sealable plastic bag.
City of Angels 2 - South Lake Tahoe. Not much information on the internet about this place. I actually had to call a different dispensary to get their phone number. The gal on the phone sounded friendly enough. When I arrived, I produced my CDL, my Medicann card and my doctor's recommendation. I filled out 3 pages of forms and waited. I was then shown to the storeroom. The storeroom reminded me of a biker bar with a pool table. I told them it was my first time and I got to spin a wheel for a freebie. I 'won' a free gram of hash. I purchased 1/8 oz of 'snow cap' on recommendation of the budtender and another gram of hash. The price of the 'snow cap' was not discussed/disclosed. When it was rung up it was $50 where other products were $35/$40 per 1/8 oz. Bottom line: I felt like I was not treated fairly as a consumer. Upsold at least, ripped off at worst. And finally, I don't like to judge, but I wasn't comfortable with complete strangers handling my medicine with their bare hands. While I want to believe that everyone has good sanitation, you never know and this is how disease is spread. Solution: have your employees wear latex gloves while handling medicine. Especially breaking apart hashish with one's fingers. I was told that next time I come all I have to do is slide a magnetic card. But they didn't give me the card upon exit. The employees appear very thin but friendly. It made me wonder about certain avocations that suppress the appetite.
Patient to Patient Collective: Same routine with the paperwork; CDL, Medicann Card, doctor's recommendation. I had a nice conversation with an employee regarding growing MMJ. I grow my own but don't get to converse with real people, mostly just forum talk. I was shown to the storeroom. The store was stark, clean and large. So large that it made the inventory seem small. Prices were about the same as City of Angels. I wanted to purchase an edible as I was already stocked up on smokables. I purchased a piece of MaryJane fudge for $8. Strong medicine. 2 hour nap. I was told that next time I come I just have to show my CDL. Friendly environment.
To the MMJ industry: Consider following pharmaceutical hygiene standards. If you are dispensing medicine, don't touch it with your bare hands. If you sell hashish, there has to be a way to purchase the product in percentages of a gram without breaking it apart with your fingers and putting it on a scale that doesn't look clean.
I haven't been to Harborside in Oakland yet. But I hear good things about its business model as an industry standard.
Just my opinion.
At Blue Sky Cafe, you walk to the back of the joint and step into a room with 1/2 door where the budtender opens a binder full of various products. In my case, I had to sit and wait while the patient in front of me ordered from the menu. But then, a person, presumably an employee, pops in and shouts out an order. This routine he performed several times while I waited. Sort of like an express phone order to go. I understand the protocol at a fast food restaurant where you have dine-in customers and to-go customers both ordering from the same kitchen. But here, to the un-initiated, it looks like some loud mouth jerk is taking cuts in front of others. When it was my turn, I was shown sample products from the binder and chose a sativa bud for $22. Good smoke. Overall impression of Blue Sky - the operation needs work to help new customers assimilate to its business model. As I recall, the bud was provided to me in a sealable plastic bag.
City of Angels 2 - South Lake Tahoe. Not much information on the internet about this place. I actually had to call a different dispensary to get their phone number. The gal on the phone sounded friendly enough. When I arrived, I produced my CDL, my Medicann card and my doctor's recommendation. I filled out 3 pages of forms and waited. I was then shown to the storeroom. The storeroom reminded me of a biker bar with a pool table. I told them it was my first time and I got to spin a wheel for a freebie. I 'won' a free gram of hash. I purchased 1/8 oz of 'snow cap' on recommendation of the budtender and another gram of hash. The price of the 'snow cap' was not discussed/disclosed. When it was rung up it was $50 where other products were $35/$40 per 1/8 oz. Bottom line: I felt like I was not treated fairly as a consumer. Upsold at least, ripped off at worst. And finally, I don't like to judge, but I wasn't comfortable with complete strangers handling my medicine with their bare hands. While I want to believe that everyone has good sanitation, you never know and this is how disease is spread. Solution: have your employees wear latex gloves while handling medicine. Especially breaking apart hashish with one's fingers. I was told that next time I come all I have to do is slide a magnetic card. But they didn't give me the card upon exit. The employees appear very thin but friendly. It made me wonder about certain avocations that suppress the appetite.
Patient to Patient Collective: Same routine with the paperwork; CDL, Medicann Card, doctor's recommendation. I had a nice conversation with an employee regarding growing MMJ. I grow my own but don't get to converse with real people, mostly just forum talk. I was shown to the storeroom. The store was stark, clean and large. So large that it made the inventory seem small. Prices were about the same as City of Angels. I wanted to purchase an edible as I was already stocked up on smokables. I purchased a piece of MaryJane fudge for $8. Strong medicine. 2 hour nap. I was told that next time I come I just have to show my CDL. Friendly environment.
To the MMJ industry: Consider following pharmaceutical hygiene standards. If you are dispensing medicine, don't touch it with your bare hands. If you sell hashish, there has to be a way to purchase the product in percentages of a gram without breaking it apart with your fingers and putting it on a scale that doesn't look clean.
I haven't been to Harborside in Oakland yet. But I hear good things about its business model as an industry standard.
Just my opinion.
