Pendleton’s first recreational cannabis retailer opened on March 10, 2017. Part-owner Brandon Krenzler says that 40 people per day have been calling Kind Leaf over the past two weeks in anticipation of the grand opening.
According to an email from Krenzler, Kind Leaf Pendleton’s owners are “currently cultivating a warm, comfortable, inviting atmosphere and environment that embodies our principles of mindfulness and sustainability while paying homage to the history and culture of Eastern Oregon.” Krenzler further stated that “being a local, high impact business, Kind Leaf Pendleton owners will have the opportunity to participate in civic community engagement by making contributions to children’s sports and education, parks and recreation and other currently unrealized opportunities.”
“Kind Leaf Pendleton owners have a mindful, sustainable and progressive approach to what a cannabis dispensary should be” says Krenzler. “Our team is breaking away from clichés and stigmas, by cultivating a tasteful, acceptable, refined and cultured cannabis boutique, providing a rich, comfortable and educational experience for every patron. We seek to become a model for what an Eastern Oregon dispensary can be; inviting community members and community leaders in to tour and learn.”
Part of being a model for what an Eastern Oregon dispensary could be is prohibiting unauthorized access to cannabis products. During an interview on March 9, Krenzler stated that Kind Leaf Pendleton has a state-of-the-art security system, with police response time to the dispensary about two minutes. Kind Leaf also uses Metrc [pronounced “metric”] software, which provides access to the Oregon Cannabis Tracking System. According to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission website, all OLCC licensees and their employees are required to use the Cannabis Tracking System. Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System is an integral part of the OLCC’s regulation of recreational marijuana products in the state’s legal consumer market.