When marijuana first became legal, design was the last thing on the mind of retailers.

They just wanted their stores open in a hurry so they could start turning all that bud into bucks.

The results, visually speaking, were disastrous. Early pot shops looked a lot like bail-bond operations or check cashing centers: simple, white rooms with metal folding chairs, maybe an Ikea print on the wall.

Buyers interfaced with sellers though bullet-proof glass windows, as if no one, on either side of the transaction, was trustworthy.

Financially speaking, it was a different story. The money rolled in (and in) and the potential for the cannabis industry became clear.

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Ray Mark Rinaldi ~ Denver Post ~