Seattle marijuana

Everything cannabis, pot, or weed in Seattle.

  • About
  • News
  • Seattle Recreational Marijuana Stores
  • Marijuana Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Contact US

Vashon Velvet: Women-owned Cannabis Farm

June 8, 2015 By Ellie Klein

Vashon Velvet marijuana farm feature image

Located on the southern end of gorgeous Vashon Island, Vashon Velvet is a unique, enchanting and impressive cannabis farm. The women who run the farm have a commendable eye for detail as well as a love for natural order, both of which define their business and ensure that cannabis users are consuming perfected strands they can stand behind. High Above Seattle caught up with Ivy from Vashon Velvet, who makes up a part of the two-generation, woman-owned farm, to further discover this wonderful island treasure. Growing Cannabis can be an interesting experience, with a cannabis farm that features, LED lights, a Freeze Dryer and other growing equipment that help with the growing of cannabis. However, when it comes to growing cannabis, whoever decides to take on that task, may want to do some research into the legal part of cannabis cultivation. This is due to states having different laws when it comes to growing marijuana – Read more here. Once a person or persons have abided by the laws and regulations put in place to monitor the cultivation of cannabis, they can begin their journey to grow a business similar to Vashon Velvet if they choose to.

Vashon Velvet marijuana farm Seattle Washington State

+++++++++++++Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Vashon Velvet was born from a family’s love of each other, gardening, and low-impact living. Ivy; her mother, Susan; and aunt, the resident designer, are the propellers who started and maintain the farm, along with key staff like Patrick, who has a hand in growing alongside Ivy’s mom. The team chose to grow on Vashon Island because their matriarch – Ivy’s Grandmother – grew up on Vashon. A motto that beautifully sums up the passion that drives the business, “For the Pursuit of Happiness” is draped across the deer-adorned, sentimental logo. This logo serves as a reminder for the farm and consumers: cultivate well-being and find happiness.

Vashon Velvet marijuana farm Seattle Washington State Ivy and Susan

Susan & Ivy, mother & daughter, owners of Vashon Velvet

To cultivate well-being means to not only take care of oneself, but also the environment that we all share. Vashon Velvet is meticulous in its quest to produce a very small impact on the environment, but a huge impact in the lives of cannabis users. The farm uses a hydroponic system for its indoor operation, which ensures that minimal water is used. LED lighting is found throughout the farm. The farm is sustainable and earth-friendly in all of its practice. This yields both a respectable operation and high-quality cannabis. The structures in which these plants are grown need to be the right ones to yield positive results. Whether that be fabric buildings or steel-structured buildings (depending on volume), the cannabis plants need to thrive.

The strains grown at Vashon Velvet are sourced from Barney’s Farm in Amsterdam. Liberty Haze, Laughing Buddha, and Acapulco Gold are grown here, all with varying needs.

Liberty Haze from Vashon Velvet

Liberty Haze – Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Liberty Haze yields a creative high while Laughing Buddha is a “Friday night strain” perfect for socializing. Acapulco Gold is very hard to grow as it thrives in Mexico, as well as requires a ton of research and attention. Ivy’s mom holds a chemical engineering degree, which she utilizes daily as a grower. Her expertise plays a large part in the success of the strains grown at Vashon Velvet. I’m sure they have a deep understanding of how to grow great marijuana. But if you were interested in getting some more insight into how to grow your own learn about growing marijuana at websites like i49.net. It’ll help you follow along with this incredible story.

As knowledgeable and skilled as each person in this operation is, there are still many people in the industry who hesitate in trusting the expertise of women growers and operators. As the face of Vashon Velvet, Ivy is at times tested on her cannabis knowledge when selling the farm’s product, which is an unfortunate side-effect of being a woman in the industry. Ivy can be treated like she does not know what she is talking about; however, this negative attention is often short lived. Once she starts speaking about her product she holds the attention of everyone in the room with her knowledge and contagious passion.

Vashon Velvet marijuana growers Seattle Washington State

Photo credit: Vashon Velvet

Vashon Velvet is as genuine of a team as they come. Family and women-owned, environmentally conscious, highly intelligent and knowledgeable only break the surface in describing this impressive operation and the people behind it. Vashon Velvet is currently sold at Dockside Cannabis in Shoreline and Higher Leaf on the Eastside. Do yourself a solid by picking up some of Vashon Velvet’s cannabis. It is a brand and lifestyle not to be missed.

Filed Under: Recreational Marijuana Seattle Tagged With: amsterdam, Barney's Farm, Brandon, Dockside Cannabis, Eastside, Higher Leaf, Ivy, Shoreline, Susan, Vashon Velvet

Cannabis City Suggests Potential Fixes for Proposed Marijuana Clubs

May 15, 2015 By Manic Conrad

The Bulldog First Coffee shop Amsterdam

On Monday, we posted an article with a hint of urgency in our plea, to implement marijuana clubs and change the retail tax structure which has handcuffed pot shops across the state.

