Now that marijuana can be legally used to ease patients’ pain, dispensaries are opening in Spokane to provide it.
And regardless of whether such stores are what Washington voters and legislators envisioned when they allowed medical marijuana, it may only be a matter of time before the businesses are commonplace: Medical marijuana has been approved in more than a dozen states.
She buys her supply from a shop called Change. It opened two months ago and is run by Christopher Stevens, Noah Zarate and Scott Shupe.
[A question to the Washington Department of Health]: “How do I get medical marijuana? Can I buy it?”
The DOH answer: “The law allows a qualifying patient or designated provider to grow medical marijuana. It is not legal to buy or sell it.”
The owners of Change interpret the state law differently. They contend they have the right to buy marijuana and resell it to people who have written authorization from their doctors. Stevens said he obtains a wholesale supply of marijuana from local farmers with surplus crops and sells it – sales tax included – at retail prices.
A sale to Judy on Tuesday resembled a typical retail transaction. Stevens described the product, answered questions and made a recommendation based on Judy’s questions.
When she settled on what she wanted, Judy pulled $80 from her billfold and handed it to Stevens. He unscrewed a jar lid, fetched 5 grams of a variety called “Snow Cap,” weighed it, put it in a baggie and affixed a label urging users to keep the drug out of the reach of children. and cautions that it may cause drowsiness.
Stevens said the next move for medical marijuana will be a push to force insurers – including the government’s Medicare and Medicaid programs – to pay much like they do for prescription drug coverage.
In case you’re wondering, $80 for 5 grams of marijuana works out to $16/gram, or about $450/ounce. In this political climate surrounding health care reform, we can’t even get our politicians to support a public health care option like the entire civilized world enjoys, even when 70% of us are for it, because those politicians are strong-armed by health care lobbyists defending outrageous insurance company profits and denial of coverage. I’m interested in how we’re going to get them to force insurance companies to cover paying $450/ounce for a weed that could be produced for $2/ounce if it were legal.
By the way, according to the latest High Times Trans-High Market Quotations, the average price for OG Kush on the street in Washington State is $400/ounce. These dispensaries can’t beat black market prices! How does it feel to be giving a worse deal to a sick person than a street corner pot dealer? Until marijuana is legal for all of us, dispensaries have to pay black market prices for the bulk marijuana they purchase, lest the grower just sell it on the black market, and they have to sell it at black market retail markup, lest the patients purchase it at low dispensary prices and make a profit selling it back to the black market.
For comparison’s sake, saffron, the world’s most expensive legal plant material, a spice that is primarily grown in Spain and Iran, requires far more tending and processing than any marijuana plant:
A labor intensive endeavor, when the saffron blooms (usually for 3 weeks) all the family’s attention goes to harvesting and processing, working up to 19 hours a day. Open flowers are picked and then carefully dissected to extract the stigmas. They are dried over heat and then sealed in packages for sale to international brokers. How much saffron can be obtained from the flowers? The numbers are staggering. With 3 stigmas per flower it takes 75,000 flowers (225,000 stigmas) to make one pound of saffron. It is easy to see why it is so expensive.
Saffron is currently available in the US at $119/ounce, even after 19 hours a day of hand picking three stamens apiece from 4,687 flowers and then shipping it overseas.
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Would like info on opening a despensery in the greater seattle area. Legal and setup advice. Please email me with any info.
-Thanks
Hello…Matty Dread…. I would like to hear from you on the subject of dispensaries… How to start… Etc… Thank you…. George
We have anything you need! come see us
Hello I am interested in starting a dispensary can you help with the steps and documents and where to look? thanks
I’m sicker then most suffer constant nausea and pain but they have yet to figure out why, I’ve been off work for a year and have exausted every cent I have trying to get better. I’ve even tried opening my own business because I’m sick so much. Can you help me really?
sick in Seattle
Hi, I am new to Washington State, and in fact new to medical marijuana. I come from the deep south where pedophiles get less time in jail than pot smokers. Sad I know, right??
Anyway, I am interested in becoming a grower and opening a dispensary featuring a delivery service. Can anyone point me in the right direction on where to research this process within state law? I’m aware of the federal regulations. However, I personally became recently handicapped, and returning back to my old career is now impossible.
So in order to prevent myself from having to go on disability and social security I want to open up a business. I’m quite an educated grower and business man, but I really don’t know where to start. I live about 15 miles north of Seattle. Any point in the right direction will be deeply appreciated.
Thanks,
MP
want great med, email me. don’t care what u guys are talking about, all I do just help patients to get better from sickness………………… Seattle are….. have a nice day….
I can help you out.
