Carson City ringing in new year with recreational marijuana sales

Rise Dispensary and Sierra Wellness Connection in Carson City are each beginning recreational cannabis sales on New Year's Day.

Statewide, recreational marijuana legislation became law on July 1, but some cities managed to temporarily supersede voters by imposing a moratorium on commercial sales.

“We appreciate the opportunity we are given here in Carson City. We’re not in a big rush,” said Tyler Brennan, General Manager of Rise Dispensary. “We were able to see what was going on across the state and be better prepared to accept recreational customers.”

Sierra Wellness Connection, a dispensary in East Carson City, is beginning also recreational sales on Monday.

"We are super excited," said Sierra Wellness Connection Manager Alexis Jensen. "Sheriff Furlong came in to congratulate us, and thank us for staying compliant and making their jobs easier.

"I want to thank the sheriff’s department, the community, and Nevada voters for allowing this day in history for Carson City," she added.

Carson City held a moratorium on retail marijuana business through Sept. 19 and then extended it with a second ban to the end of the year.

Rise Dispensary, located at 135 East Clearview Drive, is making final preparations for recreational sales beginning Monday and has recently completed construction on an expansion that adds a second storefront for service to recreational customers.

“Our biggest thing is to continue taking care of our medical patients while handling an influx of recreational customers,” Brennan said.

He explained how a second storefront provides both medical marijuana patients and recreational users a fast and attentive experience when purchasing.

Recreational users will have access to the same products as medical patients. However, recreational edibles and concentrates have a 100 mg maximum THC content limit per package.

Medical patients can purchase edibles or concentrates with up to 800 mg of THC per package.

Recreational customers can purchase up to one ounce of cannabis flower per day, and up to 1,750 mg of concentrate and edibles. Purchase of cannabis flower counts toward the 1,750 mg THC limit at 218 mg per one-eighth of an ounce.

Recreational customers can make only one purchase/visit per day, and the number of visits are tracked by customer identification to ensure they are not making more than one daily purchase.

Dispensaries are not required to track or report purchases, addresses, birth dates, etc.

Customer purchases are anonymous and their information is secure, according to Brennan.

“IDs are checked at the front when you come in, and then we verify the ID before the sale is completed,” he said.

IDs are checked for verification and only logged to prevent customers from “looping,” or attempting to make more than one purchase per day.

“To us, it’s a monumental event. Especially with the number of seniors in Carson on fixed income, and the high price of a medical card,” said Brennan. “The fact that we are able to sell cannabis whether as medicinal or recreational is a privilege.”

He advised customers to go slow and start at low THC concentrations with edibles.

“Don’t go overboard and ease your self into it,” he said.

Rise Dispensary offers online pre-ordering, and will be offering recreational delivery services within the first week of the new year.

Customers can receive same-day delivery to locations within 25 miles of the dispensary.

Currently, Rise Dispensary has 17 employees and plans to expand to 30 employees within the first quarter of 2018.

All product is placed in child-resistant packaging upon checkout. Customers can purchase locking containers for enhanced child safety, too.

“It’s important that you keep cannabis always secure and out of reach of children," said Brennan. "Don’t abuse the privilege."

"This is new for the state," he added. "We want to put our best foot forward and not lose the privilege.”

Rise dispensary is located at 135 East Clearview Drive #119. Operating hours are weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Rise will be opening early at 9 a.m. for the recreational grand opening on Monday, Jan. 1. Pizza and aggressively priced specials will be offered to customers on New Years Day.

Rise can be reached at 775-461-3909 or online at www.RiseDispensaries.com.

Sierra Wellness Connection is beginning its recreational cannabis sales on New Year's Day, too, featuring swag bags, discounts and specials during its recreational grand opening.

The store, located at 2765 U.S. Highway 50 East #A, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Sierra Wellness Connection can be reached at 775-800-WELL or online at www.SierraWell.com