West Seattle medical marijuana: Greenlight open in S. Delridge

For those tracking the medical-marijuana business in West Seattle – another dispensary opened this weekend, weeks before a statewide vote might change the way marijuana is bought and sold: We’ve lost count of the dispensaries in West Seattle but got a tip about Greenlight Care Center, in the former Dollarwise building at 9211 Delridge Way SW. We photographed its signage on Friday and noticed an added “open” sign late today. It’s one of four within a few blocks of each other on Delridge and on 16th, both sides of the city/county line. And it opens as city leaders start a push for new rules regulating medical-marijuana businesses, even as state Initiative 502 goes before voters in four weeks. (Our news partners at The Seattle Times took a look at the medical-marijuana business citywide in this story published today.)

Improvement! October 8, 2012 (7:14 am)

I love seeing dispensaries where there used to be a payday loan business. Vast improvement on the neighborhood!

Ron October 8, 2012 (7:55 am)

Intresting to see the TARGET demagraphic the shops are going after. Are the people in the areas being Targeted more likly to be ill than other parts of the city?

Rebecca October 8, 2012 (10:38 am)

This is why I only rent in the neighborhood. When these lovely folks have defeated any and all efforts to clean up the neighborhood, we will move out and leave the homeowner to deal with her zero-value property.

Improvement! October 8, 2012 (11:30 am)

I’d still rather see a thriving, respectable business there than a thieving, predatory business like check cashing. Happened at 35th and Roxbury too, there was a check cashing place and all sorts of unsavory characters outside all the time. Now that it’s NWPRC dispensary the problems are gone from that corner. Just sayin’- regardless of what your feelings are on medical marijuana – most of these dispensaries are operating within the law and don’t want to piss of the neighbors.

juniperberry October 8, 2012 (11:47 am)

Medical marijuana supporter here, but it seems to me that these “dispensaries” are not of the highest quality establishment, to say the least. It seems if you are assisting ill people, you would want to provide a place where they don’t feel like criminals walking in and obtaining their legal medicine. If I had to go to one of these dispensaries I’d feel kind of creeped out. I’d rather go someplace that looks professional and legitimate.

Nick October 8, 2012 (12:13 pm)

Rebecca I am a property owner in the area and people like you should move out we are a community who respects peoples right to safe access to medical cannabis if you don’t like it move to kent or auburn sounds like you would fit in better there. My property value has actually gone up because I invest in my property and care about my neighborhood. its people like you that are the problem.

WestSeattleDude October 8, 2012 (1:25 pm)

More idiot dispensaries and their idiot profiteering owners selling God knows what to teenagers who got their “authorization” cards from the “medical” marijuana doctors (quacks)… No one needs this type of business.

Most of these types of “fly-by-night” dispensaries sell pot that hasn’t been dried and cured properly and they carry “medibles” that were not made in any sort of inspected kitchen.

I’ve been selling one strain of pot grown here in West Seattle for 25 years. I have few customers, don’t want/need more, and have provided this service since 1976. Oh yeah…it’s just as illegal as these dispensaries and I probably pay a better percentage of taxes…

Let’s put a stop to it all by voting YES on I-502 so that anyone over 21 can simply go to the store…

@Nick – you should be more concerned about all the gang activity and violence – that’s the problem in your neighborhood…

Rebecca October 8, 2012 (2:05 pm)

Nick,

I don’t think we live near each other, because on my street, even we pesky renters take good care of things, look out for our neighbors, and value the appearance and fitness of our homes. But as a lifelong West Seattle resident, I am tired of some areas being treated as dumping grounds for businesses and other happenings that would never be tolerated in the “nice” areas. So many small business owners have poured their life savings, sweat, and tears into turning the White Center/Highland Park neighborhood around. For what? To own a family-oriented business that people don’t want to bring kids to because it’s next to a weed shop? Let’s be honest, in the current state of affairs, this is not about helping the sick. This is about $200 for a medical marijuana card for someone who wants to get high. There’s a reason these places aren’t located next to hospitals or in more expensive areas. These places are going to choke out businesses that are revitalizing the area.

Also, this board is getting ridiculous for big talkin’ anonymous people. You want to actually chat? Let’s have coffee. Tell me to my face I need out of “your” neighborhood (I’d bet I’ve lived here longer than you). 206-235-9182. I work for a child serving nonprofit (with clients living near the dope houses) so I’m not off work until after 7pm.

Chris October 8, 2012 (5:01 pm)

A thriving respectfull business ? What a joke ! There goes the neighborhood.

Rumbles October 8, 2012 (5:04 pm)

@Improvement:
“…regardless of what your feelings are on medical marijuana – most of these dispensaries are operating within the law and don’t want to piss of the neighbors.”

Just curious, Improvement, what law(s) are these dispensaries operating within? Not Federal Law, I’m pretty sure. Nor, State Law. So, we should be glad to welcome a business that doesn’t respect the law? If someone built a chemical factory next to your house, and it wasn’t appropriate for zoning, I guess it’s okay since we only need to follow some of the laws.

Exactly, where do you or anyone else draw the line on which laws to follow or not to follow? If these “businesses” were so upstanding, they wouldn’t just pop up when the “law” doesn’t allow it.

WMF October 8, 2012 (5:11 pm)

I never really see people complain about people going to their clinic, getting some Vicodin they don’t really need. Are they a higher class of drug user?

With the exception of one place in West Seattle that was not running in compliance, how exactly have access points hurt neighborhood image? They don’t operate like bars, and I haven’t heard many, if any, public nuisance complaints.

The quality is really left up to opinion. Kudos to you for providing for as long as you have. I will say, I have never heard of any WS strain until this thread…

Dope houses? Really? I hope any parent would not want to take their child near places that sell alcohol, tobacco and pornography as well as that terrible marijuana!

I have visited pretty much every access point in WS. I did not go to the one that was operating out of compliance. There is one that I felt uncomfortable at, and thought they were unprofessional. Every other one I have been to has been run in a respectable manner, with steps being taken to ensure the neighborhood is impacted as little as possible.

Also, for anyone keeping a tally; There’s 4 in West Seattle proper. If you include WC, it’s 7.

seattlegreenlight October 8, 2012 (5:58 pm)

I do feel like we are cleaning up the community. we at the Green light would like to extend an offer for a free tour call for times. We are not your average pot shop, we are here for the patients regardless of their reasons giving back to the community and our patients is just a start. ask the people who live next to the building and see what their opinions are. we are more than glad to show old pictures of the community before we moved in and compare them to what it is now. For the folks in white center that have no knowledge or a misunderstanding on medical marijuana please stop by the green light care center for some free information on how marijuana has helped our cancer patients live a more comfortable life.

candy October 20, 2012 (4:22 pm)

The state should charge at least, as much tax & fees for weed as it does for cigarettes.

Chris S. October 27, 2012 (3:17 pm)

SeattleGreenLight, you are a joke. Just watched some guy walk up to your place with 2 10-12 y.o. kids. He was early to mid 20’s, he went in bought weed came out and handed it to the 1 of the kids. I took pics and will be turning them in to the local DEA agent I spoke with last week. This is my neighborhood and YOU are not welcome here. We have enough drugs and violence without them.

Sorry, comment time is over.