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Uncle Ike's
Recreational and Medical Cannabis Dispensary Seattle WAHow to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Washington State: A Complete 2025 Guide 11 Apr 2025, 7:46 pm
Obtaining a medical marijuana card in Washington State can provide significant benefits for patients with qualifying conditions. This comprehensive guide outlines the steps to acquire your medical cannabis authorization and answers common questions to help you navigate the process smoothly.
Step 1: Consult with a Healthcare Practitioner
Begin by scheduling an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider who can evaluate your medical condition. If you have a qualifying condition, the practitioner will provide medical cannabis authorization.
Step 2: Obtain Your Medical Cannabis Authorization
During your consultation, if deemed appropriate, your healthcare provider will issue a medical cannabis authorization form. This document is essential for the next steps in the process. Washington State Department of Health
Step 3: Schedule an Appointment with a Certified Consultant
After receiving your authorization, you’ll need to visit a medically endorsed cannabis retailer to obtain your medical marijuana card. Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, with multiple locations in Seattle, is one such retailer. Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop has partnered with Green Health Docs to offer online appointments for medical card evaluations. You can schedule a 10-minute online appointment to get started.
Step 4: Visit Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop
Once you have your authorization, schedule a time to visit any of Uncle Ike’s locations to meet with a certified medical consultant. Your authorization will be entered into the state registry during this visit, and you’ll receive your medical marijuana card. Uncle Ike’s offers convenient appointment scheduling for this purpose.
Benefits of Having a Medical Marijuana Card
Holding a medical marijuana card in Washington State offers several advantages:
- Tax Exemptions: As of June 6, 2024, Department of Health-compliant products are exempt from your states excise tax and applicable local sales tax, leading to significant savings. Ikes
- Access to Medical-Grade Products: Cardholders can purchase products specifically labeled and identified as compliant under WAC 246-70-040.
- Higher Purchase Limits: Medical marijuana patients may have access to higher purchase limits compared to recreational users.
Discover the Award-Winning Blue Lobster Cannabis Strain at Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop 10 Apr 2025, 8:27 pm
Are you ready to experience a genuinely one-of-a-kind cannabis strain? Meet Blue Lobster, an Indica-dominant hybrid that’s taking the cannabis world by storm. With its unique genetics, irresistible aroma, and potent effects, Blue Lobster is a must-try for enthusiasts seeking a premium experience. Available now at Ikes.com, this strain promises to elevate your cannabis journey.
The Origins of Blue Lobster
Aroma, Flavor, and Appearance
Prepare your senses for a treat. Blue Lobster’s aroma is a bold mix of blueberry candy and grape undertones, like a fruit stand explosion in every whiff. Its buds are a visual masterpiece—deep green with dark periwinkle hues, coated in frosty trichomes that hint at its potency. When smoked, it delivers a smooth, gassy flavor with a sweet finish that lingers, making every hit a delight.
Effects and Experience
Cultivation and Quality
Who Should Try Blue Lobster?
This strain is a match for:
- Daily smokers craving a potent, lasting high.
- Nostalgic users longing for the one-bowl wonders of the past.
- Connoisseurs who savor rich terpenes and top-shelf quality.
Blue Lobster rekindles that spark of why you love cannabis.
Pricing at Ikes.com
Why Blue Lobster Stands Out
5 Exciting New Seattle Cannabis Products You Need To Try this April – Only at Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop 4 Apr 2025, 10:20 pm
Alright, Seattle, it’s officially spring, which means it’s time to refresh your rotation. Whether you’re pre-gaming for 4/20, chasing new flavors, or wanna flex the freshest products in your circle, we’ve got you. From diamond-dusted pre-rolls to limited-edition vapes, here are five exciting new cannabis products you need to try this April—only at Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, your favorite Seattle dispensary.
1. Packarillo – Hand-Rolled Blunt Vibes, No Effort
$65 / 3-pack (Only At Olive Way) Calling all blunt lovers—this one’s for you. The Packarillo is basically the Rolls Royce of pre-rolls. You get three ultra-premium, hand-rolled cigarillos, delivering the closest thing to a traditional blunt you’ll find at a licensed weed store. Smooth burn, big flavor, and a head-turning smoke sesh every time.
