Blüm Medical Marijuana Dispensary Takes Over Reno Midtown Spy Shop Site
A new medical marijuana dispensary named Blüm will occupy the building at 1085 S. Virginia St. in Reno’s Midtown district, replacing the Scotland Yard Spy Shop after its owners sold the property for about $1.2 million. The incoming operator, MediFarm—a subsidiary of publicly traded Terra Tech—marks its Northern Nevada debut with this location, drawn by the state’s entrepreneur-friendly regulations. This shift highlights Nevada’s expanding medical cannabis market amid anticipation for potential recreational legalization.
Spy Shop Relocates Across the Street
David and Debbie Currier, owners of Scotland Yard Spy Shop, secured new property directly across South Virginia Street for roughly half the sale price of their former site. They intend to relocate and broaden their inventory in the months ahead. The move clears the way for Blüm’s April 2016 opening, transforming a retail space known for surveillance gadgets into a hub for medical cannabis sales.
MediFarm Enters Northern Nevada Market
Based in Irvine, California, Terra Tech operates MediFarm as a chain targeting medical marijuana. Beyond Reno, the company constructs a dispensary near the Las Vegas Strip and eyes two more in unincorporated Clark County. Derek Peterson, Terra Tech’s CEO, emphasized community integration: his team consulted neighboring businesses and found no location concerns, despite Blüm’s proximity to residences and commercial foot traffic—unlike Reno’s Sierra Wellness Connection or Sparks’ Silver State Relief.
Hiring Priorities and Sourcing Plans
Blüm commits to local hiring, prioritizing military veterans, with events starting in January 2016. Products will initially come from Nevada cultivators, transitioning to MediFarm’s own facility under construction. Peterson cited Nevada’s regulatory advantages, including no residency requirement for applicants and multi-state reciprocity that allows out-of-state cardholders to purchase legally.
Nevada’s Regulatory Pull and Future Prospects
Nevada’s medical marijuana framework, established after voter-approved legalization, fosters business growth through flexible rules. This setup positions the state for a massive recreational market—potentially second or third largest nationally—if voters approve a ballot measure in November 2016. Peterson predicts substantial economic impact from such a change, building on medical sales that already support jobs and tax revenue without the residency barriers seen in stricter states.
