Sell your dispensary
State-licensed cannabis retail: above-market rent, a thin buyer pool, and a federal problem most lenders will not touch.
Dispensary at a glance
- Typical deal size
- $1M – $5M
- Lease structure
- NNN, often at above-market rent
- Typical term
- 5–10 years
- Escalations
- 3% annually
Overview
What dispensaries are really worth
Our read
A dispensary is usually a plain retail building leased to an operator in a business that is legal under state law and illegal under federal law. That contradiction defines the property. It is why the rent is high, why the buyer pool is thin, and why most owners cannot refinance.
Value is split three ways. There is the building, which re-leases as ordinary small retail. There is the local approval, which in many towns is genuinely scarce. And there is the state license, which typically belongs to the operator and is tied to the address, and which moves only with the regulator's permission.
Owners usually arrive here one of two ways: they leased to a cannabis operator for the rent and now want out of the exposure, or the operator is struggling and the rent premium is in doubt. Either way, the question is the same — what is the building worth if the cannabis rent stops?
Valuation
How we underwrite it
The method
We underwrite the building at market rent first — what a non-cannabis tenant would pay for that storefront on that street. That is the floor, and it is the only number that federal legal status cannot change.
Then we read the local approval and the state license. If the site is one of a few with zoning for cannabis retail, and if the state allows another operator to step in, there is real value above the floor. If not, there is less than the rent suggests.
The rent premium is credited for a realistic period, not into perpetuity. It exists in part because owners and lenders accept legal and financing constraints most capital avoids. If those constraints ease, the premium likely narrows.
Tenant strength is weighed carefully. In a sector without normal bank credit or bankruptcy protection, a landlord's remedies are slower, and a strong operator is worth more than a long lease with a weak one.
What moves the number
- 01What the building is worth at market rent to a non-cannabis tenant, which is the only number the federal legal status cannot touch
- 02Whether the site holds local zoning approval for cannabis retail, since buffers and municipal caps make compliant sites scarce
- 03Whether the license is tied to this address and what regulator approval a relocation or successor operator would require
- 04The tenant's financial strength in a sector without normal access to bank credit or bankruptcy protection
- 05How far the contract rent sits above market, and how much of that premium is reasonably durable
- 06Security buildout, vault, and access control, which matter to the next operator and to almost nobody else
Capital markets today
- 10-yr Treasury
- 5.24%
- 4.12% a year ago
- SOFR
- 3.87%
- 4.2% a year ago
- 30-yr mortgage
- 7.28%
- 6.3% a year ago
- CRE loan delinquency
- 1.53%
- 1.57% a year ago
- CRE prices, YoY
- 6.58%
- -2.7% a year ago
Sources: FRED DGS10, 2026-10-01 · FRED SOFR, 2026-10-01 · FRED MORTGAGE30US, 2026-10-01 · FRED DRCRELEXFACBS, 2026-04-01 · FRED COMREPUSQ159N, 2026-01-01
Diligence
What a buyer actually looks at in a dispensary
- Check 01
State license, its address tie, and the regulator's transfer rules
In most states the license is issued to the operator for a specific location. A new operator or a relocation needs regulator approval, which may or may not be granted.
- Check 02
Local zoning approval and buffer compliance
Municipalities can opt out, cap the number of dispensaries, and impose distance buffers from schools and other sensitive uses. A compliant site may be one of very few in its jurisdiction.
- Check 03
Lease provisions addressing federal illegality
The lease should address what happens if federal enforcement or a lender requires the use to stop, and whether the tenant indemnifies the landlord. Older leases are often silent.
- Check 04
Tenant financials and rent payment history
Cannabis operators cannot use federal bankruptcy in the usual way and often lack bank credit. The landlord's realistic remedy in a default is slower and messier than in ordinary retail.
- Check 05
Security buildout, vault, and surveillance system
State rules typically require specific security systems. They are expensive, use-specific, and have little value to a non-cannabis tenant.
- Check 06
Existing debt and whether the lender knows the use
Many mortgages prohibit illegal use under federal law. A loan made before the tenant arrived may technically be in default.
Backfill risk
What happens if the tenant leaves
The tenant-goes-dark scenario
A dispensary building is usually ordinary small retail: a freestanding or inline storefront, parking, and signage, with a security buildout inside. The building itself is easy to re-lease. What the use carries — the license, the local approval, and the rent premium — is where both the value and the risk sit.