I am always available for helping others in this wonderful world. I am all organic and have great strains ranging from AM medicine, to heavy PM meds. I am in South Seattle. Anything I can do to help let me know.
I can help you out.
I am ooking for a disensery in washington state or a grower can you help
High East you are a moron. Ive been in the marijuana black market business for over 10 years and yes it has actually changed drastically. Every year the price in weed drops significantly and its only going down. There are different types of weed, some are harder to grow than others hence why some cost more than others. Eventually the price of weed will not be worth much and it will put a lot of people like me out of jobs that we have dedicated our lives to, in helping create a beautiful substance that you enjoy. If its so easy why dont you try it??
I admire your consistency. Most people go on tirades against cannabis but don’t even consider the comparison to alcohol. However, I have to point out one thing: what makes you think that we want “help”? Most cannabis users are normal, everyday people that you might not even think they smoke if you pass them on the street. Sure, some people take it too far, but the vast majority use it casually when they just want to relax. I know people who use cannabis often, but only when they have time available. It doesn’t negatively impact their lives in any way. Again, I admire the consistency in your principles, but it is somewhat arrogant to assume that you know what is best for these people, when you say you want to help with something many feel is not a problem.
Hopefully that doesn’t come across as polemic, I’m just trying to give you a different perspective on the issue.
Peace.
very well spoken
Radical Russ I’m cluelss here how are our laws so different then Oregons dont you have the same? Reading this it almost seemed like you were saying it was legel to go to Oregon and pick up your meds and then drive back to Washington …. (if) only it were legal to do it here. This is where I am confused arent our laws the same? I think we might even be more leignant on amounts you can have? Not sure on that one
PS I live in Seattle I ‘m willing to travel to get something that will make me feel better & cope with the severe lonliness.
Hello,
I suffer from severe depression I have a documented disability I’m on Social Security for it.
I also have suicidal thoughts.
I want to find out which doctors can perscribe medical marijuana. I have no family support I do see a therapist a clinical psychologist been seeing her for 5 or 6 months now.
Can someone help me out?
I would be greatful.
Marc Emery rocks!
With all due respect, Russ Belville, Madeline Martinez, and Oregon NORML won’t break Oregon medical marijuana law by giving medicine to Washington patients. Don’t blame us. Oregon NORML and Madeline Martinez have probably distributed for free more medicine to Oregon patients than you’ve smoked in your lifetime.
If you want to solve the problem of access to affordable medicine for patients in Washington State, why are you dissing Oregon activists? Blame your lack of Washington activists. Go change your law.
I have not found “ANY” Medical patients who would pass on to other patients low cost medicine.
Once there was person where it went for $200/oz..then $250..currently $10/gm all you want. Med patients all of them.
With all due respect to Russ…Madelynn Martinez and all of Oregon NORML . Don’t make me laugh. Oregon med patients will not even help WA state med patients in any shape matter or form.
So much for Medical patient solidarity.
there are several places in western washington. There is green cross in seatlle, there is one in tacoma and one called Budda place…another in seattle. i hope this helps you
I am attempting to lower prices in dispensaries by provide a FREE service to them.
I have been developing software upgrades for some great open source POS software, and I give the software away for free at http://emeraldpos.com
Why does this software help?
First it is a full dispensary management software including inventory, patients, referrers, and of course the point of sale which calculates discounts and sales tax automatically.
But for Washington dispensaries it gives Time/Date stamps so that dispensaries can prove on a receipt and in a database that they server “one patient at any given time” as per state law.
Check out EmeraldPos.com
My father is a doctor who actually is a provider at marijuana clinics. I totally understand the issue. He also has a chronic pain practice and is under constant attack by the state, other agencies, as well as people. However, I think there is a big difference between medical marijuana use and extra-curricular use. I do not think that simply comparing it to alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs is enough to say, “Let’s legalize it for conventional use.” Just because those other examples are the mothers of all evils, which is what I believe, does not mean it is a good argument. In fact, I believe you are diffusing the issue when you use headlines like, “CelebStoner.” Really what you are doing is sensationalizing a very serious issue that involves people who need help. You marginalize an entire population of people that want to help them because they do not want to be associated with standing up for supporting the pot-smoking habits of Snoop Dog and others. I think you should consider the consequences of your campaign before you sign up more celebs. Choose a stance; are you for helping people because they are sick, are you for shaking up the establishment or are you just for getting high? Thanks and stop getting people like me and my dad in the middle of it.
I live in tacoma any place close to buy some?Doc can’t tell me where to get any.I don”t want to go to spokane.
KNOW NOTHING: your name says it all!
