Decriminalization of psychedelics was a huge win for the city, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be finding psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, ibogaine and non-peyote-derived mescaline in a Seattle dispensary anytime soon. The ordinance served as an extension to the already existing law that seeks to end any arrest or prosecution of individuals caught in possession of drugs, by further allowing farming and sharing out of psychedelic plants for purposes pertaining to religion, spirituality and even personal growth practices but specifically disallowed commercial activities.
Seattle is nicknamed the “Emerald City” because it is covered by greenery from all sides, but this beautiful city is also home to 26 dispensaries. What can be found in a Seattle dispensary you ask? A variety of cannabis products that cater to all the different consumers.
What’s in a Seattle Dispensary?
The staff in the dispensary are usually knowledgeable and the goal is to achieve minimal wait time for the staff as they’re taken through the wonderful selection of cannabis products on display.
This article right here purposes to give you a proper breakdown of the common products to expect as you enter into Seattle dispensaries. How they can be consumed and what to look out for when you’re in the market. Once you walk into a recreational dispensary in Seattle, these are some of the items that you can expect to find on sale.
Flowers
These are the smokable part of a female cannabis plant and no doubt the most popular by far because it could be manipulated in many different ways. The flowers could be smoked in a joint (a hollowed-out cigar), or one could decide to smoke them using a pipe or a bong, alternatively, they could be vaporized or even fused within an edible.
The commonly available types of Flowers
- Loose Flower
This can be described as the rawest form of flower that there is. These are the flowers once they have been harvested, dried and cured and no further processing has taken place. In a Seattle dispensary, this can be purchased in a jar or sealed bag ready for the consumer to grind it and apply it for the intended use it was purchased for.
- Pre-rolls
This type of flower is additionally processed further to provide much more convenience for the consumer. In this instance, grinding has occurred and the flowers are packed into a hollowed-out cigar ready for immediate consumption by the consumer.
Quality Assessment
A flower could be classified into any of the three following categories in terms of determining the level of quality it has
- Private reserve – this first level can only be described as premium cannabis, as it denotes that the dispensary in question partook in its cultivation and harvest practice and is therefore certain of the quality standards attained.
- Top shelf – this proceeding level is not quite as intricate as the first but still boasts of great quality cannabis with intact trichomes that have a pungent aroma with purple and/or shoots with bright to dark green buds. This level of quality still fetches a handsome price and a consumer is guaranteed an elevated experience.
- Bottom shelf – like the name itself, this is the low-quality cannabis that is characterized by lack of visible trichomes and no identifiable smell. The price is low because it has nothing vibrant to offer.
Concentrates
Concentrates are derived as a result of distilling the trichomes of the cannabis flower. They are deemed to contain cannabinoid, chemical compounds that are also produced by our bodies essential for maintaining internal balance, as well as terpenes, the molecules responsible for the unique aroma of cannabis.
Concentrates technically let you experience the best parts of cannabis using a variety of ways. You could choose to use them one their own, sprinkle it in a joint or even infuse it into an edible.
Pre Filled vape cartridges
This is an additional connection to a cannabis vape pen that is sold already filled with cannabis concentrates such as THC (the mood lifting ingredient) and/or cannabidiol. These units come with a battery component that is fixed into the cartridges. Once the battery has been connected, then the oil within the vape pen is heated leading to a release of the active ingredients in the form of a vapor that is then inhaled by the consumer.
These units are discreet and convenient, they produce a significantly smaller amount of the cannabis pungent smell which lasts for a relatively short period of time. It has been said that they offer instant relief to the affected person.
Edibles
These are cannabis infused edible items that offer delayed and often intense extended gratification to the consumer. This type of cannabis product usually contains relatively high amounts of THC (the mood lifting ingredient). The techniques that are applied to achieve a cannabis infused product, are, incorporating canna-butter into the recipe, adding canna oil and/or adding cannabis extract in liquid form to it.
Canna-butter is achieved by blending regular unsalted butter with the flower and water. The resulting product is what is then used in the place of the regular butter to create a myriad of baked products. Canna-oil on the other hand is the blended flower with cooking oil and this is usually added to condiments or salads. The extract in liquid form is added to beverages to allow for the fusion to take place.
Some types of edibles that can be found in Seattle dispensaries include cookies, brownies, chocolates, Pizza chips, coffee and tea, energy drinks, nuts and trail mixes, ice cream, sodas, sauces, dressings, and condiments. A wide variety of selection to choose from. Edibles are the favorite choice for beginners to introduce themselves to cannabis as they are seen as the friendliest way to interact with it.
Hemp oil
Hemp oil is made from hemp, contains cannabidiol and almost no THC. It is usually consumed orally to enable faster absorption of CBD through the mouth.
