Marijuana dispensaries level up with sleek design, larger footprints

Marijuana dispensaries are leveling up.

What used to be small, funky shops hidden in industrial parks are now going high-concept, with sleek designs and a much larger footprint, Crain’s reported.

Since Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in January, dispensaries peddling edibles and other wares have been growing. In Skokie, a 15,000-square-foot store called Greenhouse features a striking roofline, a winding staircase and a large sales floor with sleek wood display cases. It’s located across from the Westfield Old Orchard mall.

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“The trend in cannabis today is you’re looking at it like traditional retail: You want a bigger box to serve more people,” said Talley Wettlaufer, senior vice president of retail for Curaleaf, which is acquiring Greenhouse and its parent company, Grassroots. “The industry has just evolved.”

Marijuana sales have nearly doubled to $75.3 million per month in Illinois since January, generating $20.2 million in tax revenue for the state in September.

The same could be possible for other states. New Jersey legalized recreational marijuana in November, although it will be some time before dispensaries open in the state.

[Crain’s] — Sasha Jones