Seattle is the largest city in Washington. With a population of 3,789,215, Seattle is actually a contender for one of the largest states in the Pacific Northwest.
Staying true to the Pacific Northwest, Washington was one of the earliest states to legalize marijuana.
Medicinally, it’s been sold since 1998 but was later legalized for recreational use as well. This made all cannabis extracts legal along with it, including both delta 8 and delta 9 THC.
In this article, we’ll explore what’s available in Seattle and offer some tips on where to find the best CBD, delta 8 THC, and marijuana products in the city.
It’s not too hard to find a place to buy CBD in Seattle.
However, the Washington government is still regulating CBD and cannabis about as strictly as it can within the confines of the now well-established legal ecosystem.
In accordance with FDA guidelines, Washington made it illegal to use hemp-derived CBD in any food or beverage products.
However, this doesn’t seem to apply to the CBD gummies or drinks in Seattle that you can find sitting on the shelves at local Seattle dispensaries.
Likewise, any full-spectrum CBD extracts containing more than 0.3% THC can only be sold in licensed medical dispensaries or online shops.
The 2018 Farm Bill is largely responsible for helping to bring CBD to a wider audience. This bill drew clear, legal distinctions between hemp and marijuana and allowed for the cultivation of hemp products on a federal level.
Hemp is now considered an agricultural commodity and can be grown to produce a number of products, including CBD, as long as the plants contain less than 0.3% THC.
Seattle is one of the earliest cities to have enjoyed legalized marijuana. As early as 1998, Washington legalized medical marijuana for its citizens, paving the way for other cities across the U.S.A. to do the same.
Nowadays, everyday customers are allowed to buy and carry up to an ounce of marijuana or up to 16-ounces of cannabis-infused CBD-based edibles. No prescription needed.
That said, the state still punishes those who break this law with a misdemeanor. Carrying between 29-40 grams of marijuana can result in a $1000 fine and up to 90 days in jail; possession of over 40 grams is a felony and can result in 5 years of prison time and a $10,000 fine.
In order to carry more than the legal limit, you’ll need a medical card.
Obtaining a medical card in Seattle is simple enough: just speak with your doctor about your interest in cannabis. They‘ll evaluate your physical or mental health, conclude whether or not you’re a good fit for the program, and decide whether or not to authorize you to purchase at medical marijuana retail stores.
The fee for this card is practically free. Adults who choose to enroll in the state registry must pay $1 for their card. You can expect to pay between $10-15 per gram for cannabis.
If you’re wondering whether or not delta-8 THC is legal in Washington, you’re in luck. The bill that describes the legal status of cannabis clearly states that ‘all parts of the plant’ are legal.
Mostly, delta 8 THC has become popular as an alternative to conventional THC products.
Whereas THC (which is really delta 9 THC) is exclusively outlawed in many places, delta 8 THC is not.
Citizens of Seattle need not worry about this, though, and can legally purchase both forms.
Even in a legal landscape, delta 8 THC has its place. This cannabinoid shares similar psychoactive effects as delta 9 THC but with much more of a relaxing nature.
People who find THC products make them dizzy, anxious, or stimulated will often reach for delta 8 THC instead. None of these side effects are common with delta 8.
The main side effect to watch out for is a bad case of the munchies.
Seattle is renowned for the high quality of its cannabis products, so choosing the best dispensary can be tough.
Ultimately it’s a matter of personal preference. Here are a few of the best dispensaries you can find in Seattle:
SoDo
This is a dispensary that prides itself more on being fancy than on selling cannabis. Located in SoDo, this storefront is embellished with Greek Columns and Spanish tiles that must have cost more than a small house. Despite all this bourgeoisie charm, their prices on ganja are pretty reasonable.
Ballard
This is one of the many Apple Store-style dispensaries popping up across America. They’re organized neat, prim, and proper for your convenience. Customer service is great, and so is the chronic, although prices are a bit higher.