Why it hits: No rolling skills needed. Just spark up and vibe.
2. Gold Fingers – Terp-Infused + Diamond Dusted =
Meet your new favorite party joint. Gold Fingers start with 1g of top-shelf flower, coat it in terpene-infused distillate, then dust it with refined dry sift. That’s layers of flavor and high-potency goodness in every hit. Yeah, it’s extra—but in the best way.
3. Royal Tree’s New Strains – Fruity, Chill, and Fire
$34.50 / Eighth
Royal Tree is dropping three new strains this month, and they all slap:
Gelonade (Hybrid) – Citrusy and social.
Fruity Gum (Hybrid) – Sticky-sweet and balanced.
Sin Mint Sundae (Indica) – Dessert vibes with chill, couch-friendly feels.
Why it hits: You’re getting top-tier flower from one of the most consistent growers at one of the best dispensaries near you.
4. Fire Bros x Carlos Aguilar – Limited Edition Disposable Vapes
Art meets cannabis with this collab from Fire Bros and Carlos Aguilar, a badass Chicano artist and muralist from the PNW. These limited-edition disposables look dope, hit clean, and rep local talent in every puff.
5. Raven Grass – PG Sledge Strain for a Floaty Functional High
$45 / Eighth
Looking for a creative head high that won’t knock you out? PG Sledge is a wild blend (seriously—Thai, Jamaican, Pre98 Bubba, Master Kush, and Lemon Nepalese) that gives you a clean, piney flavor and a floaty but focused high. Why it hits: It’s the sweet spot between mellow and motivated. Ideal for those “I wanna chill but still get stuff done” days.
4/20 Ready? Swing by the Best Weed Store in Seattle
Whether you’re browsing for 4/20, planning a sesh, or just on the hunt for something new, Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop is the place. From Lake City to White Center, we’re your go-to when you’re Googling “dispensaries near me” or “Seattle weed store.” Come through, grab the latest drops, and stock up before these are gone.
Order online or roll through IRL at ikes.com
FREE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS 13 Oct 2021, 7:00 am
October 13, 2021
Courtesy of Uncle Ike’s Car Wash starting today, free fentanyl test strips will be available at Uncle Ike’s Bottle Shop – 1400 23rd Ave – and in the vestibule between the entrance to the pot shop and Angel’s Shoe Repair (unlicensed premises) – 501 15th Ave E. Fentanyl test strips will be made available by discreet dispensers beginning today in an attempt to minimize harm and to make preventative measure more accessible to the public. You will have to be 21 or older to receive these test strips.
As fentanyl-related overdoses reach new records in King County, urgency to find ways to reduce this often-lethal mistake is now a matter of the utmost importance. Last year, King County Public Health reported 172 overdoses in 2020, almost tripling the total reported in 2018 of 65 deaths in King County. This year, the number of fentanyl overdoses has already surpassed last year’s total and has increased to 256 related deaths – that is a 46.5% increase before the year has even come to an end.
Uncle Ike’s owner, Ian Eisenberg says, “Far too many of us have known someone who has passed due to a drug-related accident. Anything we can do to promote harm reduction and save lives is worthwhile. Test strips are a simple yet effective way for people to test the drugs they should choose to take and prevent the worst from happening.”
What is Fentanyl and why is it on the rise?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Due to its cheap cost to manufacture and strong effects, a number of fentanyl-laced drugs, including counterfeit pharmaceutical pills, are seeing a spike in the illegal drug market and are killing many unsuspecting users. With counterfeit pills being made to look any other prescription drug such as Oxytocin, Percocet, Xanax and more there is no visible way to detect the temperance and is the greatest risk facing people who use drugs today.
How do the test strips work?
To learn more about how these tests work visit Dancesafe’s website.
What drugs can these tests detect?