It was made known later in the day, that we were not the only ones sharing our views and concerns. Cannabis City posted a great article on their site about the need to address marijuana clubs and even offered some great potential fixes.

One concern we have about the cannabis clubs suggested by city attorney Pete Holmes, is that you would only be allowed to vaporize or eat weed-infused edibles. It would be a shame to not include a wider range of products given that places like weed-crew.net strive to provide users with a wide range of ways to use cannabis. While we salute Pete Holmes for addressing the issue of needing a place for the public and tourists to consume wholesale cannabis in a safe location, we feel this is a half-hearted idea. I know a lot of people don’t like walking past someone smoking cannabis and get a rush of the smell in your face, but there is a solution to this. There are lots of methods in which people can consume cannabis, such as CBD oils, brownies and much more, which are used for a range of conditions like medical conditions also. So it’s not just for people to get a high, but if this is the case then opting for cannabis brownies is a less potent way of consuming cannabis and is therefore less likely to upset and disrupt others. These products can all be found at Yours Nutrition.

Just allow marijuana consumption in these clubs. 1) marijuana smoke is not tobacco smoke and 2) if someone doesn’t want to be in a place where there is smoke from a joint, then don’t go to a marijuana club. Same thing with a Hookah bar. If you don’t like Hookah smoke, then don’t go. Some people just don’t get this concept, though.

For decades, Amsterdam has allowed smoking marijuana in coffeeshops with really no problems. In fact, we have been to a countless number of coffeeshops in the Dutch city, and not once did we hear of anyone complaining. We imagined if they didn’t like cannabis smoke, they just didn’t go to a coffeeshop, or they just tolerated it. Their choice. Some dedicated smokers probably buy from sites like weed-seeds.com too but because they respect the plant and the fact that not everyone likes it, they smoke in non-public areas or in dedicated public areas to avoid upsetting other citizens.

Also, did you know that Amsterdam has a clean air act or sorts and doesn’t allow tobacco smoke in bars, but they will tolerate marijuana smoke in coffeeshops? Hey, it’s possible!

Cannabis City provides a suggestion regarding smoking cannabis indoors. They also have a follow up suggestion – just in case:

  1. Cannabis clubs could offer public spaces for vaporized cannabis and edible cannabis with an outdoor area for smoking. Coffee, food, and water should be available options.
  2. If there are concerns of the fragrance of the outdoor spaces, then provide for “hot box rooms” – rooms set up with charcoal ventilation systems for indoor smoking which are closed off from staff working areas and other public areas of the space. Hot box rooms could be rented privately.

We want anyone to be able to open a marijuana club, just like pretty much anyone can open a bar. But, Cannabis City does bring up some concerns that really need to be looked at:

  1. Cannabis clubs should be owned and operated, at least initially, by cannabis retailers – increasing the opportunity that most of the products consumed at a club are coming from a legal and regulated source. Cannabis clubs owned by non-cannabis retailers could easily become a hot spot of illicit activity – sort of like having a bar or dance club where you “bring your own alcohol” and you cannot buy it on site. A ridiculous model. The retail licensing could be expanded to provide for purchase and consumption of products right at the club itself by creating a separate marijuana club (retail) licence; or in conjunction with existing retail licenses. The easy solution: Allow all legal retailers to offer onsite consumption of products to their customers immediately and perhaps expand into separate club licensing in the future.

The marijuana club proposal by Pete Holmes suggests a place where the public brings their own cannabis. This might seem fine at first, but there are so many things wrong with this idea. For example, Cannabis City mentions that ‘Cannabis clubs owned by non-cannabis retailers could easily become a hot spot of illicit activity.’

Either ‘Cannabis clubs should be owned and operated, at least initially, by cannabis retailers’ as suggested by Cannabis City; or, we suggest, why not only allow consumption of marijuana purchased at the club – allowing the retail stores to sponsor the clubs – and provide their product? Or, why not just allow Washington State producers to supply the clubs just like a retail outlet from the get-go.

Read Cannabis City’s article in its’ entirety and the potential fixes they offer.

What are your thoughts about these issues? What suggestions do you have?

Filed Under: Recreational Marijuana Seattle Tagged With: amsterdam, Cannabis City, cannabis clubs, hookah bars, marijuana clubs

“I’m worried that a ‘Little Amsterdam’ is being created, and we won’t stand for it.”

October 30, 2014 By Manic Conrad

Little Amsterdam

The Mount Calvary Christian Center released a press release announcing the filing of a lawsuit against Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, the city of Seattle, and the Washington State Liquor Control Board. In the press release, the Rev. Reggie Witherspoon of Mt. Calvary is quoted saying, “I’m worried that a ‘Little Amsterdam’ is being created, and we won’t stand for it.”

