While attending Hall of Flowers last month, I had the lucky opportunity to meet and interview Lauren Fontein, co-founder of the Artist Tree, cannabis retail stores and lounges.
The Art of it All at The Artist Tree
Lauren currently serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for the Artist Tree. She and her co-founders love art and how cannabis can open one’s mind to creating art, viewing art, and more. Each gallery contains work from local artists, which customers can spend time browsing when they stop by to shop for cannabis.
The Artist Tree, founded in 2018 in West Hollywood. This location serves as the Flagship Store and Lounge. The nine locations across California blend art and cannabis in their dispensaries, while West Hollywood and Hawthorne locales also have consumption lounges. One might say The Artist Tree is an art gallery that sells cannabis. To see more of this amazing shop, watch this 3-D video of the West Hollywood location.
The consumption lounge is located on the 2nd floor. Tables can be reserved to enjoy the cannabis offerings, canna-cocktails, and an assortment of smoking devices for one’s personal preference. I think adding the Artist Tree as one of your stops while visiting Hollywood is a must-do. A great way to take a break, soak up art by local artists, and enjoy some plant medicine to enhance your visit.
The Challenges of Operating in California
Lauren and I discussed the current state of the California cannabis industry and what lies ahead. Operating a cannabis business in California is difficult, and Lauren expressed that the state government doesn’t see the impact the tight and plentiful regulations have on these businesses. Come July 2025, one of the cannabis taxes in California, the cannabis excise tax at retail, is set to increase to 19%, up from 15% currently.
With all the taxes levied on California cannabis, most businesses must increase prices to offset the expense. She’s hopeful because there is momentum against it, and residents are showing up on Lobby Days in support, perhaps there will be reconsideration. We both agree…can we just legalize it already? Many California residents struggle to afford medical cannabis, but many cannabis businesses are creating programs to assist those patients.
The Compassion Program at the Artist Tree
In February this year, the Artist Tree launched its Compassion Program to help those with serious medical conditions and veterans obtain their medicine with donations from cannabis businesses. Each month, curated products are offered and include flower, edibles, topicals, and vapes. Patients must be registered and have a Medical Marijuana Card or a doctor’s recommendation to be eligible for this program. The program is currently at the West Hollywood, Fresno, and Laguna Woods locations only. Lauren says they anticipate helping around 100 patients per location. She tells me the Artist Tree’s roots started in medical cannabis over twenty years ago.
The Artist Tree community support doesn’t stop with the Compassion Program. The Artist Tree has been fortunate enough to donate and fundraise for the recent LA fires and participate in blood drives, local Art Councils, and more.
I love this community of art, cannabis, and compassion that the Artist Tree is cultivating through California. Enhancing how we look at art, giving local artists a chance to be seen and sell their work, and creating a compassion program to assist veterans and those in need get access to their medicine.
My next visit to California will include a trip to the Artist Tree, and your next visit should too.
