Local

Unlicensed medical pot stores close; now part of recreational shops

SEATTLE — The sign is there.

The New Millennium medical marijuana shop has closed, which is not good news to several patients who walked up to the shop.

David, of Seattle, said it came as a surprise to him.

"Well, yeah, it was convenient," he said. "I live right up there in the senior housing. And so it's very convenient for Mary and myself to come down here and get what we need."
 
Suzy Dyson drove over from Bellevue, not knowing the shop was closed.
 
"Not a clue," she said. "I knew it was coming, that they were talking about you know stopping selling medical marijuana. But I never really thought they would do it." 
 
While they haven't stopped selling- what is true is that as of July 1, all pot shops must be fully licensed by the state Liquor and Cannabis Control Board to stay open. This means any shop that sells marijuana may now sell both recreational and medicinal pot.
 
"This makes sure all medical marijuana comes from reputable places," said David Mendoza. He has been overseeing Seattle's transition to the combined pot stores. 
 
"There is a more formal training procedure that didn't exist in either system before and so that is a good thing," said Mendoza. "There is some concern about the products that some folks need not being in these stores, and we'll see how that works out over the next months."
 
For medical marijuana patients like Suzy Dyson, that only provides some comfort.

"I'm okay for a few days," she said. "I'm going to need to find someplace, though."
 
As of now, there are 48 marijuana shops in Seattle, 41 of them can sell medical and recreational pot. It is important for buyers to know that is the way marijuana will be sold in Seattle from now on.