‘Little Amsterdam.’ This must be in reference to the Dutch city Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, correct? I mean, what else would you be referring to?

So–do you mean the Amsterdam where 177 nationalities coexist with each other, more than any other place in the world? Do you mean the Amsterdam where all of these nationalities and church’s of all denominations, coexist with legal prostitution and a tolerated recreational marijuana industry? Do you mean the Amsterdam where a statue in honor of the Red Light District’s sex workers, stands right in front of the famous 800 year old Oude Kerk church, with hardly any opposition?

Is this really what you are worried about? Worried about a community made up of multiple nationalities, coexisting with each other despite differences, withholding judgement, and living their own lives?

If so, by all means proceed with the lawsuit. But if not, you might want to have a second thought. Just a thought.

Check out this article by CHS for more coverage regarding the lawsuit.

 

Filed Under: Recreational Marijuana Seattle Tagged With: amsterdam, Mount Calvary Christian Center, Uncle Ike's Pot Shop

Will Seattle Be the Next Amsterdam, Uncle Ike’s Hauls in Almost $14,000 Per Day During First Week, and More!

October 16, 2014 By Manic Conrad

Seattle the next Amsterdam

Will Seattle Be the Next Amsterdam?

Is Seattle or Denver america’s answer to Amsterdam?  Having been to Amsterdam a crazy amount of times, we can give you the short answer: No. We would need to replace our streets with cobblestones, dig up a few hundred canals, and adopt the color of orange to replace our emerald. Oh, and we would need to allow prostitution. All joking aside, it is possible, and a lot has to happen, but at this point no. Still, pot tourism when comparing our pioneering cities with the great Amsterdam makes for a good read and considers the possibilities. Check out the article at Conde Nest Traveler of all places.

Will Seattle Be the Next Amsterdam?

According to CapitolHillSeattle.com, Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop hauled in almost $14,000 in total sales per day, in the first week! We stopped by just yesterday and everything seems to be sailing just fine. The pot shop has yet to put on the finishing touches such as the outdoor sign (they are using a temporary sign), and we only saw one church pot protester!

Thoughts on Responsible and Effective Branding

Peg from CannaDesign shared an interesting and important article on Twitter considering we are in the beginnings of a brand new industry. You major players – yes you – have the responsibility to forge forth and lay the foundation and ground work that we can build upon. That includes being mindful of women, a portion of the market, when branding.

Filed Under: Marijuana News Tagged With: amsterdam, Colorado, IS Seattle the next Amsterdam?, seattle, Uncle Ikes

C’mon Seattle, Can We Make this Fun!?

August 5, 2014 By Manic Conrad

The first time I purchased a marijuana joint ‘semi-legally’ was in 2003 when I visited Amsterdam for the first time. It was a cool and interesting experience to purchase a joint in a colorful packaging, similar to how an ‘action figure’ is packaged…plastic bubble and all. It’s this sort of thing that helps create an impression and make an experience memorable. Think about the times you purchased a micro brew or bottle of wine based on the label.

Bulldog Amsterdam marijuana packaging

Bulldog Design & Packaging: Original image located at the: http://www.thebulldog.com/

 

Even the former Seattle recreational grey area delivery service, Winterlife Cooperative, understood the importance of creating an impression through design with their nifty little packages. So many customers would comment and make note of the packaging. Winterlife was doing things right but were seemingly pressured out of the recreational industry.

 

winterlife cooperative packaging design

Winterlife Cooperative Packaging Design

 

The ‘Legal’ brand by Mirth Provisions has created a lot of buzz in the media. Check out the stellar brand and packaging design of their cannabis infused beverages.

 

Legal cannabis infused sodas and cold brews by Mirth Provisions

‘Legal’ cannabis infused beverages by Mirth Provisions.

 

So, if we are going to wait an hour in line to purchase cannabis, at least give us something colorful to look at. Producers, are you listening?!

 

cannabis-city-first-purchase-single-2

Can you say…boring?

 

Filed Under: Recreational Marijuana Seattle, Stores Tagged With: amsterdam, marijuana design, Seattle marijuana delivery, Winterlife Cooperative

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Sign Up Now For Newsletter!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Entertainment

  • Budtenders Ball: Police crash ‘weed party’ but the celebration goes on

    Budtenders Ball: Police crash ‘weed party’ but the celebration goes on

    November 20, 2015
  • Fred Meyer Stores “Likes” Marijuana

    Fred Meyer Stores “Likes” Marijuana

    November 10, 2015
  • Two guys and one lady smoking pot behind closed doors. This is what happens.

    Two guys and one lady smoking pot behind closed doors. This is what happens.

    September 4, 2015

Area 52

Area 52: Lab Tested Delta 8 THC Products for Sale

Check out more!

Copyright 2014 Guide Resource Services / HighAboveSeattle.com | Seattle marijuana | Legal Disclaimer | Disclosure | Privacy Policy