SLO County is getting another cannabis shop. Here’s what you need to know
After years of planning and discussion, Morro Bay is getting its first recreational cannabis shop.
Perfect Union will hold its grand opening at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 1000 Quintana Road near Highway 1. It’s part of a Sacramento-based marijuana business with six other dispensaries operating in Northern California.
The Morro Bay store, opening in the former location of Megan’s Organic CBD Market, is part of a company expansion during a period of legal cannabis growth, said Julie Hagans, Perfect Union senior director of marketing.
“It’s been a crazy busy year, but we are expanding,” Hagans said. “We’re really excited about the growth and really excited about coming to Morro Bay.”
The new store will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days per week.
“We will take the time to teach (customers) everything they need to know to have a good experience,” Hagans said.
Morro Bay is the third San Luis Obispo County community to open a retail recreational cannabis dispensary, joining Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo.
Megan’s Organic Market SLO opened in San Luis Obispo in August.
Morro Bay store sells cannabis products
Jim Taschetta, Perfect Union’s former head of product supply, said that the Morro Bay location will offer about 350 products, including edibles, flowers, sprays, creams and drinks.
Besides cannabis, the store will also offer CBD products.
Products will be for sale for $60 to $80, with prerolled joints available for $7 each.
The business grows some of the products it sells, including the store’s 530 flagship flower brand.
Perfect Union customers can walk in and buy products or order online for pickup. Customers must be over 21 or have a medical marijuana prescription, according to state law.
“Legal cannabis has a lot of benefits for the community,” Taschetta said. “Illegal cannabis exists throughout communities, and this allows city’s to monitor safe, legal sales and collect sales taxes that help the city.”
Morro Bay city manager Scott Collins the city doesn’t yet have projections on cannabis revenue, but he conservatively estimates the first years annual revenues to be between $100,000 and $200,000.
Natural Healing Center has Morro Bay’s other dispensary license, but Collins said he’s unsure when that shop is opening.
Natural Healing Center currently operates a retail cannabis store in Grover Beach and is planning another on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo. The business is slated to operate at 495 Morro Bay Blvd., near the intersection with Napa Avenue.
Perfect Union: Cannabis sales up due to coronavirus
Perfect Union’s model is to hire locally, and thus far it’s hired 10 people with plans to add more workers as the operation grows, Taschetta said.
Taschetta said that he expects a clientele that includes many patrons 50 and older, considering Morro Bay’s demographics.
“Some of our guests rediscover cannabis after not having it since they were young,” Taschetta said. “Our budtenders are trained to answer questions and make people feel comfortable to take their time and learn about our products. Sometimes people feel like they should know.”
Taschetta said many people who have never purchased legal cannabis may not know the differences between different varieties such as sativa and indigo, and the benefits of products that may help someone sleep, relieve pain or reduce anxiety.
Taschetta said that the business — which has two locations in Sacramento as well as stores in Marysville, Riverbank, Seaside and Turlock — has experienced a 50% increase in sales since the coronavirus pandemic.
“In times of high anxiety, people will use cannabis to help them relax,” Taschetta said.
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