‘Recreational Retail Marijuana in Seattle,’ My Unfortunate and Unpopular Friend

July 22, 2014 By Manic Conrad

UPDATE: You can now purchase cannabis at weed stores in Seattle.

Let’s just say you are a medical marijuana patient living off of Broadway and the Pike/Pine corridor on Capitol Hill, and you just ran out of your supply of cannabis. What do you do now? Easy. Firstly, you would get your medical marijuana card ready. Then, you would, in a very calm and relaxed manner, slip on your shoes and head a couple blocks to one of more than 200 medical marijuana dispensaries in the city similar to this medical marijuana lansing mi. Even though this location is down the street from a park and other places where kids congregate, it’s totally fine for this dispensary to exist, and okay for you to be there. And before you know it, you will be walking back to your cozy abode, with a bag of Washington State’s best.

Once you are back in the comforts of your home, you could make a pot of coffee and sit down on your sofa and enjoy the hemp flower pre-rolls you just purchased. You could call up a friend to join you on the sofa while you make fun of everything on daytime television. Then, after what would seem like an eternity of relaxing fun, but really just a moment; you check your watch and realize that you have plans to meet up with a couple of close friends, who are also medical marijuana patients.

What’s on the agenda tonight? Your plans are to drive North to Lake City and spend the evening at The Amsterdam Exchange. They will have a themed event known as the Cult Classic Movie Night. This particular night, they will be be playing the double feature of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Caddyshack. Yes, you will be comfortably sitting and smoking while watching two of your favorite classics and laughing your ass off. In addition, there will be a full food buffet, plenty of medibles, and strains of your favorite marijuana, such as purple cheese, to go around.

But while you dream about your upcoming evening, you pause to think about one of your less fortunate friends who isn’t a medical marijuana patient and therefore, doesn’t have the access the industry like yourself. What is he/she doing tonight? Your thoughts start to wonder more…

Is my friend at Cannabis City in Seattle, waiting in line with a sleeping bag until the only recreational marijuana shop in Seattle reopens on the 25th of this month? Or is my friend calling up the famous Seattle marijuana delivery service, Winterlife Cooperative, only to be told they no longer sell to anyone with a medical marijuana card? Or maybe your friend is standing on a street corner holding a cardboard sign asking for weed? Or just maybe, they are briefly going back to the black market to score some pot for the evening.

And when your friend does score some weed, then what? They can’t join you at the Amsterdam Exchange and enjoy a night of fun and 80’s cult classics. And it’s against the law for your friend to smoke cannabis at a local bar, park, or anywhere in public. The only choice they really have is to consume the herb at home. And what fun is that when all of your friend’s are hanging out in a ‘lounge atmosphere,’ smoking it up, while watching a couple cult classics from the 80’s?

Folk Life After Party This Friday! Ages 21+

May 20, 2014 By Manic Conrad

When I met with Jessica Mills a couple weeks ago, I could have sworn that she said they were 45 days away from opening the Amsterdam Exchange for the recreational crowd. But it appears to me that it was a flat out lie! If that’s the case, this is one lie I can live with…

For the 2nd Friday in a row, The Amsterdam Exchange will have a party geared towards the recreational marijuana crowd. That’s right! If you are 21 years of age or older, and can prove that at the door, then 10 bucks gets you in. Don’t forget, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bud). This time, it’s the Folk Life After Party featuring live music from BingX and Limblifter and potentially even some live Scottish bands also. Doors open at 9pm and the after party lasts until midnight. So mark your calendar for: Friday, May 23rd.

If you have not checked out The Amsterdam Exchange yet – you must. Just imagine Amsterdam in Seattle. The Have a Heart medical marijuana dispensaries are behind this production. They have always done a pretty good job of bringing the Amsterdam coffeeshop look and feel into their dispensaries.

During parties and recreational events, the upstairs – just like magic – turns into a nightclub. An area is set aside for live music, in front of a mural backdrop of Amsterdam canal houses. There is also a dab bar.

Downstairs, you will find a lounge where you can simply chill and smoke.

Here is your chance Seattle. Almost 2 years ago we legalized marijuana, and now you have a perfect opportunity to hang out, smoke, and listen to some live music! Off of your arse and go! Carpool, catch the bus, find a horse – whatever it takes – just go and live a little!

For more information, check out The Amsterdam Exchange website.

The Amsterdam Exchange: Themed Farmers Market + Recreational Marijuana Night Club

May 5, 2014 By Manic Conrad

I met with Jessica Mills, at The Amsterdam Exchange off of Lake City Highway. She is the one in charge of preparing The Amsterdam Exchange, for its’ grand opening on the 17th of May. Although Mills has been extremely busy (she has a personal pr assistant) her persona was jubilant and full of joy. But who wouldn’t be in such good spirits, knowing they were about to gift a city with an Amsterdam themed medical marijuana farmers market, and an upcoming night club venue for the recreational marijuana crowd interested in edo CBD and other products?

I have been tracking this unfolding story ever since I learned of this project. Simply because, Amsterdam is one of my favorite places on earth. I visited the eclectic Dutch city for the first time about 10 years ago and was so inspired, I returned multiple times ever since. In fact, I even consider those aged cobblestone streets my second home.

The unassuming 2-story building which houses The Amsterdam Exchange, sits next to a German styled 1-story building. Although not as obvious as its’ German styled counterpart, The dwelling does have hints of German and/or European influence.

The first floor consists of a lounge area for medical marijuana patients to hang out and consume herb and learn product making skills like those on https://www.theju1cebox.com/blogs/news/how-to-make-edibles-from-rosin-chips. Additionally, there is a small space for a few vendors, a full service kitchen, and space for a food buffet to keep guests and hard-working vendors fed.

The second floor will consist of a dab bar, with many CBD vape oil options, and a huge room where the majority of the medical marijuana vendors will set up shop. Mills specifically pointed out the brand new custom made cannabis display cabinets. Interestingly, the cabinets could easily be converted into lounge tables, and the entire room transformed into a night club, specifically for the recreational marijuana crowd (like those who often go to sites like greensociety.io). The room can also be rented out for special events.

But what is making this place magical, is the painter Jewels Hawkins, who prefers to be called Jewelz. Using his abilities, this Seattle based artist is covering the walls with his interpretation of Amsterdam. And doing a damn good job.

Painted stone bridges arching over canals, grace the first floor walls. Abstract accents and colorful ceiling tiles, captures the urban vibe of the Dutch city. According to Jewelz, he had not even begun to apply the details and finishing touches. Really? He could have fooled me.

On the second floor, Jewelz had started painting the famous Amsterdam canal houses on a rich sky blue background. These houses were being composed around existing mirrors, which created a rather interesting composition. As he was applying his craft, I couldn’t help notice the large mood board full of printed references of canal houses, propped up against a cabinet. It was very apparent that Jewelz and Mills put a lot of time and thought into the the creative direction.

The Amsterdam Exchange Farmers Market is scheduled to open on May 17 at 10am, and will be open 7 days a week from 10am-8pm. The farmers market is for medical marijuana patients only and you must bring proper identification.

There will be a pre-opening Combustion Party on the evening of May 16, at 8pm. Expect several musical guests and Dj’s, meds and food. You are encouraged to bring your own glass and rigs to the dab station where you can show it off and fire it up.

The Amsterdam Exchange night club and lounge, for the recreational marijuana crowd, is expected to open in less than a month and a half. We will keep you up to date as the time nears.