The cannabis industry in Oklahoma is undergoing a significant transformation. With the implementation of House Bill 3361 this past week, the state has followed in the footsteps of others like California in mandating that all medical marijuana be pre-packaged. This shift marks the end of the “deli-style” cannabis sales model, a model that once allowed customers to handpick and customize their purchases by sight and smell.
While advocates of the bill tout safety and standardization, critics argue that this regulation sacrifices customer experience and operational flexibility.
For those like us at Beard Bros Pharms, who were big fans of the deli-style cannabis model, this is a disappointing development. We’ve witnessed its forced demise in California, and the same scenario has now happened in Oklahoma.
The pre-packaging mandate reflects a growing trend toward uniformity, but it also raises questions about transparency and trust. More importantly, it undermines many of the unique benefits that made deli-style sales a standout feature of the cannabis retail industry.
The End of Deli-Style Cannabis
The new mandate requires all medical marijuana flower to be sold in pre-packaged quantities, ranging from at least half a gram to a maximum of three ounces.
Licensed growers and processors must deliver their products to dispensaries in sealed, non-opaque packaging. However, dispensaries can still display samples for customers to see and smell.
This is a small consolation for fans of the deli-style approach, but it only scratches the surface of what made that model unique.
Previously, deli-style cannabis sales gave customers the ability to inspect, smell, and purchase flower in customizable quantities based on their preferences. This hands-on, sensory experience has turned into a more clinical, standardized exchange.
Customers must now trust that the pre-packaged product delivers on its claims and matches the experience of the samples on display.
Why We Support the Deli-Style Model
The deli-style model is built on transparency and trust. Customers can see and smell the flower before making a purchase, allowing them to make informed decisions about its quality, aroma, and freshness.
This model fosters personalization, with budtenders able to recommend specific strains tailored to a customer’s preferences. The ability to interact with the product creates a connection between the customer and the cannabis they consume.
Pre-packaged cannabis, on the other hand, eliminates this transparency. While samples can still be displayed, there’s no assurance that what’s inside the packaging is from the same batch or matches the samples being showcased. For connoisseurs and medical patients who value this sensory interaction, it’s an undeniable loss.
Increased Sales and Loyalty
Deli-style cannabis sales encouraged flexibility in purchasing. Customers could buy as little or as much as they wanted, rather than being confined to pre-measured amounts. This flexibility often led to higher sales, as buyers could sample small quantities of different strains or stock up on their favorites.
Additionally, personalized interactions with knowledgeable budtenders created a sense of loyalty and trust that’s difficult to replicate with pre-packaged products.
With pre-packaging, dispensaries lose some of this flexibility. Customers may hesitate to buy unknown strains in pre-set amounts, limiting opportunities for exploration and variety. Over time, this could dampen the customer’s overall experience and negatively affect sales.
Reduced Waste and Improved Sustainability
Another advantage of the deli-style model is its alignment with sustainability goals. By allowing customers to purchase precise quantities, it minimizes leftover product that goes to waste. Less packaging also means a smaller environmental footprint.
Unfortunately, the pre-packaging requirement inherently increases waste with its reliance on single-use materials. Growers and dispensaries now need to wrap each product in plastic or other packaging materials, which adds to the environmental challenges the industry already faces.
The Argument in Favor of Pre-Packaging
Proponents of House Bill 3361 argue that pre-packaging enhances product safety, traceability, and consistency. By sealing products at the source, regulators and consumers can have greater confidence in the origins of the cannabis being sold. Each package must meet strict labeling requirements, detailing the grower and testing information.
However, this raises an important question about whether these benefits outweigh the downsides. Advocates of deli-style sales argue that sellers can uphold similar standards while preserving the transparency and flexibility that make the model so advantageous.
Unanswered Questions of the Removed Deli-Style Cannabis Sales Model
The transition to pre-packaged cannabis raises several concerns. One major issue is transparency. Customers may struggle to trust that the product inside the package matches the quality of the sample they’ve inspected.
Without the ability to interact with the product firsthand, buyers must rely only on the provided description and labeling.
Another concern is the impact on small businesses. The additional labor and costs tied to pre-packaging can place a significant strain on smaller growers and dispensaries that already operate on tight margins. For mom-and-pop shops in places like Oklahoma, this could increase operational expenses, which they may pass on to patients.
Lastly, pre-packaged cannabis reduces customer interaction with the product, limiting opportunities for dispensaries to gather valuable feedback. This lack of customer input could hinder improvements to future offerings and overall customer satisfaction.
For us at Beard Bros Pharms, the loss of deli-style sales is a reminder of why grassroots advocacy matters. House Bill 3361 highlights the importance of including industry voices in regulatory discussions.
We believe in fighting for a cannabis retail experience that prioritizes transparency, personalization, and sustainability.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this topic. How do you feel about the transition from deli-style cannabis to pre-packaged products?
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