Wake Up and Bake, Seattle

August 10, 2015 By Ellie Klein

Marijuana has been legal in Washington for almost three years, with recreational marijuana sales in Oregon ready to begin October 1st. However, Portland has just reopened the World Famous Cannabis Cafe, a place for people 21 years of age and older to smoke with others while Washington still has no place like this. Wait, why doesn’t Washington have a similar cafe for smokers to come together to enjoy legal pot and good company in a bar-like setting?

About two years ago, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes asked the state liquor control board to allow private clubs for people to smoke in. A major reason behind this push was for tourists to have a place to smoke the legal pot they purchase. Smoking inside marijuana shops and in public is not legal. Of course, Washington residents are allowed to smoke in the privacy of their homes; however, those who rent a home must abide by the contracts of their rental agreement. Holmes was hoping to help tourists and renters with this measure though his proposal was not accepted.

The World Famous Cannabis Cafe provides numerous smoking devices and social ambiance and all that is required of patrons is $10 at the door as well as their own marijuana. In Oregon, recreational marijuana is only sold in small quantities at medical marijuana stores, as there are no recreational-only stores until sometime in 2016. Citizens are also allowed to grow up to four of their own marijuana plants. Consumers are legally able to partake in the privacy of their own homes, or on private property. In terms of obtaining recreational marijuana, Washington makes it a bit easier at this point but still falls behind in public consumption.

Colorado is home to numerous marijuana clubs, where members can go to enjoy pot together. Like The World Famous Cannabis Cafe, patrons pay an admission fee and bring their own marijuana. Colorado Amendment 64 prohibits public consumption of marijuana, but private pot dens are legal because they do not sell marijuana, nor do they sell any food or drinks. These clubs were created so that people may gather and smoke marijuana indoors without fear of legal retaliation from landlords or law enforcement. They are the answer to the wishes of renters and tourists.

Opposite the other states’ admissible pot dens, Washington cracked down on establishments that allowed marijuana consumption on the premises when recreational marijuana was first legalized. The government explicitly stated the reason for this was because the law clearly states that consuming marijuana in public was illegal, and restaurants and bars are public places. Though, Colorado and Oregon both have similar laws and allow marijuana consumption in private buildings which don’t sell marijuana, food, or drinks.

So, why is it that Colorado and Oregon have bars for people to smoke marijuana, but Washington does not? All three states prohibit the public consumption of marijuana though two of the three allow private pot den operations as long as they do not sell marijuana or food. It is likely only a matter of time before Washington lawmakers ease up and allow marijuana clubs to establish. Until then, it is up to the marijuana consumers of the state to keep asking for leniency in the law so everyone, including renters ad tourists, can enjoy their legally bought marijuana indoors with the company of other consumers.

Want to see how much fun Portland is having? WARNING: You may get jealous. Click here to find out.

Marijuana Bars and Reconstructed Retail Taxes ASAP

May 12, 2015 By Manic Conrad

We’ve come a long way…

Not so much.

December 9, 2013. I-502 anniversary celebration under the Space Needle. Not only was there a celebration to celebrate the legalization of marijuana in our state, but there was a special permit handed out to allow adults over the age of 21 to smoke cannabis in a designated area, despite this being an event opened to the public. I’m sure that many people were looking up ‘All you Need to Know About Bongs‘ after this announcement in preparation for the day, so they could join in and celebrate! There are so many ways to use cannabis of course. It’s a trend now, after its heroic purposes used in healthcare, it’s shone a pretty positive light on the substance! But anyway, this is a breakthrough, yes, but it’s just the beginning, right? We live in such a great and progressive state, it’s just a matter of time that Washington allows for marijuana use lounges and bars.

It’s been almost a year and a half since that anniversary celebration and progress has been minimal at best. Sure, Pete Holmes detailed in a memorandum at the beginning of the year that we should have a place for people to consume marijuana publicly or ‘marijuana use lounges.’ Because of the clean air act, customers will only be able to eat edibles or vaporize cannabis.

If you are going to designate a place to consume marijuana, then let the public consume the herb in any way they choose, be that smoking something like this cake crasher strain or taking edibles, vaping etc. The clean air act was created because of tobacco smoke, not marijuana smoke. There is a huge difference.

Also, the majority of customers are not going to care about being in an environment filled with cannabis smoke. Do people go to a hookah lounge and complain about smoke from hookahs. No, they expect it. If people don’t want to be around marijuana smoke, guess what? They don’t have to go to a marijuana use lounge.

It’s been almost a year and a half since that anniversary celebration and one of the biggest names in marijuana, and its’ annual Cannabis Cup, is moving out of our state because they can’t get a special permit for anything – not even a liquor license.

You would think the state would allow for at least a liquor license, a special permit to smoke cannabis, or just turn a blind eye. After all, they continue to turn a blind eye to the marijuana delivery services who are still operating and advertising freely, without licenses or jurisdiction. So, why not turn a blind eye and allow High Times to conduct their annual event?

In some ways, legalization has made us soft. We made a huge statement in 2012 when we became the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana. We were a pioneer in every essence of the word.