Fentanyl • Butyryl-fentanyl • Tetrahydrofuran fentanyl• Acrylfentanyl • Cyclopropylfentanyl• Acetylfentanyl • 3-Methylfentanyl • Carfentanil • Sufentanil • β-OH-thiofentanyl • Furanylfentanyl • p-Flourofentanyl • Flouroisobutyryfentanyl
Source – https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-box-of-500/
This strip of paper can help prevent a drug overdose
Taken from CNN Health
Click here for full article.
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS – HOLLINGSWORTH FAMILY & UNCLE IKE’S 24 Feb 2021, 12:20 pm
February 24, 2021
Written by: Al Olson
Uncle Ike’s is proud to serve Seattle’s Central District – the city’s most diverse neighborhood and the hub, for generations, for the Black community. The CD has been the home of Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and three generations of the Hollingsworth family.
Dorothy Hollingsworth’s incredible legacy transcends the CD – in fact, her impact can be felt far and wide. She moved to the neighborhood in 1946 and has been a force ever since. Dorothy, who celebrated her 100th birthday last October, is a legendary civic leader, educator, politician, and civil rights champion. The younger generations of Hollingsworths are following in her footsteps.
For Joy Hollingsworth, co-founder of The Hollingsworth Cannabis Co. (THC Co.), the family business is an extension of her grandmother’s work.
“When we say we are a family business, we really mean it,” said Hollingsworth. “Not only do we have family members working on the farm, but our family was the impetus for the business.
“My mom has scoliosis and cannabis helps ease her pain. My uncle is paralyzed from the neck down and was able to replace three Big Pharma prescriptions with cannabis. My grandma will be 101 in October, God willing. And she has been using CBD for 11 years now. There is no question in my mind that CBD has improved her health and kept her strong. The family joke is that she is going to outlive us all,” she added.
Joy and her brother, Raft Hollingsworth III, co-owner and CEO of THC Co., selected Uncle Ike’s to be the company’s exclusive retailer of its products in Seattle. And the reasons were “both personal and professional,” Joy said.
“I’ve known Ian (Eisenberg, owner of Uncle Ike’s) for quite a while. We identify with each other on a personal level,” she said. “We both went to the same private high school, although not at the same time. Seattle Prep is a Catholic school in the Central District that is predominantly white. I’m black. Ian is Jewish. So we relate to the experience of being a bit different while growing up. It provides a different perspective. Ian and I see things similarly.”
Uncle Ike’s is also an essential part of THC Co.’s business strategy, according to Joy.
“Aside from personal reasons, our company chose Uncle Ike’s as our exclusive retailer because of its incredible efficiency. We get real-time data from the Uncle Ike’s team that really helps us drive our business,” she said. “With the advanced metrics I get in real time, I can inform Raft about what strains are flying off the shelves and which may be losing favor in the marketplace. In a real sense, Uncle Ike’s helps me run our business.”
For connoisseurs of high-quality cannabis, the Hollingsworth brand may have been difficult to find the past two years. After establishing the 30,000-square-feet farm in the small Mason County town of Shelton in 2013, the company decided two years ago to focus on its wholesale operation and halted its retail business.
But beginning in February – Black History Month – THC Co. joined forces with Uncle Ike’s and announced the relaunch of its retail operation. And Joy couldn’t be happier about the exclusive partnership with Seattle’s most popular cannabis retail outlet.
“I was born and raised in the Central District. Our family has a three-generation history in the CD,” Joy said. “So it is just fitting for us to support Uncle Ike’s, the premier store in our home neighborhood. For me, it is the perfect place for our product. We are supporting the CD, which has given our family so much for so many decades.”
As THC Co. has matured and expanded, Joy, who wears multiple hats in the family business, has become more involved in cannabis advocacy – once again, paying homage to her grandmother.
And she thinks Black History Month is an appropriate opportunity to discuss the inequality of the cannabis industry. Despite the cannabis’ explosive growth in recent years – 33 states plus D.C. have some form of legalization, 55 million consume the product legally in the U.S., and the industry is estimated to be worth more than $40 BILLION – Black Americans are not fully represented.
According to a recent NBC report, “less than a fifth of the people involved at an ownership or stake-holder level were people of color, a 2017 survey found; black people made up only 4.3 percent.”
