Dispensary Design: Breaking the Stigma

Presenter

Victoria Grace Phillips

Campus

UMass Dartmouth

Sponsor

Rose Mary Botti-Salitsky, Department of Interior Architecture + Design , UMass Dartmouth

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A70, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

This research and thesis project will identify the best way to design a cannabis dispensary that creates a positive retail experience, but also supports responsible marijuana use and breaks the stigma around the use of the drug. Although the United States has become more accepting and there have been studies about the benefits of marijuana there still seems to be a large amount of anti-drug propaganda that is specifically about cannabis. According to the National Institutes of Health, a 2022 study done in the northern United States revealed that 984 members of medical cannabis dispensaries showed worry about being labeled a “pothead” or “stoner” (Perceived Stigma of Patients Undergoing Treatment with Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products - PMC (nih.gov). Designing a dispensary that has an educational aspect not only for the cannabis user, but the anti-stoner could be helpful to both parties and maybe can create some middle ground between the two. 

Through many different types of research, a better understanding of the overall topic of marijuana and cannabis design was obtained. First, the problem had to be identified, and moving on from there historical, observational, and interactive research was done. After studying the site further, it helped give a better understanding of the area and the building used for this renovation. Precedent studies were also used to determine specific elements to include and what to avoid when moving forward. These aspects allowed the project to move forward into programming the space which will later follow into design development.

Keywords

Retail Design , Renovation , Interior Architecture, Dispensary Design

Research Area

Architecture and Urban Planning

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