By Buying cannabis will soon be as convenient as stopping by your local Circle K. Today green thumb industriesowner of RISE clinicannounced plans to expand its footprint in the Florida medical cannabis market through a deal with Circle K.
Starting next year, Green Thumb plans to begin the early stages of deployment at about 10 “RISE Express” dispensaries adjacent to Circle K stores in various Florida locations.
bloomberg report It will be the world’s first pharmacy within or adjacent to a gas station. The only other places where cannabis is legally sold are within regulated independent pharmacies or pharmacies in some selected countries.
The Circle K and RISE Express clinics have different entrances, but are in the same building.
Under the agreement, Green Thumb will be able to rent space from Circle K in Florida, which has approximately 600 locations. The RISE Express store offers patients a wide range of cannabis products including RYTHM Premium Flowers, Dogwalkers Prerolls, Incredibles Gummies, &Shine vapes.
“Opening a RISE Express store in a Circle K store is a game changer. Convenience is a powerful channel in retail and people want more access to cannabis,” said Green Thumb. said Ben Kovler, Founder, Chairman and CEO of “The new RISE Express model is a major step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their daily routine when they stop by their local convenience store.”
Kovler has been named to the 2021 High Times 100 for his contributions to the cannabis sector.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 17 manufacturing facilities, 77 retail locations and operations in 15 U.S. markets since its founding in 2014.
These retail-available products will be produced at Ocala’s new 28-acre growing facility, which will be operational by the end of 2022.
Green Thumb entered the Florida market in 2018 and currently owns and operates medical cannabis retail stores in Bonita Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Kendall, Oviedo, Pinellas Park and West Palm Beach. Green Thumb is also an existing growing and processing facility in Homestead.
According to the Florida Department of Health, more than 700,000 Floridians are currently active cardholders enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program. For more information on Florida’s medical marijuana program, please visit: www.knowthefactsmmj.com.
Circle K and Canada
Gas station chains embraced cannabis long before most similar retail chains took advantage of it. Canada’s Circle K leadership has already dabbled in the cannabis market multiple times.
Owner of the Circle K retail chain, a Canadian multinational convenience store business, 2019 Alimentation Couche-Tard announced that it has invested in Fire & Flower Holdings Corp., the owner of Fire & Flower Co., Ltd. Canadian cannabis retailer.
Fire & Flower also sold gift cards that can be used to purchase cannabis at Circle K stores. Fire & Flower pharmacy has announced a cannabis gift card that is being sold at multiple third-party retailers, including Circle K. There are locations in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, with approximately 300 locations accepting the card as of January 2021. Prices range from $25 to $100, and for location details, fire and flower website.