Those numbers, Joy says, must increase. And she is determined to lead the way.
“Our family business is the only black-owned cannabis grow operation in the Seattle area. We certainly don’t want to be an anomaly, but it is what it is,” she said. “We’re proud to represent – and we’re equally proud of the product we grow.
“As for black-owned businesses in the cannabis industry, I would say that there is a lot of conversation. And that’s great. Awareness is essential for change,” Joy continued, her voice rising with passion. “But has the needle moved as far as new minority enterprises? I would have to say no. A lot of conversation does not necessarily lead to a lot of action. It’s talking the talk, but not walking the walk.”
Walking the walk is nothing new to the Hollingsworths, and Grandma Dorothy continues to be the tight-knit family’s beacon of light.
“My grandmother is special, and we realize how important she has been to Seattle and especially or CD community,” Joy said. “Her entire life has been about service to others. Whenever I go somewhere, and people discover that I am Dorothy’s granddaughter, the stories come out. Everybody has a story about my grandmother.
“Black History Month in Seattle is important for all of us Hollingsworths. And we have Grandma to thank for that. Because of her, we understand the value of giving back to your community and serving your community. And, once again, this is why our relationship with Uncle Ike’s is so important to our family. We feel that we are giving back to the CD by providing them a great product at a great store. We KNOW where our hearts are. Right here in the CD. With Uncle Ike’s.”
For a list of THC Co. products available at Uncle Ike’s, go to the menu and search for “Hollingsworth.”
2020 – A YEAR OF GIVING 31 Jan 2021, 8:00 am
January 31, 2021
Uncle Ike’s believes in the principles of corporate social citizenship; that it is our responsibility to know and serve our communities. Since the day we opened our doors it’s been our priority to find meaningful ways to give back. In addition to regular Community Cleanups throughout our neighborhoods, Ike’s proudly supports Seattle charities and nonprofit organizations by making direct contributions, organizing fundraisers, and volunteering time and energy.
“Unprecedented” is just one word that begins to describe this past year. As individuals and entire communities continue to face unfathomable challenges, it’s more important than ever for those who are able to come together and lend a helping hand.
Uncle Ike’s believes in equity and a fair criminal justice system. In June, Ike’s hosted a charitable fundraising campaign for the Northwest Community Bail Fund. NCBF is a nonprofit organization advocating for bail reform and working to minimize the harm of the cash bail system by paying bail for people who would otherwise spend the pre-trial time in jail.
Uncle Ike’s believes in lowering the barriers to access food. In October, Uncle Ike’s Glass & Goods implemented a weekly grocery drive in partnership with the Emergency Feeding Program. EFP is a nonprofit organization committed to providing a nutritional response to people in need of immediate food assistance by collaborating with partner agencies to ensure that no one will go hungry tonight.
Ike’s continues to give away boxes of free groceries at their Central District and White Center locations starting at 12pm EVERY Monday! Boxes contain meats, bread, cheese & dairy, fresh produce, canned & dried goods, packaged snacks, and MORE! Available to anyone in need during these difficult times – no questions asked. Please come grab a box. First come, first served, while supplies last.
In November Ike’s gave away over 500 boxes of groceries and employees volunteered their time at EFP’s warehouse where they prepared boxes of food to be given out all across Seattle.
Looking towards the new year, Uncle Ike’s would like to acknowledge and highlight the support of loyal customers as well as trusted vendors in their pursuit of impactful positive change. That’s why starting November 1st, Uncle Ike’s is donating 5% of ALL PROFITS to the Washington Build Back Black Alliance and the Last Prisoner Project, throughout the year 2021.
“The Washington Build Back Black Alliance was formed in the fall of 2020 when a group of Black and other BIPOC Non-profit executives and business leaders decided to consolidate their influence to speak on behalf of the black community across Washington State. In an unprecedented move, they vowed to connect the black community (young and established) by advocating in a cooperative fashion for shared generational prosperity.” WBBBA
“The Last Prisoner Project was formed by a coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives, and artists dedicated to bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry. LPP was founded out of the belief that if anyone is able to profit and build wealth in the legal cannabis industry, those individuals must also work to release and rebuild the lives of those who have suffered from cannabis criminalization.” LPP
Uncle Ike’s is partnering with these organizations because we believe their missions align with our desire to support significant changes towards equity in our communities. They exhibit strong governance and strategic plans which we understand are vital for effective charities to make every dollar count.
