Business
Arborside| MI
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[col col=6]ArborSide
1818 Packard St., Ann Arbor
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[col col=6]Top-Selling Strain: CATFISH
Top-Selling Concentrate: Nectar Collector
Top-Selling Edible: ArborSide Delights
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How and when did your collective start up?
After Medmar was raided in 2011, ArborSide opened days later in the same location.
What’s the story behind the name of your collective?
Our collective’s name comes from both the location in Ann Arbor and the influence of Steve DeAngelo, the owner of Harborside Health Center, and the vision of his store.
What does your collective offer patients that they can’t find anywhere else?
Our collective offers one of the widest varieties of flower, edibles and concentrates in the area at all different price ranges. We also carry our own brand of award-winning edibles, ArborSide Delights. We also provide our members with daily specials, a reward points program and we act as a drop off point for cannabis testing for PSI Labs.
How has the cannabis industry changed since you have been in the business? Where would you like to see it go?
The cannabis industry has evolved a lot over the last five years. We are seeing a lot more innovation in creating and branding of new products, a larger variety in the different strains we carry, and a higher emphasis on potency and purity testing. We would like to see regulations put in place so that we can become a licensed facility and continue to provide safe access to medical marijuana patients.
What are the biggest challenges you face in this industry as a collective? Biggest joys?
One of the biggest challenges we face in this industry are keeping up with the increased demand while keeping service consistent. We see over 100 patients per day, so being consistent is imperative in order to make sure service runs smoothly. Another challenge is providing a wide variety of flower, concentrates, edibles and other cannabis products at all price points. We work with over 70 local vendors to provide our patients with the largest number of choices possible.
One of our biggest joys is being able to be open and to provide to all patients in need while making their lives better.
What is the one thing you want patients to know about your collective?
We enjoy educating the public about cannabis and we host cultivation seminars throughout the year. Over the past four years we have hosted events featuring Kyle Kushman, Ed Rosenthal, Ken Morrow and DJ Short. These events draw crowds of horticulture enthusiasts from beginners to experts and gives them a chance to ask questions to these industry experts.
If someone wanted to open an access point and get their feet wet in the industry, what advice or counsel would you give them?
Get involved with city council meetings and seek a good location, a good lawyer, and a good accountant.
What is the most important thing you hope to accomplish while in the MJ/MMJ community?
To continue to provide safe access to the widest varieties of products possible to all patients in need.