Cannabis remains illegal under federal law even where a state has legalized it. That one fact shapes everything about the asset. Most banks will not lend against it, most conventional buyers will not own it, and federally regulated insurers and title companies are cautious. Federal rescheduling has been under consideration, but even a move out of Schedule I would not by itself make state-licensed retail sales lawful under federal law. The pool of capital for these properties is narrow, and rents are elevated partly to compensate the owners who accept that.
Local approvals are the scarce part. Many municipalities ban dispensaries outright, cap their number, or require large buffers from schools and parks. A site holding a valid local approval may be one of very few in its town, and if the current operator fails, another licensed operator may want it — subject to the state regulator.
If no cannabis operator replaces the tenant, the building backfills as normal small retail at normal retail rent. That is the floor, and it is often well below what the dispensary was paying.
Why this matters to you
Every buyer prices the tenant-goes-dark scenario, whether or not they say so out loud. It is the largest hidden input into the cap rate you get offered.
Understanding it before you go to market is the difference between negotiating and being negotiated with.
Who sells to us
Situations we see most often
- Landlord collecting an above-market rent who wants to convert it to capital before the lease ends
- Owner whose cannabis tenant is behind on rent or struggling with price compression in a mature state
- Investor who cannot refinance because conventional lenders will not lend against the use
- Owner who leased to a cannabis operator and now wants to exit the federal legal exposure
- Operator who owns its building and wants a sale-leaseback because bank financing is unavailable
Buy box
What we buy
- 01Leased dispensary properties, $1M to $5M
- 02Above-market rents with short or uncertain term
- 03Tenants in default or under price pressure
- 04Owners exiting the federal legal exposure
Process
How selling to Dizposition works
Day 0
01Send us the property
Address, asset type, and the lease if there is one. That is enough for us to start.
- 02
We underwrite it
Our underwriting runs the income against current market pricing and the cost of capital. No lowball anchor.
10 minutes
03You get a firm offer
In 10 minutes, with the math shown. You will know exactly how we got there.
As fast as 30 days
04Close on your timeline
As fast as 30 days, or as slow as you need. We are the principal, so the date is yours.
FAQ
Selling a dispensary
Is it legal for you to buy a building leased to a dispensary?
Cannabis is legal under the laws of many states and remains illegal under federal law. Owning property leased to a state-licensed operator carries federal legal risk, which is why so few conventional buyers will touch it. We buy the real estate, not the business, and we price that risk explicitly. You should get your own legal advice on your situation.
My tenant pays well above market rent. Will you pay for that?
For as long as we believe it is likely to last, yes. We do not capitalize the premium as if it were permanent, because it exists partly to compensate for the legal and financing constraints. We underwrite the building at market rent and add the premium on top for a realistic period.
My tenant is behind on rent. What are my options?
Fewer than in ordinary retail. Cannabis operators generally cannot reorganize in federal bankruptcy, so defaults tend to resolve through negotiation, receivership under state law, or a sale of the license to another operator. We can buy the property in that situation and handle the resolution ourselves.
If my dispensary tenant leaves, can I lease to another one?
Possibly. The state license and local approval usually belong to the operator and location together, and a new operator needs the regulator's sign-off. Whether a replacement is realistic depends on your state and municipality. If not, the building re-leases as standard retail.
How long does it take to sell a commercial property to Dizposition?
You get a firm written offer within 10 minutes of sending us the property. If you accept, you can close in as little as 30 days — most of that is title work and your own timeline. There is no listing period, no marketing, and no waiting on a buyer's financing contingency.
Can I sell my property as-is?
Yes. We are the buyer, so there is no lender requiring repairs and no inspection contingency to renegotiate against you. Deferred maintenance, a failing roof, an aging tank system — we price it into the offer rather than asking you to fix it first.
Can I sell with a tenant in place?
Yes, and in most cases a tenant makes the property more valuable to us, not less. We will ask for the lease, a rent roll, and any estoppel certificates. You do not need to deliver the property vacant.
What if my lease is short-term or about to expire?
Short remaining term is one of the main reasons owners come to us. A conventional buyer needs lease term to get financing, which is why short-dated assets sit on the market. We underwrite the real estate and the backfill prospects rather than the remaining term alone.