Washington Wildfire Relief Fundraiser
Washington State experienced a horrific wildfire siege this year which had a devastating effect on our friends and community. On November 6th, Uncle Ike’s, in partnership with Walden Cannabis, donated all profits from purchases of Walden Cannabis products to the Community Foundation of NCW to help with ongoing recovery and relief efforts.
This holiday season Uncle Ike’s has partnered with the Last Prisoner Project to support their Letter Writing Drive. With COVID restricting access to visitations and frequent lockdowns restricting internet access, this past year has been exceptionally more difficult and isolating for the incarcerated. Sending a holiday letter to those imprisoned under cannabis criminalization can really go a long way in lifting spirits. Receiving a handwritten letter is a personal reminder that they have not been forgotten. Ike’s has letter writing stations in all of our shops’ breakrooms for employee participation, and they encourage YOU to write a letter of your own.
All Uncle Ike’s locations have donation boxes where customers can drop their change or cash contributions. Your giving is matched 100% by Ike’s, up to $10,000 per month, and goes directly to the charitable organizations with whom we proudly partner.
NORTHWEST COMMUNITY BAIL FUND “HIGHER POWER” FUNDRAISER 20 Jun 2020, 1:59 am
June 19, 2020
Uncle Ike’s believes in equity and a fair criminal justice system. In June, Ike’s hosted a charitable fundraising campaign for the Northwest Community Bail Fund. NCBF is a nonprofit organization advocating for bail reform and working to minimize the harm of the cash bail system by paying bail for people who would otherwise spend pre-trial time in jail.
A BRAND NEW DAY AT LEAFWERX 18 Dec 2019, 8:00 am
December 18, 2019
Diamonds are created when extreme amounts of heat and pressure are applied to carbon. Some might say Leafwerx benefited from a similar process.
Legal Hell
It’s hard to get a cannabis production business off the ground in Washington. The licensing alone is a headache, not to mention getting the facility ready and legal. Leafwerx’s battle to get going went far beyond the normal struggle, however.
San Juan Sun Grown is the parent company of Leafwerx. The company’s first grow was on San Juan Island, as the name implied. David Rice moved back home to San Juan Island after finding success as a medical cannabis grower in California. Unfortunately, the homecoming was far more bitter than sweet. Rice started a one-acre outdoor grow on his sister’s 76-acre horse ranch.
In 2014, shortly after it got rolling, the company’s outdoor cannabis production facility on San Juan Island was famously shut down due to a lawsuit brought by some nightmare neighbors. But the lawsuit wasn’t resolved until 2016. David Rice’s sister, Jenny Rice, lost her beloved and hard-earned horse farm in the process.
The legal showdown involved in the lawsuit would have been enough to dissuade most people from cannabis, but Rice, and Leafwerx, prevailed.
Starting Over
The company relocated to Wenatchee in 2015, and by the fall of 2016 began selling flower. San Juan Sun Grown became Edgemont Group, and Alex Kwon joined the leadership team. Despite the sweeping changes, the company doesn’t forget its roots.
“David Rice has been instrumental to Leafwerx’s growth,” Marcus Naramore, Leafwerx’s director of business development told The Sesh. “San Juan Sun Grown is definitely in our DNA.”
Leafwerx made another big switch–formerly a flower-focused company, in the last few years, it is slowly pivoting to selling mostly concentrates.
“When we started, we were flower guys first and foremost,” Naramore explained. “We had an extraction arm that we were building out.”
The Leafwerx team originally grew flower in a variety of environments. Whether outdoor, light dep, hoop houses or mixed-light greenhouses Leafwerx grew flower and grew it exceptionally well. Flower was the focus, but that’s starting to change.
