DIXON, CA (MPG) - When Hayley Andrew began looking for a place to plant a new cannabis business, she attended Dixon City Council meetings and Chamber of Commerce functions to get to know people and understand the community better. One of those events was the Citizen of the Year where the Chamber also recognizes the Business of the Year. She set a lofty goal that her business would be that in four years. She made it in three and thus was awarded the WestAmerica Bank and the Solano Economic Development Corporation’s ‘Spirit of Solano’ as well.

“We put a lot of dedication and time into our community making sure we give back to our community, and I think this is an expression of how much hard work we have done and what we have done for them,” she reported with all smiles as she was handed the award from Shauna Manina of the Dixon Chamber.

Dixon Wellness paved the way for other businesses in the cannabis industry that broke the stigma of a “pot shop.” After growing up in Elk Grove, Andrew worked in the insurance industry before meeting up with Kimberly Cargile, the director of A Therapeutic Alternative in Sacramento who was looking for someone like Hayley to help grow their vision for the cannabis industry. She started as a receptionist in 2012 and by 2016, Andrew had worked her way up to manager.

That was the same year that California voters approved Proposition 64 paving the way for legalized recreational cannabis and allowing more dispensaries. Dixon City Council was already looking into regulating the potential businesses and her husband, Rich Ferguson, had family ties here.

“We were drawn here because we saw a need. There were no dispensaries between Sacramento and Vallejo. We knew we could provide the best service,” said Andrew. “We have proved accountable and we built the [Dixon Wellness Collective] from the ground up,” she added pointing to counters her husband, Rich Ferguson, built and walls her children helped paint.

It cost about $200,000 to open but that is equal to $500,000 for someone to open a dispensary today, she said.

“We worked constantly"'an uncountable number of hours"'and wanted to open in four months. We opened in six,” she said. This was after meeting after meeting with City Council, however, where Andrew explained detailed plans and then more plans as the council issued concerns or restrictions. One example is the black fence that is placed in the front of the business at 1150 North First Street in the parking lot between Comfy Furniture and Schroeder’s Coin Laundry. The Council wanted to ensure the safety of citizens during deliveries and pickups not only of product but also of cash.

Even though dispensaries supplying recreational or medical marijuana may be perfectly licensed and legal under state law, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug and considers marijuana businesses illegal. The banking system is regulated by federal law, so banks risk charges of aiding and abetting a federal crime or money laundering if they choose to do business with marijuana-related ventures, according to PublicFindLaw. com.

Although the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 has passed the House of Representatives in September, the hurdle is still high to finish getting everything in motion.

Thus, bereft of proper banking and financial services, cannabis-touching companies are restricted in their ability to raise capital, retain favorable loan arrangements, protect their earnings, and generally grow their businesses.

But Andrew will continue to grow the business she said. From the beginning, it’s been a process of education and Andrew has invited residents/customers to learn what might work for them, slowly winning over the Dixon public. The store itself looks similar to any boutique with the encased counters featuring 2,000 products. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving several marijuana-based medications and with several undergoing clinical trials, new products are constantly being introduced.

“Cannabis in general helps a lot of people in this community,” Andrew said.

But she has done something any business owner can do in the Dixon community. She set goals, got involved, and she also encouraged her staff to also get involved.

“It wasn’t on my 5-year plan but you might say I manifested it because it’s been my goal and I set out for it,” she said. She supported local events such as the Dixon May Fair Parade, Grillin’ & Chillin’, and the Tree Lighting Festival among others, she sits on the Chamber of Commerce Board and joined two civic organizations.

“It was a lot of hard work,” said her husband, Ferguson. “It re-instills a drive in me. Winning this award is huge for us!” Due to COVID-19, the annual luncheon was foregone, and the presentation was made at the Dixon Wellness Collective.