A new medical marijuana dispensary named Blüm is poised to open in April 2016 at 1085 S. Virginia St. in Reno’s bustling Midtown district, acquiring the property for about $1.2 million and displacing the longstanding Scotland Yard Spy Shop. This development highlights the rapid expansion of cannabis retail into walkable urban areas, promising local jobs and community engagement amid Nevada's evolving medical marijuana framework.
Seamless Transition and Local Business Adaptation
The Scotland Yard Spy Shop, owned by David and Debbie Currier, sold the building and relocated across the street for roughly half the price, around $600,000. This allows them to expand inventory without disruption. Blüm's arrival underscores how Nevada's flexible regulations enable quick property flips and business relocations, fostering economic churn in high-traffic zones.
- Property sale: $1.2 million to MediFarm, Terra Tech's subsidiary.
- Spy shop's new site: Directly across S. Virginia St., enabling growth.
- Opening timeline: April 2016, with hiring events starting January.
Blüm's Community-Focused Strategy and Unique Location
Operated by Irvine, California-based MediFarm (a Terra Tech division), Blüm marks the chain's Northern Nevada debut, closer to residences and foot traffic than competitors like Sierra Wellness Connection or Silver State Relief. CEO Derek Peterson emphasizes grassroots integration, including chats with neighbors and prioritizing military veterans for hires. Sourcing initially from local cultivators, MediFarm is building its own facility, aligning with public health trends where medical cannabis alleviates chronic pain, anxiety, and PTSD—conditions prevalent among veterans.
This proximity to daily life reflects broader normalization: dispensaries blending into lifestyle hubs much like craft breweries or wellness centers, reducing stigma and enhancing access for cardholders via multi-state reciprocity.
Nevada's Regulatory Edge and Recreational Horizon
Nevada's entrepreneur-friendly rules—no residency requirement, reciprocity—drew MediFarm, alongside whispers of recreational legalization on the 2016 ballot. Peterson predicts Nevada's recreational market could rank top-three nationally, potentially exploding revenue and normalizing cannabis further. Currently, medical marijuana supports patient-driven relief, with studies showing reduced opioid prescriptions in legalized states by up to 25%.
- Terra Tech expansions: Las Vegas Strip site plus two in Clark County.
- Hiring focus: Local talent, veteran priority.
- Future supply: In-house cultivation underway.
Implications extend to public health gains—safer alternatives to pharmaceuticals—and economic boosts via taxes and jobs, though careful zoning prevents over-saturation. As Blüm assimilates, Reno Midtown exemplifies cannabis's shift from fringe to fixture in American urban culture.