“In the three years that have passed our extraction business has grown and grown and grown,” Naramore stated. “Now we’re at a point where we have committed entirely to extraction.”
Soil-to-Oil
While Leafwerx used to sell flower and prerolls directly, now the producer processor mainly sells cartridges, PAX Pods, and hash oil.
“With our product line being simplified, we’ve simplified our production quite a bit,” Naramore said. “ “We now grow entirely outdoors.”
Leafwerx extracts all of its concentrates with CO2. The next extraction related purchase for the processor is a live resin extractor, which will be an exciting and welcome addition.
“We cultivate and extract in-house,” Naramore explained. “It goes back to our DNA as just cultivators. That’s how we started, we’ve always been a flower-heavy company. Now we get to start with the end in mind.”
One big perk to growing its input for extraction is that the producers and processors at Leafwerx have total control over the product. Leafwerx grows its flower under full-spectrum sunlight for increased terpene and cannabinoid profile and without pesticides. This creates a product that the team at Leafwerx can be confident is safe and reliable for the customer.
Another benefit to Leafwerx’s ‘soil-to-oil’ business model is genetics. Having focused on flower initially, cultivators can identify and select genetics based on a huge number of factors, most importantly, the flowers’ effect.
The company’s site has a strain library that separates all of its available strains into four cleverly labeled and named categories. Go time for sativa, chillin’ for indica, vibin’ for hybrid, and soothin’ for high-CBD strains. Each strain has an individual description including parentage, effect, traits, and sometimes history.
Change is the only Constant
A company’s ability to roll with the punches and adapt can be the difference between success and failure. And Leafwerx has undoubtedly mastered the art of adaptation. The legal issues that plagued Leafwerx are far behind them. And with their extraction arm finding big success, Leafwerx is set up to make 2020 its best year yet.
Photo courtesy of Leafwerx
THE BIG LIFT – PRIDE WEEK 24 Jun 2019, 7:00 am
June 24, 2019
Every year for 3 years, Uncle Ike’s organized its vendors during Pride for “The Big Lift” fundraising drive to support Entre Hermanos.
Entre Hermanos was founded in 1991 and the organization works to support the Latinx LGBTQ+ community with its primary focus on combatting the HIV/AIDS crisis. They offered and continue to offer free onsite HIV testing, as well as prevention services (free condoms, assistance with PrEP, etc.) and bilingual case management for HIV+ members of the community.
In 2019, Uncle Ike’s and participating vendors donated over $40,000 to Entre Hermanos
In 2018, Uncle Ike’s and participating vendors donated over $37,000 to Entre Hermanos.
In 2017, Uncle Ike’s and participating vendors donated $12,000 to Entre Hermanos.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LAB TESTING CANNABIS FOR POTENCY 7 Nov 2017, 12:20 pm
November 7, 2017
Laboratory tests are great for determining the percentages of THC and other cannabinoids in your weed. They’re also wonderfully useful in discovering contaminants like mold and pesticides.
But the singular fixation upon test numbers exhibited by some consumers — and by some growers and processors — hasn’t necessarily resulted in folks getting better weed. THC numbers, along with the rest of the test results, are a good servant but a bad master, one might say.
The numbers obsession, in which the goal is to get higher THC percentages that the competition, is completely understandable in a very competitive retail environment. If you’re a grower or processor, of COURSE you want your stuff test more potent and to get that attention-grabbing THC number. And that economic incentive, unfortunately, has led to the corruption of what should have been sacrosanct, the accuracy of those numbers themselves.
Fudging The Numbers?
A complaint submitted to regulators at the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) earlier this year by a group of cannabis industry members accused Bellingham-based Peak Analytics, the state’s largest cannabis testing laboratory, of consistent, large-scale inaccuracies. According to the complaint, Peak “sweetened” its THC content tests, reporting artificially high THC levels. The lab also allegedly rejected an abnormally low number of cannabis samples for microbial contamination.