Your prices only make sense under a prohibition that forces growers indoors under expensive lights and expensive soil and forces growers, sellers, and buyers to avoid criminal prosecution. Under full legalization of marijuana, where growers could grow huge outdoor fields and use modern mechanical harvesting and processing technologies, an ounce of kind bud should cost $2 to produce. Even adding in profit and excise taxes, there is no good reason why an ounce shouldn’t cost $75-$100.
This “$80 / quarter” is bullshit. Even in the Netherlands, where marijuana is semi-legal, the going rate is $6 / gram, or $42 / ounce — half your prices.
By the way, I neither live in a VW bus nor smell like patchouli, but I have gotten marijuana for practically nothing for four year now. It’s the law in Oregon – we can reimburse our growers for expenses only, not including labor. Every two weeks I attend a meeting where 200+ like-minded individuals are giving marijuana away for expenses only. Our best growers can bring in an ounce — indoors and high quality — for $50/ounce expenses.
Remember that every cent of prohibition profit you reap equals another marijuana consumer harassed, arrested, or living in fear. Greed of black marketeers who see in cannabis not a wonder that should be freely shared but instead a commodity to be profited from is part of the reason marijuana still remains illegal.
High East is a moron. Who grows ounces of weed and sells them for 100 dollars a ounce. Are you used to paying prices for Lids or something, this isnt the sixties. You cannot grow kind marijuana outdoors in washington state good majiuana does not finish in time before the rains. All the good pot is grown indoors.When it comes to price, calculate house payments fertilizer, power bills, the growers time, Growers wages etc.. I find it funny that people like him probably cannot even grow good marijuana and he comes across as a charity case. Bottom line everything in this world is done for profit. The prices in this article are above average but not by much. If others felt safe opening a clinic, that price would go to where it should be. A quarter should be 80 dollars plus tax. Which is 7 grams not 5. It should be no less. That will take away the ability to turn around and sell it on the streets since they are paying market prices for it at that point. On the other hand anyone who thinks they should get it for free or practically nothing probably lives in a VW bus on there parents back lot and smells like patchouli oil .
Only after prohibition ends will the prices be dictated by the market. ‘Til then prices will be dictated by the black market.
Speaking of prices, Has anybody thought about the effect that more reasonable prices will have on the long anticipated tax boon that is supposed to result from legalization? Just a stray thought.
Oh and one observation about “change”. C’mon guys, a little decor, some posters maybe, a beaded curtain, something, anything. I’m sure you could get some stuff donated, a few helpful patients with minimal skills would do wonders.
since it is clear federal legalization is still a ways away, perhaps state civil rights for medical marijuana patients in areas such as jobs & housing would be attainable. ideally this would end narcotic task force raids on patients & providers producing medicine at home. it appears that the washington legislature may address the supply issue. educate your elected officials. if you don’t someone else will.
-rant-
Is it fair to say that Christopher Stevens, Noah Zarate and Scott Shupe, are price hiking scumbags? Are the farmers they are getting their product from price hiking scumbags?
I am a capitalist and certainly don’t begrudge anyone their right to run a for-profit business, however, I think a lot of lines of decency are being crossed. Do they expect us to believe that operating costs justify more than about $80 an ounce (retail)?
People in these states should join together, get some petitions going, and demand some price drops.
It’s curiouser and curiouser still that in other places, like California where there is alleged competition in the market, that there is apparently no price wars going on. Are a handful of growers getting together like big oil and gouging everyone?
The answer to this problem is, of course, more people taking advantage of the grow your own options in these bills. Perhaps someone should distribute some literature to the patients explaining to them how simple it would be for them to grow their own.
What happens to us on the street level because of all this? I haven’t seen any of the black market price drops people like to talk about when discussing legal marijuana. The black market certainly isn’t competing with the shops for customers. Feels more like they are all one in the same to me. If anything the price has gone up significantly.
The prices in the shops look like the prices in the streets and they are all so high that I have been finding myself going without more and more often. It sucks to arrive at your “guys” house to be handed a bag and then be told “400”. For me this results in the automatic “fuck you” laughter and an exit. I’ll smoke your joint but I’m not buying at that price. “Give me a call when you get something closer to 100 bucks.”
When and how did we start charging by the gram for something that should be packaged by the ounce? Buying by the gram it is like buying one potatoe chip at a time at 10 times the cost of the whole bag.
Someone needs to flood the markets with inexpencive weed. …..Please
-end rant-
Russ. There are many of us who support a sensible marijuana policy but don’t support government-controlled healthcare. You should keep these issues separate in order to help maintain and grow the largest coalition possible.
But since you brought up the issue, I have a question. Who do you trust more to bring down the price of pot: the US government or Marc Emery?