CBD
CBD in full, also known as cannabidiol, is the second most dominant active ingredient in cannabis and is extracted directly from the hemp plant. By itself, it does not cause a high. It takes many forms and can be consumed as oils, extracts, capsules, patches, as well as vapes.
Now that we have been acquainted with the various items that we can find once we walk into a dispensary, it is equally important to highlight exactly where they are, to make it easier for you to find exactly what you’re looking for without hustling too much about it.
Top Seattle Dispensaries
American Mary
Prides itself as Seattle’s number one dispensary with provision of high-quality cannabis products and premium glassware. They have beautiful and expansive spaces with knowledgeable staff guaranteed to help you select the best product for your needs. They are currently found in two locations within Seattle city.
American Mary has consistently been top rated as one of the best Seattle dispensaries and there must be a good reason as to why they have maintained their names in good books. Their purpose is to accomplish 3 key things very well and this they do without breaking a single sweat because they have understood the market and all that is required to establish a thriving successful dispensary.
The three things that you should expect American Mary to excel in is
- Provision of premium quality of recreational cannabis that can be possibly sourced.
- The best pricing in the market for the offerings that they have for cannabis enthusiasts
- Availability of top class accommodating, informed and friendly staff to provide world class customer service.
The delicate balance and synergy of these three attributes is what makes American Mary stand out in comparison to its competitors and if you’re looking to start this journey, this dispensary would be your best shot starting off strong on the right footing.
Diego Pellicer
Just like the name itself, this dispensary wants to be identified as fancy and luxurious and whether they fit the bill or not, they are known to contain stocks from some of the best farms and sell at unexpectedly fair prices.
Uncle Ike’s
The proprietor behind this dispensary brand is not one to shy away from controversy, and through the marketed efforts, this store has carved out its name as the place with the cheapest cannabis offering unbelievable deals to enthusiasts.
Lux Pot Shop
This dispensary borrows heavily from Apple’s store design, and as a result have earned a similar name and are now recognized as the “Apple store of weed”. Well design isn’t really our main interest in this regard, but I thought it was important to let you in on that little nugget of wisdom. On to what really matters. The store covers all the basic cannabis products which sell at prices considered to be higher than average.
Dockside
Is an aesthetically pleasing store that is guaranteed to keep you in the store for longer than you had planned on being there. They have made a deliberate attempt to exhibit intriguing artefacts on cannabis bound to keep you engrossed and curious enough to stick around and indulge yourself in. In addition to that, they have cleverly, set up a wall to test your terpene knowledge. They are known to sell their stock at relatively fair prices and the staff that they have engaged have at one point or another been quoted for an analysis they shared on cannabis related products.
Have a Heart
This store is known to push the envelope in terms of their product offerings. They have thousands and thousands of products on sale, enough to scare a newbie and excite a regular enthusiast. If you’re thinking variety, this would be a top contender.
Hashtag Cannabis
A store famed for its super helpful staff who are ready and willing to spend as much time as necessary to help you find the right product that fits your needs.
Origins West Seattle
Just like their name, this dispensary bears originality in the way that they have labelled their products and steers away from the already existing taxonomy that is in use by other players in the market. They have deliberately named their cannabis as the feelings that they invoke with the hopes that it will help to better guide a consumer in their selection. If you’ve had challenges differentiating the various distinctions of cannabis that have been on offer, Origins might just do the trick for you.
Herb’s House
Herb’s is such a simplistic name, and in a nutshell, that explains the concept that Herb’s house has adopted. Unlike the rest, it is actually a house, with a pretty neat selection of cannabis products that accommodates a variety of consumers for different price points as well as an array of knowledgeable staff that are accommodating.
Ruckus Recreational
This dispensary has taken the initiative of trying out and testing a variety of cannabis products across a variety of price points, with the intention of eliminating the gruel research process for a consumer. The proprietor of this institute has taken it upon himself to ensure that the offerings here are only the best quality that could be sourced.
The Bakeree
This name just sounds artsy, and it lives up to the artistic hype that it exudes. The dispensary itself resembles an art gallery and it has adopted this wonderful concept of featuring a new local artist every six weeks. If you’re artsy and enthusiastic about cannabis, this might just be the sweet spot for you.
They have honest staff that give solid recommendations, kind of like the array of products available in that store.
This article has taken an entire journey from celebrating with you the decriminalization of psychedelics, to letting you in on the good stuff that you can find in a reputable dispensary and it has finally ended the journey on a high on where you can source for these cannabis-based products within Seattle.
With an increase of the younger generation in electoral positions, we might be able to see a greater inclination towards the adoption of psychedelics. We might even find it in the nearest Seattle dispensary in the near future, hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream. Until then, let this resource be your trusted buddy! See what I did there, as you discover what works best for you.