Analysis of data from the Washington Cannabis Laboratory Association — a group of state-licensed testing labs formed in 2016 — showed significant discrepancies between results of potency tests conducted by Peak Analytics and those performed by the state’s next five largest labs. Peak’s flower samples, on average, measured about five percentage points higher in THC than did those of its competitors.
“These data indicate that Peak Analytics is producing data for flower well outside what should be considered industrywide normative outcomes,” the complaint read. “Traceability data demonstrate that this over-reporting is consistent through time and across grow spaces.”
That means consumers who bought marijuana produced by clients of Peak Analytics may have gotten less potent weed than they paid for. Peak’s practices allegedly became so well known that some retailers used the last specifically to get inflated potency percentages, meaning the products were more valuable, price-wise. “Retailers have noticed that when their marijuana vendors switch testing services to Peak Analytics their potency values go up by 1.5 x,” the complaint claimed.
Potentially Dangerous
Peak denied any wrongdoing, and said it supports standardization of cannabis testing in Washington. If that isn’t true, Washington marijuana consumers were swindled on a massive scale. Beyond that, unethical lab behavior certainly cheats consumers, but it also cheats the industry as a whole, by creating incentives for other laboratories to fudge their numbers.
Not reporting microbial contaminants, of course, can potentially kill consumers — especially medical marijuana patients with compromised immune systems and liver functions. The rate of microbial failures at Peak was 1.69 percent of samples tested during three months in 2017, analyzed by auditors. The average for other certified labs was 11 percent for the same time frame.
Auditors didn’t find Peak delivering higher results for potency, but they did question some of the lab’s practices in regard to potency. In one instance, Peak had tested a sample of Blue Dream flower at 37.2 percent THC — a phenomenally high result for flower. Peak, interestingly, could not provide auditors with any information behind that figure. Private data scientist Jim MacRae of Woodinville said he independently found a trend of inflating THC percentages by analyzing months of Peak data.
The WSLCB confirmed that Peak Analytics’ lab certificate was suspended by the Board on July 26. According to a WSLCB spokesperson, Peak was audited by an industrial forensics lab and consulting firm. The audit, according to the WSLCB, found “some deficiencies in need of improvement.” Peak’s certificate was suspended pending its fixing those deficiencies.
Chief Concern for Many Customers
Ian Eisenberg, owner of Uncle Ike’s said THC potency remains the chief concern for many customers. According to Eisenberg, Uncle Ike’s buyers sometimes pass on lower-potency strains that they know will require a more complicated explanation to sell.
“The business answer is that customers buy pot based on THC,” Eisenberg told Leafly. “And it is true that THC gets you high, but there is also the entourage effect and terpenes. But there’s no way to put a number on those.”
Shan Porter of Uncle Ike’s said that while lab testing for potency can be useful, it also is limited. “Lab tests are only testing part of the crops, or of the plant,” Shan told us. “Instead of saying let’s tests every level of the plant, they’re only testing the top part, the apex of a plant.”
According to Porter, another problem is that vendors re-run the same test results from the last batch. “I see it all the time,” he said. “They’re still using the same test results for two or three months in a row. That’s ridiculous.”
Rather than just focusing on the numbers, Shan advises cannabis consumers to inform themselves in a broader fashion. “Consumers can read up on lineages,” he said. “Read up on your favorite strains. Read up on different styles of cultivation, different ways of how they’re growing.
“Go back to the old methods of when we got it on the street, when there were no testing results, when there were no labels,” Porter said. “Try it out. It it works, cool. If not, go to something else.”
“Sometimes, what looks good doesn’t always smoke good,” Porter told us. “It’s kind of like what Obi Wan Kenobi said, don’t trust your eyes. They’re going to lie to you; don’t believe them. Go back to the good old days of ‘Let me smoke this. Let me see what works for me’.”
“Find a great bud tender,” Shan advised. “Find someone you can ask more questions. Do more research.”
UNCLE IKE’S GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY 16 Aug 2017, 11:20 am
August 16, 2017
Uncle Ike’s is helping many in our local community to thrive by addressing issues paramount to the social, educational, and health concerns of the LGBTQ community. Our employees felt that it was important to look no further than down the street to our neighbor, Entre Hermanos in supporting their mission. We are so proud to be able to support Entre Hermanos to “promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.”
