A new medical marijuana dispensary named Blüm will occupy the building at 1085 S. Virginia St. in Reno’s Midtown district, replacing the Scotland Yard Spy Shop after its owners sold the property for about $1.2 million. The incoming tenant, operated by MediFarm—a subsidiary of publicly traded Terra Tech—marks the chain’s first location in Northern Nevada. This shift highlights Nevada’s evolving regulatory landscape for cannabis businesses amid anticipation for potential recreational legalization.
Spy Shop Relocates Across the Street
David and Debbie Currier, owners of Scotland Yard Spy Shop, purchased new property directly across the street for roughly half the sale price of their former building. They plan to relocate and expand inventory in the coming months. The move clears the way for Blüm’s April 2016 opening while preserving the quirky retail presence in Midtown, a district known for its mix of commercial and residential activity.
MediFarm Expands into Northern Nevada
Blüm forms part of MediFarm’s growing network, with Terra Tech—headquartered in Irvine, California—also developing a dispensary near the Las Vegas Strip and two more in unincorporated Clark County. CEO Derek Peterson emphasized community integration, noting that his team consulted neighboring businesses without encountering location concerns. The site stands out for its proximity to homes and foot traffic, differing from Reno’s Sierra Wellness Connection and Sparks’ Silver State Relief, which sit farther from dense urban areas.
Hiring Priorities and Sourcing Plans
The dispensary commits to local hiring, prioritizing military veterans, with events starting in January 2016. It will initially sell medical marijuana from Nevada cultivators, transitioning to product from MediFarm’s forthcoming in-state cultivation facility. Peterson attributed Nevada’s appeal to entrepreneur-friendly rules, including no residency requirement for applicants and multi-state reciprocity allowing out-of-state patients to purchase legally.
Nevada’s Regulatory Edge and Recreational Outlook
Nevada’s medical marijuana framework, established through recent legislation, enables such expansions by easing entry for operators. Peterson predicts the state’s recreational market could rank second or third nationally if voters approve it in November 2016. Passage would amplify economic impacts, building on medical sales and drawing national attention to Nevada’s cannabis sector.
