A newly reopened cannabis dispensary in Woodland says it has already served hundreds of customers in the first few days after being closed for more than two years over a contentious debate in the city on whether to allow cannabis retail sales.
But for 20After4 dispensary general manager Joy Smith, she says she's just glad to be back at the job she loves.
Early Thursday evening, Smith jumped into action helping a customer pick an edible THC gummy that had the right combination of flavor, format and potency.
"I hear we have one of the largest selections of candy," Smith said, pointing to packages of cannabis infused Bon Bombs chocolates, Dragon Balls and Hot Sugar candies.
The edibles do more than appeal to people with a sweet tooth, according to Smith. For some, the edibles are how people unable to smoke can use it to treat conditions such as chronic pain or anxiety.
The store reopened last week after being closed since the end of August 2023.
Before it closed, the dispensary was the subject of a contentious zoning dispute in which it opted to violate a citywide ban on marijuana businesses by paying the city $295 per day for violating the ordinance and for operating without a business license. Shop owner John Stoehr opted to close the business as terms of a settlement agreement, according to earlier news reports.
The store originally opened in 2018 on Hazel Street in Kelso, but had to move due to the city's planned multimillion dollar overpass in that location, according to previous reports by The Daily News.
The state Liquor and Cannabis Board allowed 20After4 to relocate only to Castle Rock, Kalama or Woodland because it only grants a limited number of cannabis licenses in cities.
Although the state OK'd the business's move to Woodland, the city did not allow the sale of cannabis within city limits until the City Council's 4-2 Feb. 2 vote.
Despite the hesitancy of elected leaders, Stoehr said residents support the local sale of cannabis.
The dispensary reopened at 8 a.m. Feb. 16 and immediately welcomed four customers at the door, he said. And by Thursday morning, Stoehr estimated that his business at 1511 N. Goerig St. had served more than 500 people.
"Day one alone was 300 customers," Stoehr said in an interview at the store.
Feb. 16 was the soonest opening date Stoehr could get his business license submitted to the city after the Woodland City Council approved the new ordinance, allowing permits for recreational marijuana retailers in the city's highway commercial zone.
Stoehr declined to talk about the past, but said he's grateful for the residents who stuck by him. He said some customers bought from him opening week despite already getting "stocked up" at dispensaries out of town.
"The community has supported us the whole time," Stoehr said.
Stoehr said this time around he's hoping to cater more to medical marijuana patients. Two members of his staff are going through the certification process with the state Department of Health now. He said the process involves roughly 20 hours of videos and tests, and he expects his staff members will be certified within the next month or two.
"I like helping the people that need this for their medical condition," Stoehr said.
Smith said she's working to familiarize herself with new licensed cannabis products that have arrived on the market since 20After4 closed 29 months ago.
Candies containing the psychoactive compound THC-V, for instance, which she described as having an uplifting and energizing quality, were not on Washington's licensed cannabis market when she was last behind the counter in August 2023.
"It legit gives you energy," Smith said pointing to a package of Wyld cannabis gummies from inside a case.
While the business was closed, Stoehr remodeled the space by giving it new flooring, fresh paint and more glass cases.
Smith, meanwhile, described the closed months as "pretty rough" for her. She never quite found anything else to take the place of managing the store with Stoehr, her best friend.
"This is the best job I've ever had," Smith said.
Reconnecting with old customers this week gave Smith a feeling of reunion, and it gave her a renewed sense of purpose applying what she knows to help people with their different wants and needs.
Some want products to help them sleep, others are looking for specific strains to help them with anxiety and others are trying to track down tinctures and rubs to help them with pain.
At the store, she pointed to containers of THC-infused Dragon Balm in a glass case and said one customer with arthritis bought six containers of the stuff from her this week.
"I'm a helper, I want to help people," Smith said.
20After4
Address: 1511 N. Goerig St., Woodland
Hours: Open 8 a.m. to midnight, daily
Info: 360-592-9420, 20after4wa.com
