By Jeff Eckenrode, COO

This April 20th, 2024, marks the 9th anniversary of Hashtag Cannabis’ grand opening in Seattle!

So, we thought we’d take you on a journey back in time to when Hashtag was little more than a young couple’s dream, an ambitious business proposition, and a vision for how cannabis retail should be. 

If you’re wondering what Hashtag was like all those years ago, then you’ve come to the right place!

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away…

In 2015, Hashtag set its roots as a recreational cannabis dispensary on Stone Way North in the Fremont and Wallingford neighborhoods.

Occupying a former map store, Hashtag opened its doors to the public for the first time on April 20th, 2015.

Fremont and Wallingford, known throughout the Puget Sound region for their quirky art, winding bike paths, and countless cafes, were about to embark on a new chapter in the decades-long journey that cannabis legalization has spanned.

Now located on Nickerson Street in North Queen Anne, our friendly and experienced Seattle store staff are energized and eager to serve new customers along with our favorite regulars, no matter where they are located in the greater Seattle community.

This beautiful and brand-new storefront is warm, welcoming, and full of positivity, just like our store team.

Every day, they bring Hashtag’s company mission to life: to help, inform, and inspire the people we serve.

But even in the year 2024, dispensaries like Hashtag are a rare breed of business.

Knowingly or not, each of the communities we serve has taken part in a humble but significant revolution that has changed the way that people see dispensaries in their very own backyards.

Recreational Cannabis Gets the Green Light in Washington State

Since the passing of Initiative 502 in 2012 (known commonly as I-502), the state-level legislative initiative that legalized recreational marijuana sales, there has been a growing recognition of the potential benefits of cannabis and the important role that dispensaries play in helping customers to treat various ailments.

Today, many other states have taken steps to legalize recreational cannabis dispensaries, providing adult customers with a legal avenue to access this alternative form of medicine and recreation.

The Origins Of Cannabis Dispensaries in the US

For most of human history, cannabis has been completely legal.

In fact, it has a long history of use as a fiber, a food, and a medicine, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago.

But since its prohibition in the US in 1937, cannabis production and use have been relegated to the illicit market.

And although cannabis was illegal for much of the 20th century, growers throughout the United States and Europe continued to cultivate the plant in secrecy, selectively breeding it over multiple generations to produce ever more potent and THC-rich varieties.

Over the past 30 years, several important shifts in cannabis law and the public’s opinion towards cannabis have taken shape in the United States.

The Return Of The Cannabis Dispensary

In 1996, voters in California cast their votes with regard to Proposition 215, known as the Compassionate Care Act, which created cooperatives between growers and patients and allowed anyone with a doctor’s recommendation and a state-issued ID to legally purchase cannabis.

Soon after Proposition 215’s approval, the first medical cannabis dispensary, the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, opened its doors, providing customers with a safe and regulated place to obtain their marijuana products.

Since then, voters and patients in 39 U.S. states have enacted medical marijuana legalization, 18 of which have legalized cannabis for recreational use as well.

Hashtag’s Role in Normalizing Marijuana Use

Before Hashtag opened its doors in 2015, Hashtag’s co-owners, Logan Bowers and Jerina Pillert, had a bold idea: what if buying cannabis wasn’t a hassle?

Logan and Jerina had been to other cannabis dispensaries before. But after each visit, they usually left feeling poorly. 

Too often, they felt overwhelmed by the amount and variety of products and information competing for their attention, and they felt uncomfortable asking questions.

So when they decided to start their own shop, they wanted to make it a shop that they and anybody who's never shopped for marijuana before would feel comfortable stepping into.

Support for Hashtag Grew Like A Weed

Over the years, Hashtag has provided thousands of customers with a wide range of cannabis products, including dried flower, pre rolls, cartridges, concentrates, tinctures, edibles, and topicals.

Hashtag’s dispensary staff have also played a crucial role in teaching customers about the various products and delivery methods available, ensuring that every customer they serve leaves informed, confident, and inspired.

Still More Room To Grow

The history of Hashtag, a family-owned dispensary, is a transformative journey from the beginning.

Hashtag’s role as a recreational dispensary has played a crucial role in providing customers with access to recreational marijuana and alternative forms of medicine.

Now operating with three dispensary locations in Seattle, Redmond, and Everett, Hashtag Cannabis serves more communities and people than ever before.

And as public opinion continues to evolve, you can expect to see further advancements in the legalization and regulation of cannabis dispensaries like Hashtag, improving the lives of countless individuals in need of marijuana’s therapeutic properties.