Belltown/Greenwood
Washington is known for its versatility in the cannabis niche, and nowhere showcases this better than the Have a Heart Dispensary. Their claim to fame is having the largest menu and widest product selection of any dispensary in the city.
West Seattle
This dispensary dispels with the idea of cannabis being neatly fit into the three categories of indica, sativa, or hybrid. Instead, they critically analyze each strain and fit them into six categories such as “after hours” or “adventure” strains. This helps to eliminate the all-too-frequent experience of buying a sativa-dominant hybrid and finding that it puts you to sleep anyways.
Georgetown
This unassuming, half-dispensary, half-art gallery is a cultural niche in Georgetown. Here, local artists can share their work with the most receptive of all audiences: people who have freshly imbibed high-quality cannabis.
CBD is short for cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the most prominent cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
Cannabis produces a number of different cannabinoids aside from CBD, including delta 8 and delta 9 THC, CBN (cannabinol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBG (cannabigerol), and many others. CBD is the primary medicinal, non-psychoactive component of the plant.
One of the reasons that CBD has become so popular is because it’s a very versatile therapeutic substance with plenty of academic research behind it. It has so many separate uses; some people have a hard time believing it works at all.
We’re the first to agree, not all of the health claims for this supplement are accurate — but there is a surprising amount of research available to support many of the health claims for this substance.
The reason this compound is so versatile comes down to its mechanism of action.
CBD works on the endocannabinoid system (the ECS for short). This system is involved with regulating the vague process of homeostasis — aka balance — throughout the body. By supporting this key system, CBD is able to have an impact on many different disordered states.
You can visualize this like a monkey. Some monkeys prefer to gather their fruit directly by climbing a vine, putting pressure on it, and possibly tearing off leaves or branches in the process. Others, however, will indirectly influence the vine by throwing objects at it until their fruits fall down.
CBD works indirectly by exerting a powerful influence on the system to create results without binding to them directly. Thus it produces no intoxication and far fewer side effects than THC.
CBD is a remarkable compound. It can provide a wide number of benefits.
It can be useful for treating everything from psychological distress to physical discomfort. Here are a few of the primary benefits of CBD.
One of the most popular uses of CBD is for pain relief. CBD influences the release of compounds that the body uses to trigger sensations of pain.
CBD can be useful for treating pain of all types. It’s, of course, useful for treating physical pain, such as that caused by broken bones or vehicle accidents. More interestingly, it can be useful for treating neuropathic pain. Nerve pain is typically very difficult to treat.
CBD can decrease the transmission of nerve pain signals directly by adjusting our hormones. It’s a much safer alternative than addictive pain-killing medication.
One of the most popular uses for this supplement is for alleviating anxiety. Social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and even panic disorder or anxiety resulting from chronic psychological conditions can be treated by CBD.
CBD works by managing both the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety. It calms the body, reducing high blood pressure, heart rate, and agitation. It calms the mind, bringing about clarity and clearing out erratic thoughts.
As a relaxant, CBD can be very useful for helping to improve the quality of a person’s sleep. They’ll be able to have a much more effective rest once their endocannabinoid system is balanced because of CBD.
CBD can help to combat insomnia and stress-related sleep deprivation. It can also just promote a good night’s sleep or help you set a sleep schedule, with consistent use taken at the same time every day.
CBD can help to balance and improve mood. It doesn’t work like typical antidepressants, which override or numb these feelings. Instead, it allows them to take less of a hold on you.
While you’re able to enjoy existing without being suffocated by issues like depression or anxiety, you’re able to use your mind for other things — like the management of your mental health in the long term.
CBD is readily available in Seattle. In fact, this city is one of the best in the United States for anyone interested in finding variety, quality, and consistency for any category of cannabis products.
Cannabis has been legal in Washington for some time, as long as you remain within the legal limits of possession. Go a gram over, and you’re liable to pay thousands in fines or even go to jail (in theory, at least).
Residents of Seattle have the luxury of shopping at any of the local or online dispensaries they want — without the need for a medical license or any additional legwork.