A consumer’s guide to recreational pot shops in Bellingham, Washington

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SARAH CLIMACO

It has been almost two years since the first pot shop opened its doors in Bellingham, Washington. Since that day marijuana shops have been popping up as fast as breweries. Whatcom county has sold almost $20 million of legal marijuana to consumers since July 2014, and sales are still rising. A total of eight stores have opened in Bellingham, with various others throughout Whatcom County.

Each recreational marijuana shop has its own specialty that makes it different from the rest. They are real businesses to be taken seriously, and they offer various types of products and customer service which set them apart from one another.

New recreational buyers as well as experienced medical buyers are both feeling similar anxiety. Which store to go to in Bellingham, and why?

Here is a brief break down of a few, but not all, of the shops in Bellingham:

The Joint

Established in Bellingham February 2016

1840 James St.

As you walk into The Joint, the sweet smell of cannabis and mellow reggae music put you in the mood to shop for pot. Glass counters and display shelves surround you with pot products at every turn, edibles, pre-rolled, concentrates…Oh my!

Pre-rolled:

Their pre-rolled selection offers customers various options depending on how potent and pure of a product you are looking for. You can find items that burn like blunt for social gathers, or you can find something more low-key for person pleasure.

Edibles and Drinkables:

Their edible section is eye catching. They have various types of chocolates, truffles, hard candies, cookies and more. The best part is, the majority of them are made in Whatcom County. The Joint is the newest shop in Bellingham, but its edibles section is one of the most impressive.

Concentrates and Flowers:

Now to the good stuff, the concentrate and the flower options. Their selection varied from all types of keif, juju joints and concentrates and their flower products filled the shelves and display cases. There are so many growers and options it can be difficult to choose from.

Customer Service:

Their customer service was impeccable and the budtenders have a wealth of information, which they are willing to give to anyone who asks. The employees informed customers about products while letting them make their own decisions. The bright natural light and the relaxed atmosphere provide a fantastic pot buying experience.

2020 Solutions

Established in Bellingham July 2014
2018 Iron Street

One of the first recreational shops to open up in Washington, 2020 Solutions has the best selection of products in town. Their Iron Street location is intimate and allows you to work closely with a budtender to find that product that best suites your cannabis wants.

Pre-rolled:

When picking out a joint, customers can choose between different strains, growers, and sizes. They have an established variety of pre-rolled that range from a 0.5 gram to a 1.5 gram. If you get lucky, you can even find pack of joints from Sasquatch Cannabis Company.

Edibles and Drinkables:

Single dosed cookies, marshmallows, hard candies, gummy candies, cooking oil/drizzles, no-bake cookies, tinctures and all types of drinks — their inventory of edibles will make you have a difficult time with which to choose. Staff is on hand to help you narrow down your options based on your specific needs.

Concentrate and Flowers:

Reading through their oil and flower menu will take your breath away. They offer regular flower and oil items as well as a rotating selection of shatter, live resin, wax, keif, hash, juju, clear and more. Affordable prices encourage customers to smoke the old school way.

Customer Service:

You are welcomed the moment you walk into the door. The Iron Street location provides customers with budtenders that sincerely provide information to learn about their product before purchasing. They do their best to keep the lines down which may sometimes cut your experience short during a rush. They also know what the future holds, and offer you a bottle of water every time you leave their store.

Trove Cannabis Co.

Established in Bellingham in November 2015

218 N. Samish Way

The modern layout of Trove Cannabis Co. invites customers in and their selection keeps them coming back. The natural light filling the room makes it easy to forget that you just stepped off Samish. The center of the room is filled with glass items, grinders, and containers, and rope swings hanging from the ceiling.

Pre-rolled:

Trove has many different options present in their selection of pre-rolled products. They have joints of many different sizes which can be ordered singly or in a pack.

Edible/drinks:

Since they are a newer store they are still building their edible section. They offer top shelf quality for the products which they do carry. They have a varied selection of candies which stood out from the other locations.

Flower/Concentrate:

Their flower and concentrate sections are separated by indicia, sativa and hybrids, to make it easier for shoppers to look at all of the similar products. Several different local gardens are represented in Trove’s inventory.

Customer service:

The customer service at Trove was great. Theirs will provide information requested by customers thoroughly without hesitation. Their wonderful customer service welcomes customers to learn more about the products that they are purchasing. In addition, Trove also has a sale area that has various types of edibles, smokables and concentrates.