Medical Marijuana Educational Center Board Member and Compliance Officer Rick Casas recently announced that his company has achieved a unique milestone.
“We are officially the first state-sanctioned Type M medical cannabis delivery service in all of San Bernardino County,” Casas told the Daily Press Wednesday. “We will begin operation as soon as we receive our certificate of occupancy by the great city of Hesperia.”
The state license does not allow MMEC to operate as a delivery business, but does allow them to build its infrastructure, Casa said.
Hesperia allows and regulates commercial cannabis activities, limited to state license Type M-Type 9, non-storefront retailers and delivery services only. All other commercial cannabis activities are prohibited within the city limits, the Daily Press has previously reported.
“The temporary license allows us to work with licensed vendors who are prohibited from doing business with those not approved by the state,” Casas said. “We’re following the rules and doing everything by the book. This license is the manifestation of the hard work and due diligence that our team has done. I don’t think all of this has sunk in yet.”
Casa’s new business is located in an existing 3,000-square-foot suite in the city’s green zone at 11114 G Ave., between Eucalyptus and Lilac streets.
Clearing phase one of the approval process was the hardest part to opening MMEC, which will soon deliver medical cannabis-based products across the region and gain notoriety on what’s considered the largest cannabis website in the world, Casas told the Daily Press.
Currently, the Jet Room dispensary in Adelanto is the only High Desert-based business listed on Leafly.com, which claims to promote only legally permitted cannabis-based business, but that will soon change.
“The Jet Room in on Leafly because they are a permitted dispensary that allows customers on site,” Casas said. “We’re only delivery and we won’t be serving customers on site, but we’ll soon be the only delivery business on Leafly that’s based in the High Desert.”
Once completed, MMEC will include a call center for on-demand delivery, product room security area, offices and a retail-type boutique store. Build out will take no longer than 30 days once Casas receives his certificate of occupancy.
“We now have a responsibility as the first and only state sanctioned Type M, non-storefront license in San Bernardino County to foster a new set of professional standards for all businesses entering the emerging medical cannabis industry,” Casas said. “We look forward to making an economic impact.”
Casas praised Hesperia City Council and staff for their “forward thinking” in passing cannabis regulations and working with various business owners.
He also gave high marks to Administrative Analyst Tina Bulgarelli, Building/Safety Manager Michael Hearn and former senior planner Dave Reno.
“Tina and her team conducted a workshop that highlighted best business practices for new cannabis business owners. I don’t think any other city has shown this kind of support,” Casas said. “Also, Mayor Russ Blewett kept his word when he said he’d support the cannabis business community in Hesperia. He’s a man of his word and he’s got my vote.”
