Verano Debuts Bodega‑Style Dispensary in Arizona

LOS ANGELES- Verano Holdings Corp. a multi‑state cannabis operator, has introduced a “bodega‑style” shopping format at its Zen Leaf Cave Creek dispensary in Phoenix. This innovative layout allows adult‑use consumers to browse and select products directly from open shelves—a departure from the traditional model where items remain behind locked counters until purchase. The re‑opening, scheduled for June 27‑28 and coinciding with a Summer Festival featuring DJs, giveaways, food trucks, and local vendors, is designed to enhance customer engagement with choice lounges, kiosks, online preorder options, and curbside pickup.

Verano’s move reflects a broader maturation in cannabis markets, where regulatory emphasis on loss prevention has softened as product tracking improves and legal supply stabilizes, reducing reliance on the illicit sector. The company plans to evaluate the Arizona pilot and potentially scale the format across its eight Phoenix‑area dispensaries—and eventually in other states where regulations permit . By making product interaction more akin to conventional retail, the operator aims to increase market appeal, improve convenience, and potentially boost revenue—while retaining compliance with state licensing standards.