Token Herb Opens for Pot Sales

–by Margie Doyle —

Token Herb opens at Country Corner

Theron Soderlund, owner of Country Corner, formally opened the doors today of Token Herb, the fully-licensed marijuana retail outlet on Orcas Island. Token Herb is on the south side of the Country Corner building, and was formerly occupied by a wine shop.

Over a year in the opening, Soderlund wanted to wait until he could provide a good offering of product. He also wanted to provide multiple strains of marijuana product. Licensing and tracking regulations were  extensive, including a complex surveillance system and a quarantine facility for out-dated product.

Employees James Wolf and Sean O’Brien will keep store hours, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, selling product from San Juan Sun Grown, a Friday Harbor grower, and W.O.W weed from Klickitat County and Baked Botanicals, edible product. Also on sale are traditional pot-smoking accoutrements such as pipes and papers, as well as vaporizing gear.

Prices for weed range from $12 for a single joint to packages of two grams: $33 for Sungrown and $42 for W.O.W. weed.

Of the 54 retail openings in Washington State, Soderlund was the only one to request the pamphlet, “A parent’s guide to preventing underage marijuana use,” provided by Seattle Chilren’s Hospital Research Foundation. He encourages parents to get the pamphlet, even if they’re not interested in the product because, “for kids, marijuana is very dangerous. This gives parents the tools to talk to their kids about it.

Council member Rick Hughes says he encouraged Soderlund to open the retail outlet for marijuana because “He’s a smart guy and a respectable businessman. He has a good location and can do it right without outside-county interests being involved.”

Soderlund say he’s keeping the shop “simple to start.” Local growers just got licensed for operation in Deer Harbor, and received their seedlings, which will take some time to grow, dry, test and package according to state standards. He doubts he’ll make any money the first year, as only 16 percent of sales will be left after taxes, and those funds will go to overhead, rent, insurance, utilities and employees.

“I have no idea what to expect,” Soderlund said.