KINFOLK Dispensary: DC’s First Medical Cannabis Dispensary, Reinvented
JP greeting patients at KINFOLK Dispensary
In 2014 KINFOLK Dispensary (formerly Metropolitan Wellness Center) became the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in Washington, D.C., pioneering a path for 6 more dispensaries that would open in the following months and years.
Opening a dispensary is no small feat, and nor is establishing a brand that is known and loved by community members. KINFOLK Dispensary co-owner Corey Barnette and General Manager Vanessa West sat down with NCF to talk about the inspiration and process around the recent re-brand of Metropolitan Wellness Center (MWC) to KINFOLK Dispensary, and what the future holds for DC’s medical cannabis community.
What was it like being the first licensed dispensary to open in Washington, D.C.?
Corey: We were one of the first groups awarded with the rights to get a medical cannabis license. We were stepping out in a time when the city was hesitant and unsure about what would happen with medical cannabis. We didn’t know how previous arrests would be treated - there were so many unanswered questions, but overall the team was excited!
How have you seen the medical cannabis community in D.C. mature over the years?
Saraiah is wearing a KINFOLK Dispensary crewneck sweater
Vanessa: We saw evolution in real time. There were people who smoked in college, but stopped as adults. People who were buying from the regular “weed man” and didn’t know the real medicinal benefits or effects, they were just consuming blindly. Many of our patients started as novices when they first became dispensary members and were excited to know the difference between sativa and indica, and learn how their body responded to different products (carts, concentrates, edibles), etc.
Corey: A Lot of people had never been in a dispensary. They didn’t know they could have access to all this “stuff”. The birth of medical cannabis led to education sessions that set the foundation for how the industry would develop. Patient knowledge has grown substantially. Still people are coming out of the woodwork, but patients are far more well informed and at least know there's a place to get information.
What inspired the name change from MWC to KINFOLK?
Corey: We needed a personality. A name that would allow us to win and would speak to the community. Not just a name that was safe. Most dispensaries have very sanitary, clean names — a “health” vibe using words like, “organics,” “wellness,” “holistic,” and other naturopathic names.
I noticed that when people are looking for a dispensary, they talk about where the dispensary is, instead of who the dispensary is. You’ll hear businesses referred to as, “The one on Capitol Hill” or, “The one in Dupont,” etc… We want people to know who we are, who we represent, and appreciate us. It’s like when you’re out at a party and find out someone else smokes. You develop a kindred, kinfolk spirit. We don’t have to be “stoners.” We are embracing our culture and community as cannabis consumers. We deserve just as much of a platform as alcohol, beer, wine, tobacco - we are a community too. That’s what KINFOLK is embracing.
Can you tell us about the concept and design for the new brand?
Corey Barnette, Co-Owner, KINFOLK Dispensary
Corey: The concept is one that evolved and developed over time by listening to what people say about cannabis - from my dispensary managers to my friends. I asked myself, “If I could call this dispensary what I want to call it, what would I call it?” The word “Kinfolk” came to mind. It’s catchy. As far as the design, I couldn’t find a logo to describe what we were going for, so the word “KINFOLK” is the logo. To get to the final product we looked at a lot of fonts. Ultimately, we wanted something simple and clean so we stuck with black and white.
What do you hope the new brand conveys to customers and how do you expect to expand the brand into other channels, such as merchandise?
Vanessa West, General Manager, KINFOLK Dispensary
Vanessa: We hope that the KINFOLK brand sets us apart from the other dispensaries starting with the name. We aren’t a clinic. KINFOLK represents human connection. We aren’t using the stereotypical cannabis colors, etc. because we want to gear towards all audiences, so I guess you could say that our aesthetic keeps others in mind.
Corey: We want the new brand to communicate our concept. We want to be a dispensary everyone loves for our good products and selection of accessories. I hope that our logo becomes a stamp of approval that doesn’t always mean “convenient and low end,” but always marks a product as good. When KINFOLK is on something it’s quality. We want people to look at our products 5 years from now and say, “That’s a good product I got from KINFOLK.” From taking political stances to our quality, all of that brings people closer to the concept of KINFOLK.
“Each of us is bettered beyond measure by the protection and support of our respective community. Conversely, without community, we suffer immeasurably alone. To that end, we seek to unite like-minded cannabis lifestyle connoisseurs by providing access to quality cannabis-related experiences with the goal of creating immeasurable benefit for each of us individually. Join us!”
Other than the name, what other changes should customers expect to find at KINFOLK Dispensary?
Corey: A new location with more room. We are going from 875 square feet to over 1500 square feet for the medicine room alone. We’ll have new displays that allow customers a better view of the products, electronic check-in, little-to-no lobby wait, a better location for curbside service, apparel, new high-end products, a product and technique education program, and our new branding on display. My hope is that all of these updates convey quality and exclusiveness.
What do you see on the horizon for D.C.’s medical cannabis community in 2021?
Vanessa: There’s a lot on the horizon for DC’s medical cannabis community. From the possibility of allowing in-house demonstrations to expanding access to classes and education. Efforts are being made to reduce barriers for entry for patients in the medical cannabis program by moving management under ABRA. The hope is that this will lead to an expansion of product options to better serve patients.
To learn more about KINFOLK Dispensary, click here.