Blüm, a dispensary chain expanding from Las Vegas and Oakland, opens its newest location at 9 a.m. on January 2 in Reno's Midtown neighborhood, marking the tenth medical marijuana outlet in Northern Nevada. Situated at the former Scotland Yard Spy Shop on 1085 S. Virginia St., the facility already welcomes patients for registration ahead of a grand opening on January 12. This arrival fills a gap in the fast-developing area, where only four other dispensaries operate within Reno-Sparks city limits.
A Modern Facility Tailored for Patients
The interior resembles a sleek doctor's office, complete with a sign-in area, lobby, and nine "bud bars" for purchases. Manager Bree Kasper describes the 25-person space as clean and professional, though DOPE magazines hint at its purpose. Assistant manager Michael Barton calls the products "nature's nontoxic medicine." Hours run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, extending to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Blüm sources high-end medical cannabis from four Nevada cultivators and seven production companies, adhering to state laws requiring in-state purchases. As the first Northern Nevada operation authorized to package its own products, it uses glass bottles to preserve potency, according to spokesman Mikel Alvarez. The chain, owned by publicly traded Terra Tech in Newport Beach, California, partners locally with developer Heidi Hegerich through the MediFarm LLC.
Delays and Strategic Expansion
MediFarm bought the $1.2 million property in 2015 with plans to launch in April 2016, but setbacks arose as Terra Tech prioritized three Las Vegas openings earlier this year. "We changed things to make sure Reno didn't have the same inefficiencies," Alvarez said. After starting in Oakland and planning Bay Area expansions, Blüm entered Southern Nevada before targeting Reno last year, spotting untapped potential in the north.
Northern Nevada's Unique Market and Regulatory Landscape
Assistant manager Lucas Farrell, who worked at another local dispensary, notes that baby boomers comprise about three-quarters of Northern Nevada's clientele—a stark contrast to other regions. Nevada pioneered medical marijuana with relatively lenient rules: no residency requirement for business applicants and multi-state reciprocity for cardholders. A recent ballot measure legalized recreational use for adults over 21, permitting up to one ounce of marijuana or one-eighth ounce of concentrate.
Dispensaries cannot yet sell recreational products pending further regulations, but the shift promises growth for operations like Blüm. This combination of medical access, local sourcing mandates, and impending recreational markets positions Midtown's new outpost at the forefront of Nevada's evolving cannabis industry.
