- Elevation, the first retail cannabis shop to open on tribal land, is located on the Squaxin Island Indian Reservation and is operated through a formal compact regulated by the Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board.
- The Muckleshoot Tribe opened its marijuana retail outlet, Joint Rivers, in July, in Auburn, Washington, becoming the first in the state to offer a drive-through window.
- And the Suquamish Tribe debuted its dispensary, Agate Dreams, in January, in Kitsap County.
Tulalip holds claim to one first — it created the first regulatory arm, the Tulalip Tribal Cannabis Agency, proactively collaborating with the Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board on policies and enforcement.“We want the state to know that we take regulatory enforcement seriously, and we think this is a model that other tribes will follow,” Asst. General Manager Jonathan Teeters of Traditional Biologics Company (Remedy) told The Arlington Times.
The tech-driven retail site has been compared to the Apple of the cannabis industry with mobile purchase and in-store pick-up available. Meanwhile, “Cannabis Concierges” greet visitors carrying electronic pads for quick access to all cannabis brands available for purchase, and to offer solutions to any ailment that needs addressing from reducing pain to aiding sleep to remedying gastrointestinal issues.“We are lifting the industry by expecting and supporting excellence from all of our suppliers. While much of the industry works from a bottom up model, we have intentionally flipped that to focus on high-quality and hand-curated products that reflect the Tulalip brand,” Teeters said.The store practices diversity procurement and Native preference, favoring Native and Native-affiliated suppliers. Remedy carved out a portion of its budget specifically to support cannabis companies in Indian Country.The enterprise also prioritizes diversity and Native hiring. Roughly a third of the store’s 73 employees are Tulalip Tribal member or affiliated with a tribe. The shop’s design also reflects its tribal ownership and reverence for nature with images of the Salish Sea and the Cascade Mountains.“Indian Country is poised to become leaders in the emerging cannabis market,” Les Parks, Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors, said in a press release. “Three decades of experience in entertainment and hospitality, and an I-5 location, give Tulalip an advantage. We have built a cannabis retail model that brings the same level of engagement, knowledge, and professionalism that we offer at all our properties.”
