by Isaac Swicker
Texas is one of the many states that still does not have full legalization of marijuana. 1937 Apothecary was the answer to this. Starting in 2018 as a pop-up vendor, Sarah Kerver sought to bring to light the positives that cannabis can have for one’s health. Today she owns locations, her first store which opened in July of 2019 located off East 5th, and recently her newest location is up north in Cedar Park, off Anderson Mill Ln.
The north store location open at 10 AM every day, except Sunday which they are closed. This store is located in the Cedar Park area off Anderson Mill road @13450 Research Blvd Suite 100, Austin, TX 78750 (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
After opening up the front doors it’s time to turn of the alarm. Having a functioning alarm system is essential for a thriving business like this in Austin. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
The next step is to walk and set up the “DISPENSARY” flag out front. Never before did people think you’d see that word in big letters in Texas. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Now it’s time to turn on the OPEN sign to signal to customers that shop is open. Seeing that the shop is right next to a major road, this sign stands out. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
All that’s left to do is wait for customers to come in. This is the view behind the front desk at the North location. Plenty of windows for natural sunlight fill this shop. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Now lets take a trip to the downtown location and see how things run when it’s time to close up shop for the day. Located off East 5th @906 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702. This is busiest store between the two. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Here we have employee Josh Garcia who is closing up shop. His first order of business is counting the cash at the end of the day, making sure that every sale is recorded in the books. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Just like at the North location, the “DISPENSARY” flag flys high. It is now time to retire the flag to the inside. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Wouldn’t be a shop in downtown Austin without high measure of security! Josh gates and locks up the front door. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Again, like the north store, a secuirty system is essential. Josh sets the alarm before taking off, shutting off all the lights on his way out. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker) 
Shop is locked up and ready for operation the next day! Josh exits through the side exit door, which shares a hallway with a few local business in the building. (Photo Credit: Isaac Swicker)
How Did This All Start?
Sarah Kerver started in the cannabis industry back in 2017/2018. The industry was starting to take off and Sarah thought “how could I invest in this industry?”. That led her to do proper research into the whole cannabinoid system, the cannabinoids in cannabis, and everything in between that was unfamiliar. At that point in time, Sarah’s viewpoint was much like most people who are unfamiliar with this industry, viewing everything as just marijuana. This struck Sarah’s interest in finding out how helpful it was to so many people. This then turned from “how do I invest in this industry” to “how do I become a part of this industry?”.
Like any demographic breakdown throughout cities, 1937 sees a difference in clientele from both locations. The downtown location is a much more youthful crowd of people. This younger generation of people is more interested in cannabis and its psychoactive properties of cannabis. Whereas the North location, there is definitely an interest in the aforementioned, however, there is more of a middle to older age folk looking more for CBD-based products for health. Both socioeconomic breakdowns of both areas are the same, but the younger crowd looks to products more for fun while the older group up north appreciates the health benefits.
As for operating in an industry that is so heavily reliant on loopholes in the law, it’s hard and has been since the beginning. Sarah did not pick Texas, Texas picked her, as she was already living there full-time and working in a completely different industry. It wasn’t until she decided to become a part of the cannabis industry in Texas, she knew it would not be an easy road ahead. A few questions Sarah asked herself while getting into this field were “How do I operate within the law?”, and “How do I figure out the law”. This then leads down to not only learning loopholes, but it also comes down to “How do I work with legislators?”, “How do I work with lobbyists?”, “How do I help people understand so that we can work within those areas”.
Like any business, there are loopholes. All cannabinoids in 1937 are derived from hemp, that’s the main attraction. The most difficult thing is how do you extract mass quantities of those different cannabinoids from a hemp plant; that is the biggest and most difficult loophole. While at the same time helping legislation, law enforcement, and people who are uninformed; understand that those are all coming from the hemp plant and how they’re coming from the hemp plant.
One of the biggest questions that Sarah is asked daily is “Where do I start?”
“Come in and see us, my staff is very very well educated. If you are one of those many who are “how do you have cannabis in Texas, I don’t understand, how can I use a product that is going to be psychoactive in Texas, How is that possibly legal?” Obviously, Google is a great resource for that; but if you really want to understand it, and also if it’s not a psychoactive property and you’ve never used cannabis in your life, you don’t want to feel high, you just want to feel good; there’s something for everybody. That’s the easiest thing to do, to come in and talk to us, we will set you up with where you are and what you are and aren’t comfortable with.” 1937 owner Sarah Kerver said.
So what exactly is legal to sell in Texas?
Well for starters, cannabis, which is derived from hemp, starts with a hemp plant. A hemp plant is cannabis Sativa that has below .3 percent Delta 9 THC. Delta 9 THC is a psychoactive property. That is by weight, so Delta 9 THC derived from hemp in heavier items such as edibles, gummies, caramels, and things that weigh more, can have more THC levels in them. Flower; smokable flower, essentially the buds that are above .3 percent is considered marijuana, so they cannot have any buds and/or flower that is above .3 percent. Concentrates of specific Delta 9 THC above .3 percent THC they also cannot have/sell. As of now, all other cannabinoids are legal in the state of Texas. Delta 9 in any edible form that weighs out below .3 percent and any other cannabinoids such as other THC variants like CBN, HHC, CBD, and CBG; over 100 different cannabinoids in the plant are all legal to sell in Texas.
