Stoned In Seattle? A Christmas Crash Course in Legalized Weed
Which, fine, I guess that makes some logical sense from a policy-development standpoint. And anyway, medical marijuana has been legal in the state for years, and is about as hard to find elsewhere as you’d probably expect (not very). But here’s where it should be noted that I am so, so square. Even when I actually lived in the city, I couldn’t have really told you where to get weed in Seattle, and was sort of banking on this new order to help me out. I mean, I’m sure I could get it, but even now it would be one of those embarrassing friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend headaches that makes you feel like a high school kid desperately trying to cop a handle of Georgi for a party. Lame enough to not really be worth it, especially not when it’s competing with comfortable access to the family liquor cabinet and all my friends still hanging out in bars, not smoky living rooms.
Really, none of them even seemed to care that much. Other than one guy who talked about a debt being unexpectedly repaid in a pound of weed (this would have happened without the help of 502, I’m guessing), the consensus was basically “Eh, nothing’s really changed yet.” If you can’t buy loosie joints at a deli and cool pre-packaged weed treats, what’s the point? But still, there has to be something interesting going on, right? Something to maybe justify this 10 day vacation from the place I’m ostensibly paid to write about?
And this is what brought me to the Center for Palliative Care, a medical dispensary with a solid reputation as one of the most genuinely forward-thinking and legit operations in the city. It’s also become something of a weed media go-to for interviews, policy questions, and even a possible reality show. As it turns out, this square’s lone connection in the wide world of legitimate weed was the best one possible. A local chef, business owner, and lifelong family friend of mine has used marijuana medicinally for years, and now advises the CPC on everything from packaging to processing to recipes for their “medibles” side of the business. Most recently, he helped to develop a new recipe for hot chocolate. Perfect.