Now, years later, we have the newly legalized state of Oregon watching our every move and mistakes, and doing things differently and how they should be. For example, allowing residents to grow their own recreational marijuana.

There are two things that need to happen by years end:

One, we need to get the recreational marijuana retail tax issue sorted out so the retail marijuana stores can survive and thrive. This is issue number one. Quit gouging the lifeblood of our industry. In fact, why not an emergency session to get this fixed?

James Lathrop, owner of Cannabis City, has been very vocal about this. Let’s follow his lead and get this sorted out.

Secondly, allow for marijuana use lounges. Real marijuana use lounges where we can light up a joint if we choose. The clean air act was created for tobacco. If it was created for any type of pollutant, then you got a problem. Try walking along along the road on Capitol Hill and get a good whiff of a city bus as it passes by. This violates everything about clean air.

Also, if legislation passes a better recreational marijuana retail tax and marijuana use lounges, have a plan to implement these things right away. We have already waited two and a half years since we became the first state to legalize marijuana and we still are trying to get our industry up and running. Don’t make us wait any longer.

This is Why Pete Holmes is Wrong With the New Marijuana Proposal

January 7, 2015 By Manic Conrad

City attorney Pete Holmes issued a sweeping policy proposal on Monday that affects both the recreational and medical marijuana industry. Of course, this is just a proposal and not set in stone, but there are some things that doesn’t too much sense too us and may need revising.

1) Marijuana Use Lounges

So proper sounding compared to ‘coffee shops,’ the casual phrase Amsterdam uses, ‘marijuana use lounges’ will allow adults to enter the premises and consume cannabis. But here’s the catch: you may only consume pot-infused edibles or use a vaporizer. No smoking a joint, using a pipe, or using a bong because of the “Smoking in Public Places” law (RCW 70.160) which went into effect in 2005. Only eating and vaping.

So if vaping is okay, and isn’t affected by the ‘Smoking in Public Places’ law, do we even need a policy to allow us to open or use a marijuana use lounge? Maybe we could even just visit the nearest bar or coffeeshop and smoke our vapes there, as long as the owner is okay with it. A lot of people do like vaping more these days though, although they don’t give you the high cannabis would they come with some amazing flavours like the ones from www.gourmeteliquid.co.uk. They’re also a lot less damaging to your health compared to cigarettes, so I don’t really see why most places won’t let people vape but I suppose that’s up to them.

But let’s go back to the part of the policy that doesn’t allow smoking a joint, a pipe, or a bong. By disallowing smoking of marijuana because of the ‘Smoking in Public Places’ law, doesn’t that put marijuana in the same category as tobacco. And we all know tobacco, and tobacco smoke is much more harmful.

In addition, think about who will be visiting a ‘marijuana use lounge.’ Don’t you think it would be difficult to find an individual, who is a user of marijuana, that would get uptight and throw a hissy fit because someone is smoking a joint? It’s a ‘marijuana use lounge!’ People who visit ‘get’ marijuana. Let it be a ‘marijuana use lounge!’ Let them take the products they buy from Piff and enjoy themselves!

Instead of applying ‘marijuana use lounges’ to a vague law that was introduced 9 years ago, why not change the “Smoking in Public Places” law to “No smoking tobacco in Public places except for marijuana in designated areas only?”

1) Medical Marijuana

I think Mayor Ed Murray said it best:

“Shutting down all collective gardens is not the right solution because it leaves our patients out in the cold. Hundreds of patients fighting chronic, debilitating diseases or terminal illnesses need access to safe, medical-grade cannabis. We have the responsibility to ensure the safety of patients and the character of our neighborhoods. People need medical marijuana to help them with any ailments that they might have. Medical marijuana is legal in many places such as Ohio, so if you are interested in getting medical marijuana from Ohio, then you can learn more here.

While integrating the medical marijuana industry into the regulated I-502 is debatable, if it’s going to happen, their needs to be a clearer structure and better framework. Especially because we are not just dealing with people and their luxury of smoking cannabis in the recreational marijuana industry, we are dealing with people who are patients who suffer from ailments and diseases, therefore use devices such as the PAX 3 who are using the plant as medicine. This needs to be respected. If you are planning to regulate medical marijuana under I-502 regulations, you are wrong to go into this without a more detailed and efficient plan for everyone involved. It’s dangerous.

What are your thoughts about Pete Holmes’ policy proposal? What would you like to see revised in the proposal? What would you like to see added?

15,000+ Expected For Opening of Seattle Recreational Marijuana Shop

July 4, 2014 By Manic Conrad

UPDATE: The recreational marijuana industry is up and running in Washington State. Check out some of the marijuana stores in Seattle.

You may want to get there early. Really early. According to Patricia at city public offices in Seattle, the city is expecting a crowd of 15,000+ to be at the grand opening of Cannabis City, which is being coined as the first Seattle recreational marijuana shop to open. Expect local and national media to be part of the crowd.

With a limited supply of marijuana available due to a possible shortage, don’t expect the supply to last long. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if the cannabis retail shop closed its’ doors early.

At this time, the store is slated to open at noon, but some believe the opening time may even get pushed back. A press conference is expected at 11:30 featuring i-502 architect Alison Holmes, and city attorney Pete Holmes.