Cannabis is on fire. And as more and more jurisdictions move to legalize marijuana for medical and/or recreational use, would-be players in the cannabis space are lining up to sign leases on commercial property from which they hope to operate. Which begs the question: do these cannabis-related leases require any unique terms given the nature of the business? The answer is a definitive yes.
A critical concern for any storefront retailer, including those operating a cannabis business, is the lease agreement. To be sure, given the unique circumstances presented in the pot biz—namely, the interplay of federal and state laws, banking and insurance industry aversion, and the relative unknowns presented by a new and burgeoning industry—leases for dispensaries and associated retail operations require special considerations.