A cannabis dispensary with deep Florida ties opened in Cape Coral recently, bringing high quality products to consumers in a growing market that is hyper-focused on the local community.
Sunburn Cannabis, a Florida-based and vertically integrated cannabis operator, opened its first dispensary in Cape Coral (15th in the state) on Del Prado Boulevard on Nov. 25.
“We’re very familiar with Southwest Florida,” said Cobb, who previously owned a business with a location in Bonita Springs. “We knew the community and knew there was a need there. We took our time in finding the right spot. We’re happy with where the store is located. And we’re very much probably the only real Florida-focused brand. A lot of our competitors are national companies that have a presence in Florida. We are Floridian through and through. I’m a born and raised Floridian. We really focus on getting into hyper-local activities within the market. The Cape Coral/Fort Myers area seemed like one of those places to really lean in, and we look forward to becoming a trusted part of the community.”
Sunburn is a premium brand and retail experience, with a team that brings an unyielding commitment to innovation while growing and selling only the highest quality hand-trimmed cannabis flower. Sunburn also offers pre-rolls, edible gummies, rosin vapes, rosin nectar, concentrates such as Piattella Hash, and their new line of top-shelf flower, “Bill’s Reserve.”
Cobb said Sunburn curates every strain to bring out the truest expression of the plant and utilizes advanced extraction techniques to preserve the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Along with providing top-shelf products, Cobb said Sunburn will be a true community partner in Southwest Florida.
“You’ll see us at events. You’ll see us at fishing tournaments. You’ll see us at beach cleanups,” he said. “We’ll try to be there not selling, but just to be there to support the community and be a good community partner.”
Sunburn grows and produces its product in Orlando, with the entire team calling the Sunshine State home.
Cobb said while other dispensaries have a focus on more than one state, Sunburn is fixated on bringing the best there is to offer to only Floridians.
“We have very high standards when it comes to how we grow,” Cobb said. “We firmly believe and maintain a farm-first mentality, which is one of our mission statements — is to be a farm-focused company. You can’t win in this market, or any cannabis market, unless you live and die by the quality of your flower. A lot of this team has been together across two businesses in Florida dating back to 2018. We’re very proud of what we do, and our team, and how we grow and our commitment to honoring the plant.”
Cobb said the name Sunburn is also a vital fixture in what they do, as it’s an ode to Cobb’s father and the federal government’s name of “Operation Sunburn” in tracking down Bill Cobb and his group of outlaws. Cobb said when he visits the various Sunburn locations throughout the state, he often hears stories from customers that had a relative or knew someone that shared similar characteristics of his father’s story.
“Instead of trying to be this medicinally pharmaceutical company, we’ve leaned in to that rich culture and history,” Cobb said. “We’re not celebrating the bad, but celebrating that this is a plant that people wanted access to, and some people took a chance to do it and got in trouble. For us, it’s about celebrating that rebellious spirit, that unapologetic fun, and the positives that cannabis can bring. And pairing that with what we believe is a very differentiated retail experience.”
When you walk into Sunburn locations, there is no frosted glass, with music playing and a pool table centralized on the floor.
“It’s like popping into a nice high-end boutique,” Cobb said. “We want to reduce the stigma. When consumers come see us, we have a high retention rate because it feels like home. They’re not intimidated. You can take as long or short as you want. Come play a game of pool.”
Cobb said Sunburn has been successful due to its commitment to the quality of the product, leaning into its authentic Florida story, and having a unique retail experience that is led by the team and feeling when you walk in the door.
Sunburn’s top tiers of flower are still hand-trimmed, with other flower products that pass the savings onto the consumer machine-trimmed and hand-cleaned. Sunburn has a diverse offering for all types of cannabis consumers, from hash, to edibles, to rosin, a beverage, and more.
“We wanted to give people an opportunity to try it in many different ways,” Cobb said. “We try to make it so there’s something on our menu for everyone.”
With Amendment 3 having not reached the threshold to pass in last month’s election, Cobb said the fight to make cannabis recreationally legal is not yet over.
“The future of cannabis in Florida remains very bright,” Cobb said. “It’s the largest medical market in the country.”
Cobb said he expects a bit of contraction in the market, as well as price compression as other companies spent big dollars in preparation of the amendment passing. He said Sunburn was set up to come out of the decision in a positive way regardless of what the results were.
“I do think the market is going to shrink up a little bit,” he said. “I think you’ll see some store closures. I think you’ll see some companies exit the space. But ultimately we’re going to be here for the long run, and I think you’re going to see us continue to execute at a high level. As an advocate for the plant, it would be really nice to have cannabis be completely legal in Florida. We got over the loss of that, and we’ll see what happens moving forward.”
As for getting completely legal cannabis use back on the ballot, Cobb said, “I think we’ll get another chance at it, but I also think we’re going to see some activity at the federal level. I think the Trump administration is going to surprise a few people.”
Each week, Sunburn puts out deals on various products, and offers a military and senior discount.
For more information regarding Sunburn’s retail footprint, product offerings and other services, visit sunburncannabis.com.
Sunburn’s Cape Coral location is at 1628 Del Prado Blvd., S., with regular hours being Monday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/news/business/2024/12/12/sunburn-cannabis-opens-in-the-cape/
