“Adult use cannabis dispensaries have oversaturated the area,” said Kevin Smith, manager of a dispensary in South Portland this afternoon.  They’ve oversaturated the area much as ccffee shops, pizza parlors, hair salons, restaurants and holiday craft shows have Kevin agreed.  And where are some of those coffee shops, pizza parlors, restaurants and hair salons  today?

Part of the problem is “there is a lot of tourism in Portland,” he said.  People come into Portland aboard cruise ships and can only buy a couple of joints becaause they have to smoke them  before they get back on board the boat.  It’s illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.

He is starting to see the strong dispensaries survive or the ones with strong financial backing make it.  He saw that trend start about a year ago. There has been a trend for medical dispensaries to start switching to adult use.  That’s because it’s a larger customer base.

Kevin who has been in his current position for four years says he likes his job  The company for whom he works “watches trends and stays ahead of the curve.”    Because the Greater Portland area is so competitive, he has to be cognizant of prices all the time. “If a customer finds a better price, we may lose him for good,” he said this afternoon we were enjoying lunch at a local restaurant on the Hill.  The company for whom he works is headquartered in Massachusetts.  It has dispensaries in five stated and has four locations in the statde of Maine.  It has one grow facility in southern Maine.

“It’s been a touch industry because the product is so subjective. Two people smoking the same product can have different reactions and effects.  That could determine whether or not they return.” Kevin said.

This past August the industry began to see some rule changes from the state to the benefit of the industry.  For eample, customers are no longer required to provide identification at the door to enter the facility.   Now customers just need to show identification when they purchase a product.  “We are definitely heading in the right direction, Eventually there will be lounges where people can smoke,” he said as he left the local restaurant on the Hill today.