What if the property is vacant?
We buy vacant assets. Pricing shifts from an income approach to what the building and land are worth to the next user, which is a different calculation — but it is one we do routinely rather than one that disqualifies the property.
Do I need a broker to sell to you?
No. We buy directly, and there is no commission because there is nothing to market. If you already have a broker, we will pay them. Selling without one saves the commission, but you should understand you are also giving up price discovery — a broker's job is to find out whether someone will pay more than we will.
What documents do I need to get an offer?
The address and the lease are enough to start. To finalize, we will want the rent roll, the last two years of operating statements, the title commitment, any existing survey, and any environmental reports you already have. You do not need an appraisal or a broker package.
How do you determine your offer?
We underwrite in-place income against what the space would re-lease for, adjust for capital needs and any environmental tail, and apply a cap rate supported by comparable transactions. We show you the inputs. If you disagree with an assumption, we would rather argue about the assumption than about the number.
What are typical seller closing costs?
Title and escrow fees, any transfer or recording tax owed in your state, prorated property taxes, and payoff of any existing debt. Because we are the buyer, there is no commission and no marketing cost. Transfer tax varies significantly by state and is often the largest single line.
Will I owe capital gains tax when I sell?
Usually yes, on the gain above your adjusted basis, and depreciation recapture is taxed separately from appreciation. State treatment varies. This is a question for your CPA before you sign, not after — the structure of the sale can change the answer.
Can I do a 1031 exchange?
Yes. A 1031 exchange lets you defer federal capital gains by reinvesting in like-kind property, subject to a 45-day identification window and a 180-day closing window from the date you sell. You must have a qualified intermediary in place before closing — it cannot be arranged afterward. Most states conform to federal treatment, but a few do not.
Can I sell if I am behind on payments or facing foreclosure?
Yes, and speed is the reason to move early rather than late. We can close on a defined date, which is what a lender or a receiver generally needs to see. Send us the payoff figure and any notices you have received.
Can I sell a property I inherited or that is in probate?
Yes. Probate sales take longer because the court timeline governs, not ours, and multiple heirs need to agree on the price before anything can close. We are used to working around both. Inherited property also generally receives a stepped-up basis, which can change the tax math substantially.
What if there is environmental contamination?
Send it anyway. Environmental history is one of the most common reasons a conventional sale falls apart, and it is one of the reasons owners call us. We price the remediation and the residual liability into the offer rather than walking away at the Phase II.
Is there any cost or obligation to get an offer?
None. There is no fee, no listing agreement, and no obligation to accept. If our number does not work for you, you keep the underwriting we showed you and we part ways.
Markets
Top markets we buy dispensaries in
Browse by state
50 state markets
- Arizona
- Texas
- Florida
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other property types
- Gas Stations & Convenience Stores
- Warehouses & Distribution Facilities
- Car Washes
- Storage Facilities
- Industrial Outdoor Storage Facilities
- Manufacturing & Logistics Facilities
- Office Buildings
- Medical Offices
- Shopping Centers
- Hotels & Motels
- Marinas
- Multifamily Properties
- Assisted Living Facilities
- RV & Mobile Home Parks
- Parking Garages & Lots
- Campgrounds
- Billboards
- Cell Towers
- Churches
- Funeral Homes
- Commercial Land
- Farms & Ranches
- Resorts & Retreats
- Auto Collision & Repair Shops
- Auto Parts Stores
- Oil Change & Lube Centers
- Truck Stops
- Grocery Stores
- Drive-Thru & Casual Dining Buildings
- Coffee Shops
- Liquor Stores
- Pharmacies
- Urgent Care Centers
- Veterinary Clinics
- Dialysis Centers
- Dollar Stores
- Cell Phone Stores
- Early Education Centers
- Private & Charter Schools
- Bank Branches
- Movie Theatres
- Pawn Shops & Check Cashing Stores
- Data Centers & Battery Farms
- Post Offices
- Government Buildings
- Auto Dealerships
- EV Charging Stations
- Hospitals & Surgery Centers
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
10-minute offer
Ready to sell your dispensary?
Send us the property and the lease. You'll have a firm offer, with the math shown, in 10 minutes.


