Through the use of natural materials— wood, stone, and vegetation— and a diverse array of textures— cement floors, flat walls, leather and velvet upholstery, glass tiles, brushed metal finishes, and rough stone— a modern, elegant, yet casual atmosphere is created to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Minerva Canna Group’s new space is designed to offer a comfortable, safe, and unique dispensary and retail experience to every visitor.Unique elements, such as large-format graphic images of cannabis, window decoration, and custom glass-top display cases, create an elevated sense of place that is memorable to every visitor and connects the business to the organic nature of the cannabis industry.

Megan Stone, a Scottsdale- based cannabis retail designer and owner of The High Road Design Studio, was honored with the fourth annual Designer Dozen Award by Visual Merchandising and Store Design Magazine (VMSD).

Stone was selected for her progressive and innovative work in the cannabis industry. The award is hosted by VMSD magazine and parent company ST Media Group. It showcases 12 of the best and brightest emerging retail designers under 35. “This list of up-and-coming talent represents the ones introducing new strategies and concepts and impacting the shopping experience in the 21st century,” said VMSD Editor-in-Chief Patricia Sheehan. An authority in the cannabis field for her breadth of experience and dispensary designs, Stone jumped into the market in 2013 when she founded The High Road Design Studio. As a former budtender and dispensary manager, Stone brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her company, educating cannabis business owners on the importance of design in professionalism, branding, customer loyalty, and profitability.

Featured both internationally and nationally, Stone’s designs have appeared in VMSD Magazine, Cosmopolitan Online, Marijuana Business Daily, Puget Sound Business Journal, and The Cannabusiness Reporter. Stone was also a presenter at the 2014 International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) bringing the topic of cannabis to the international design community for the first time. “Bringing the cannabis world out of the shadows is a true honor. Helping [marijuana] businesses sharpen their retail design, enhance their image and atmosphere, and position them for continued growth and efficiency is our mission,” said Stone.

The cannabis industry is developing rapidly and evolving constantly. Stone stays actively involved by serving as the marketing and advertising coordinator for Phoenix-based TruMed Dispensary, and is a member of the Phoenix chapter of Women Grow, a national network of cannabis entrepreneurs. In February 2015, she attended a two-day lobbying tour and press conference in Washington, D.C. Stone’s upcoming speaking engagements include Women Grow-Phoenix networking event and the National Marijuana Business Conference in Chicago. The new face of cannabis is about business and economic potential, and Stone is at the forefront of this movement. Her prominence and expertise as a designer and cannabis supporter illuminates a growing industry with a revolutionary new look.

HIGH STYLECannabis Retail Designer Receives 4th Annual VMSD Designer Dozen Award

Design: The High Road Design Studio / Megan Stone
Images Courtesy of The High Road Design Studio

About Megan Stone
Megan Stone specializes in the design and branding needs of cannabis retail businesses. In 2013, she founded the The High Road Design Studio with a mission to elevate the cannabis industry through professional interior design. Megan Stone is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management (’06) and the Interior Designers Institute (’13). She has received numerous press for her design work both internationally and nationally, and was a featured speaker at the 2014 International Retail Design Conference (IRDC. Stone is a 2015 recipient of the Visual Merchandise and Store Design (VMSD) Designer Dozen Award.