About Green Buddha & Our Mission

The Green Buddha Story

Green Buddha Patient Co-op is the oldest continuous medical cannabis collective in Washington State. We began as a simple collective of patient friends in a North Seattle garage in 2007. Seattle's medical cannabis world was different back then and proper storefronts were not yet allowed. In 2008, we participated in the ACLU led discussions with the King County Prosecutor's Office, Seattle Police and other parties on medical cannabis collectives. Also in 2008, we came to occupy commercial space in Fremont as a patient centered medical marijuana co-op fully staffed by friendly volunteers. Green Buddha has remained an authentic collective and has never had any paid employees.Green Buddha

 

In 2009, Green Buddha moved into commercial storefront in the Ravenna neighborhood where we stayed until April 2015. At that time, we closed the storefront in expectation of being licensed under I502 as a medical cannabis store and center. We hope to reopen as a fully licensed and regulated not-for-profit medical cannabis store in 2016, serving both the registered and unregistered patient community.

 

Our mission is to promote and support medical cannabis, by providing Washington State medical cannabis patients and the interested public, with clear and accurate medical cannabis and cannabis science information and resources.

When operating as a storefront we provided the very best medicine, grown locally and in an organic fashion. Furthermore, we advocate never condoing nor using pesticides in production of medicinal cannabis. We were the only collective to be certified free of all microbial contamination and pesticide residue by NW Botanical Analysis lab. Our goal was to ensure that patients got the cost-effective, high potency, safe medicine in a friendly and comfortable environment, interacting with other legitimate patients.

 

Green Buddha budOn March 31, 2015 the Green Buddha Patient Co-op closed its medical cannabis dispensary storefront. Currently, Green Buddha no longer dispenses medical cannabis products. We hope to reopen as a regulated store in the 2016 with our focus remaining on servicing the legitimate medical cannabis community, including those patients both registered and those who chose to remain unregistered.

 

Green Buddha continues to support medical cannabis patients with clear and accurate medical cannabis information and cannabis science resources. Furthermore, we hope to encourage patients to think critically about the rapid changes taking place within Washington State medical cannabis market. Consider carefully whether commmercialization of medical cannabis products is the best way to address your condition.

 

Green Buddha has extensive experience in the efficiacy of medical cannabis and we use this experience and knowledge to filter what we deem the most relevant information. But do not let this inhibit you from being proactive and to examine all with a critical eye.

W e at Green Buddha Patient Co-op believe that patients need to fully actualize their medical cannabis patient rights. While we believe the regulating of medical cannabis is both needed and desired, we also know the transition will be difficult for authentic patients. To this end our website serves to assist Washington State medical patients in making the best and most informed decisions so they weather this potentially difficult transition. We look forward to seeing our clients again when we reopen in 2016. In the meantime, we are available by email for consultation and inquiries on a limited basis. It has been an honor to serve the medical cannabis community so far.


 

Green Buddha in the News

As the oldest collective in Washington State, Green Buddha has been in the news a number of times.

The State says this pot isn't technically "marijuana" Ben LIvingston, The Stranger April, 24 2013

Rivers Bill (SB5887) would tax medical marijuana The Columbian April 8, 2013

photo by Daniel BermanNot that High by Emma Marris, Slate March 20, 2013

Medical marijuana providers want access to forbidden cities KUOW NPR December 17, 2012

Pot dealers ponder life in legitimate business News Tribune, November 25, 2012

Seattle Times Op-Ed calls Green Buddha the "best of the best" October 18, 2012

Is the Prohibition of 'Pot' coming to an end in the US? by Peter Foster, London Telegraph, June 11, 2012.
Additional photos from the London Telegraph article, by Daniel Berman, June 11, 2012.

Pot Activist vs. Pot Activist by Dominic Holden, The Stranger, March 6, 2012.

Quick answers on your DWI, Does Seattle Turn a Blind Eye to Marijuana Possession? June 4, 2010.

Medical Marijuana Supporters Prepare to battle Washington State, Current, August 25, 2008.

Medical Marijuana: How much is enough? by Carol Ostrom in the Seattle Times May 21, 2008.