Writers’ picks: Cannabis

Best thoughtfully designed dispensary interior

Florin Wellness Center

With black paneling and gray hardwood floors, the main cannabis room at Florin Wellness Center is a clean, vivid contrast of lights and darks. Brightly lit showcases at the counter make product-viewing easy. Menu items are displayed on a row of TV monitors along the back wall. Cloud wallpaper and close-up photos of cannabis plants accentuate the easygoing atmosphere in this smartly appointed interior.

Should customers have a wait, Florin Wellness thoughtfully designed rows of waist-high viewing cases alongside each line. It helps pass the time by providing a close-up look at available items before approaching the main counter. 1421 47th Avenue; (916) 706-0563; florinwellnesscenter.com. K.M.

Best cannabis advocate

Kimberly Cargile

As the owner of A Therapeutic Alternative dispensary, Kimberly Cargile sets a high standard for cannabis retailing while fighting for better regulations that change the way society views cannabis. A former grower who studied cellular molecular biology and social injustice at Humboldt State University, Cargile takes a holistic approach toward cannabis as a natural medicine. She advocates within the process, creating opportunities for women and minority business owners, while organizing medical patients to speak for themselves at public policy hearings. 3015 H Street; (916) 822-4717; atherapeuticalternative.com. K.M.

Best art-worthy head shop

Hella Glass Boutique and Glass Gallery

Not your father’s head shop, Hella Glass Boutique and Glass Gallery features the most exotic selection of water pipes and bubblers in town. Showcased in a separate viewing room, many of these handmade creations reach the level of sculpture, except you smoke cannabis in this art. Hella Glass carries the brands of papers, pipes and lighters one would expect at any head shop. But they also sell child-resistant containers, lockable carrying bags and the most sophisticated vaporizers and dab rigs on the market. Their range of CBD products rivals that of dispensaries. In short, they have everything but the cannabis itself. 1620 Fulton Ave, Suite 300; (916) 274-4294; facebook.com/ hellaglassgallery. K.M.

Best one-size-fits-all grow supply store

Grower's Supply House

Grower’s Supply House isn’t necessarily a cannabis grow shop. But its clerks are serious practitioners. Unabashedly proud of their experience in the field, they’re happy to show it off by answering the most complicated questions. They can scale up for large commercial orders, or recommend a simple two-stage fertilizer for a budget backyard setup. Whether you’re trying to grow great-tasting cherry tomatoes or cherry cola buds, this shop carries the products to get you cultivating like a pro. 1537 Fulton Avenue; (916) 934-2476; grower-supply-house.business.site. K.M.