With an $8,000 donation from Ike’s, and an additional $2,000 from our vendors Leafwerx, Phat Panda, Gabriel, Artizen and Velvet Swing, Ike’s is able to support programs that affect hundreds of lives.
“We have loved our collaboration with Uncle Ike’s. They have been a true community leader and a supporter of the rights of everyone to live and thrive in Seattle,” says Miguel Angel Duncan, Fundraising Manager at Entre Hermanos. “This donation goes a long way to support new programs like our immigration program. We decided on the expansion because members of our community have been attacked by the current administration. We have been able to provide legal consultation once a month for those affected by the new immigration policies, and now we are looking to expand the program year round.”
5 PLACES TO LIVE IF YOU LOVE MARIJUANA 25 May 2017, 11:20 am
May 25, 2017
The world is a big place. However, it can get a lot smaller if you love cannabis and want to live somewhere that allows you to enjoy the plant. While some U.S. states have legalized marijuana, there are entire countries where it is legal, or at the very least decriminalized to the point of being de-facto legal. So, if you want to know the best places to live to show your love for cannabis, look at our list below.
The Netherlands
Amsterdam has de-facto legalized cannabis. In fact, there are any number of cafes where you can go in, sit down, and order up some cannabis. However, there are restrictions. You can buy only 5 grams at a time and can’t light up inside. Like in America, Amsterdam has banned almost all indoor smoking. However, the cafes or cannabis bars do allow you to bring your own vape pen to use. Some even provide ones for the customers! The Netherlands is completely vape friendly and vaping devices are widely marketed.
Uruguay
Uruguay became the first nation in the world to legalize cannabis back in 2013. There are grower’s clubs whose members cultivate up to 99 plants for their 45 members – each receiving up to 40 grams a month. Just visiting? Know a citizen? Uruguay now sells government-grown strains of cannabis for $1 per gram, making it the cheapest in the world. The key is, though, you have to know a citizen. Unlike the Netherlands, take care with vaping. Uruguay has banned e-cigarettes, though some people have reported that they vaped unmolested by authorities.
Spain
In Spain, you can always go take in the sites of Spannabis every March. What is Spannabis? It’s the largest cannabis-community gathering in Europe. However, don’t go looking to buy or sell cannabis. You’ll need to be a part of a collective, where you’ll get a share of cannabis that has been cultivated for all. You can legally grow and possess cannabis privately – a good thing if you can’t get yourself an invite to a collective. Vaping is also legal in Spain – however – it may be prohibited indoors where smoking is prohibited.
United States
The United States is fast becoming a destination for the lovers of cannabis – but only in a few states. If you live in California, Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Massachusetts, Nevada, or Maine, then recreational cannabis is legal. There are some awesome places to live in each of these states and laws vary about how much can be possessed and how many plants can be cultivated. However, many of these states have cannabis shops and dispensaries which are very vape friendly. Knowledgeable salespeople can help you get the strain that you need to enjoy your cannabis experience.
Portugal
Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001. Instead of treating drug users as criminals, they are treated as addicts and given help. As long as you keep less than 25 grams on your person, you won’t be arrested. However, keep in mind that growing it and selling it is still illegal.This makes it actually harder to come by in Portugal than other drugs. Like many other nations, including the United States, vaping indoors is prohibited and public vaping outside spaces where smoking is also banned is not recommended.
This is a list of just 5 of the cannabis friendly places around the world. Thinking that you’d like something different? Check out Canada, specifically Vancouver, British Columbia. For a tropical getaway, consider the Virgin Islands, which while a U.S. territory, have their own central government which decriminalized marijuana in 2014. Or go “down under” and visit Nimbin, Australia, home of MardiGrass, one of the biggest cannabis festivals in the country. In Nimbin, they openly tolerate the use and sale of cannabis.
So, for your next vacation – or if you’ve hit the lottery and decided that you’re going global – give these places some consideration. You won’t be disappointed if you’re primarily looking for a place with people who share your love of cannabis.