Alberta Green House | Oregon

Dispensary Name: Alberta Green House

Address: 1313 NE Alberta St., Portland, 97211

Website: www.albertagreenhousedispensary.com

How and when did your dispensary start up?

I’ve owned this building for over 11 years now, it was built in 1904. At one point in 2013, the city inspector came in and found 29 violations of code. We then let the existing renters go, and they took off. This was right around the time the OMMP began to issue licenses. Secure in that knowledge, along with my passion for marijuana, we decided to put everything me and my partner had into renovating the house. Plumbing, etc.–it was all gutted and replaced. Then, when the OMMP license applications were open, we had ours in within a few minutes, along with our $4,000 and we have been a medical dispensary ever since. It was the best move we could’ve made. I believe in this plant. It’s really the best thing we’ve ever done.

What’s the story behind the name of your dispensary?

We are on Alberta Street, the Green House thing comes from the color scheme behind the dispensary, as well as the plant. Alberta Green House was also something that if, we decided to open a bank account for example, they wouldn’t immediately identify us as a dispensary and potentially deny us services.

What does your dispensary offer patients that they can’t find anywhere else?

I would say we have a very compassionate approach to patients and a very knowledgeable staff. We have also cultivated strong relationships with vendors and growers who bring us their finest flowers before anyone else. I’m very proud of the flowers we have on the shelf here, and they help us build great relationships with our patients as well as our rec customers.

 How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go?

It’s been a rollercoaster. We have been through a lot of changes since day one, and now with recreational . . . it’s been rule changes ever 30 to 60 days. It’s a lot better right now, letting us offer the recreational customers safe, tested flower. It’s changed a lot. But whatever the requirements, we will remain compliant. We can’t afford to take any shortcuts in this industry.

 If someone wanted to open a dispensary and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them?

You have to treat this a little different than any other kind of business you might open. This is not just about maximizing your profits right away. It’s just as much about helping your patients get what they need. Take care of them properly, and they will come back. That also means knowing where your products are coming from. It’s important to know what you’re buying for your patients. If you offer them sub-par product, they’re going to know, and they won’t come back. There are a lot of options in this city, we have more dispensaries than Starbucks in the area. It’s definitely a joyous job though. I love doing this.

 What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/MMJ community?

To do away with this “reefer madness” cliché we’ve lived with for so long, and show people what this plant can really do and learn more about it. I hope that with shops like ours, people will see that we are really benefitting people on the medical side, not just about getting people high. I really just want people to know they will be taken care of here.