365 Recreational Cannabis Opens

DAYTON-- "It was pretty busy," said Jordan Raftus about the Feb. 10 opening of 365 Recreational Cannabis, which is located at 36711 Hwy 12 in Dayton.

Raftus who is the store manager said sales were brisk, especially for "buds", which are the flowering parts of the cannabis plant.

Inside the store, buds with exotic names like Blackberry Kush, White Widow, and Seattle Sour Bread are displayed alongside marijuana infused edibles, drinks, and topical lotions, as well as vapes and other paraphernalia.

Be advised, this is not your grandmother's "pot."

"No, it definitely has changed since the 1960s and 1970s. It is more controlled and more potent, with higher THC content," said Raftus. "We like to have a variety of products to suit everyone's need, whether recreational or medical users."

Raftus explained that the difference between recreational marijuana and medicinal marijuana depends on the ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), to cannabidiol (CBD).

THC is the compound in marijuana that is responsible for the feeling of "being stoned".

CBD won't get a person "high," and is touted for its medicinal and therapeutic effects, he said. There are topical lotions in the store designed for people with chronic pain, and other ailments.

Sean Tam, the owner of 365 Recreational Cannabis, has another retail marijuana store in Shoreline, Wash. Raftus was a "budtender," or customer service representative, at that store. He said they originally catered to a medical "audience," but switched to recreational sales in June 2015.

Every product sold in the store is grown in Washington State by licensed growers, and products are lab tested before it can be sold. Some are pesticide-free.

Prices for the products are "all over the board, depending on the quality." For instance, joints can cost anywhere from $6 up to $15.

Raftus said security at the store is tight. "We have cameras placed so there are no blind spots, outside or in, 24/7. We have a security door, and panic buttons are conveniently located around the building."

All people coming into the store will need to have their ID checked, he added. Minors are not allowed on the premises, and the state will conduct "stings," to see if they are gaining access to the store, he said. "We will have vertical scanners to make sure they are of age," he promised.

Raftus spoke about a strong desire to be a part of the community. He said he would like people to meet with him during store hours, which are from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. "Some people are hesitant," he said.

"We have a strict show. We're not breaking any laws," Raftus said. He said about 50% of the money from each sale is going back into state and local coffers.

"We pay a 37% excise tax to the state every month. There is also an 8.1% retail sales tax in Columbia County," he said.

Revenue from the excise taxes is shared with cities, towns and counties throughout the state on a per capita basis, according to a Municipal Research Services Center report.

The report says the state was on target to collect just over $300 million in marijuana excise taxes in 2017. Cities and counties in Washington were to receive a shared distribution amount of around $6 million last year. There will be a shared distribution of $6 million for each fiscal year in the 2018-19 bienium, as well.

The MRSC report also says if general fund revenues exceed state forecasts, local governments may receive an additional $18 million in the 2017-19 bienium. In fiscal year 2020 the shared distributions will again be $6 million, the report reads.

The MRSC Shared Revenue Estimator shows Columbia County receiving $1,632 in shared marijuana tax revenue in 2018. Since the city of Dayton has banned marijuana businesses, the city will receive no shared marijuana tax revenue.