Washington state pot store debuts
Canada Border Services warns buyers against trying to cross the border
BELLINGHAM, Wash . — There was a handful of old hippies in tie-died shirts, an industrial hemp activist holding up a base of the green plant as well as a drag queen seeking a particular strain of cannabis to stay “awake and active” when dancing.
But most of the people at the grand opening of Top Shelf Cannabis were locals as unassuming as the Bellingham strip mall that houses one of Washington state’s first recreational marijuana retailers.
Inside, screen-topped Mason jars were brought out from their glass display cases so people could sniff samples of about 15 different strains of “combustibles” (dried cannabis that is smoked). Hemp rolling papers ($2) and hand-held glass bongs ($20) were popular purchases. Happy customers high-fived as they examined the two-gram packages of buds, which had slick labels describing the THC and moisture content as well as numerous possible side effects.
“Easy does it ... start with a little. We want you to ENJOY this product,” read the slogan on a package of the Sweet Lafayette indica strain.
The day was a historic step toward the end of the U.S. war on drugs, according to many of the more than 700 customers who showed up.
By 11 a.m., over 200 people had bought dried marijuana, with about 30 per cent showing ID from out of state and several from Canada, according to head doorman Derek Langhorn.
“It’s great to see old people come in here, they don’t have to go out on the streets,” said Langhorn, a Bellingham native who doesn’t smoke marijuana anymore, but was charged with a misdemeanour for the possession of 1.4 grams several years ago as an 18-year-old.
“People don’t hire me because of it,” he added. “It’s just great right now that anybody can come in here, anybody at all, and say ‘Hey, I wanna get some marijuana.’ And it should be like that, because I can go to the store and get beer.”
Once customers prove they are over 21, they can buy up to an ounce of the bud, with Top Shelf selling a gram of Hawaiian Dutchman for as low as $10 a gram with tax and as high as $22 a gram with tax for Opal OG Kush.
Those prices were still a little high for Canadians Greg and Lorraine, a Victoria couple vacationing nearby at their summer camping spot who bought 10 grams of two strains for $215 US.
Both refused to give their last names, telling The Sun “we have parents” and “we still have jobs” back in Victoria.
“The States seems to be way more liberal on some things,” Greg said. “Canada’s a little too protective of our society. They think there’s gotta be seven levels of bureaucracy.”
The two said they don’t often smoke back home, but will sneak a puff with friends.
Greg said he would relish the opportunity to buy legal weed in Canada, and thinks that may happen if Liberal leader Justin Trudeau becomes prime minister.
“The right things are happening. If the indicators are going the right way (in Colorado and Washington), it becomes more and more acceptable, and sooner or later people see it as a source of revenue for the government. Maybe it will lower my taxes on cigarettes or tobacco or alcohol,” Greg said.
The Canada Border Services Agency released a statement Tuesday warning any Canadians thinking of bringing marijuana legally bought in Washington over the border.
“Travellers should be aware that even if they have purchased marijuana legally in Washington state, it is still a crime to transport it across the border,” the emailed statement read. “Anyone found smuggling drugs will be arrested and depending on the circumstances, charges may be laid.”
As Top Shelf’s supply began to dwindle throughout the morning investor and consultant John Evich said the company may limit each person to two grams in order to continue selling Wednesday.
Evich said it was a mad scramble to get the bud to market after receiving a licence from the Liquor Control Board.
Bellingham’s other licensed retailer, 2020 Solutions, had to postpone its grand opening until later in the week after “late-developing regulatory snags involving our processors.”