Why the Cannabis and Hemp Retail Industries Receive More Love Than Any Other Field
Exploring why customers show overwhelming appreciation for hemp retailers and how this responsibility shapes the future of access.
The cannabis and hemp retail industries receive a level of love, appreciation, and emotional connection that no other sector in modern retail comes close to experiencing. For example, people walk into our retail shops and express the utmost gratitude in ways that are unheard of in traditional businesses. Both new customers from different parts of the world and locals alike consistently tell us how much they love us, how we made their vacations much better, how their lives have improved because of what we provide, and how grateful they are that we’ve made these products extremely accessible and easy to obtain. I’m not making any medical claims but when I hear things from customers like their anxiety quickly went away, they finally slept through the night, and that their pain has eased enough for them to function, I know there must be something we’re doing right.
Another reason I think we receive so much love is because of the experience we provide. When it comes to the hemp and cannabis retail culture it’s not just about shopping; its about personal relief, emotional support, and human connection. People deeply associate these products with meaningful changes in their lives. Whether it is CBD, THCA, or other hemp-derived cannabinoids, people feel that their quality of life improves, and the person who helped them find that relief becomes unforgettable.
Cannabis and hemp retail workers are not seen as cashiers. Customers view them as guides, educators, and supporters. When someone walks in overwhelmed or unsure and walks out feeling confident and hopeful, the emotional bond becomes immediate. This does not happen in conventional retail environments. Most industries have become transactional and automated, with self-checkout stations and minimal human interaction. Such a robotic feel created a dead interaction that is so mundane it becomes forgotten as just an auto-pilot part of your life. You may not remember your grocery trips from 3 years ago but you probably do remember where you used to shop for your favorite cannabis products. The cannabis and hemp industry is so vibrant, uplifting, and transformative that it naturally creates a deeper memory imprint. Some even view it as an adult candy store. What they put into these dispensaries and hemp shops is truly unique and our shops in Waikiki are a prime example. Hemp and cannabis retail remains one of the few places where real conversation, creativity, attention, and human warmth are still the centerpiece of the experience and that creates a vibe and culture no other industry has ever seen.
Cannabis businesses also receive so much appreciation because the history of stigma makes every positive interaction that much more powerful. For decades, cannabis and hemp users were afraid of judgment, misunderstanding, or even criminalization. We’ve since then been more accepting in the more recent years with support, use, and general acceptance steadily increasing. Now when users walk into a modern hemp shop they instead find kindness, compassion, education, and an open-door atmosphere in a space that promotes the utmost health and wellness. The energy is different from any other industries. In this industry, and even spaces we provide on island, people feel safe, understood, and welcomed rather than lectured or dismissed.
Customers also feel that cannabis and hemp shops are on their side. Pharmaceutical companies feel corporate. Hospitals feel clinical. Government regulations often feel restrictive. Cannabis and hemp dispensaries feel like a place where the people working there genuinely care about the customer’s comfort, well-being, and overall experience. This creates a level of customer loyalty that goes beyond normal consumer behavior and enters the realm of genuine connection.
With this extraordinary level of love comes a responsibility. Because the public shows us so much appreciation, it is on us to reciprocate that energy and act as stewards of the community we serve. We must maintain clean, safe environments. We must provide honest education, transparency, proper documentation, and compliant and practices that allow fair business to be conducted. We must treat access to hemp and cannabis as a privilege to protect, not just a transaction. We must give back to the communities that support us, remain accessible even during regulatory pressure, and continue pushing forward even when lawmakers try to restrict what we do.
Cannabis and hemp retail is more than a business. It is a public service, a source of relief, and a sanctuary for people who are struggling with pain, stress, anxiety, or sleeplessness among so much more. Customers do not forget the person who helped them feel like themselves again. They do not forget the shop that made their vacation better. They do not forget the staff who listened, cared, and educated without pressure or judgment. The gratitude we receive is a reminder that this industry carries a deeper purpose than profit.
As long as cannabis and hemp retailers continue acting with compassion, integrity, and dedication to the people who rely on them, the industry will keep thriving and providing. The love people give to cannabis and hemp shops is rare in today’s world. It truly is something special, something meaningful, and something that comes with a responsibility to rise to the same level of care that the community shows us. Cannabis and hemp retail is not just a job or a storefront. It is a relationship with the people, built on trust, relief, connection, and the simple human desire to be better.
Lance Alyas,
Oahu Dispensary and Provisions