BRINNON — Continuing the “buy local” philosophy that guides Jefferson County agricultural products, a medical marijuana merchant is sponsoring a “farmers market” to showcase products and open a discussion about the use of medicinal weed.
“We want to get all the local vendors together so they can showcase their wares,” said Nicole Black, who has owned and operated the Brinnon Herbal Collective, 91 Corey St., for two months.
“We also want to start a conversation about medical marijuana so people can come down and get their questions answered.”
“Hempapalooza” is set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday inside the store and in its adjoining backyard.
The event is free and open to the public. Those younger than 18 will be allowed with a parent or guardian, although only those with a valid state medical authorization and government ID will be allowed to enter into transactions.
Ten Jefferson County vendors have confirmed their attendance, offering products including smokable marijuana, edibles and oils.
The edibles include candy and the expected brownies but also will feature prepared meals infused with cannabis for hospice patients.
“Those products are doubly good,” Black said.
“It is always nice to get meals to hospice patients, but these have the bonus of taking away their pain.”
Black has trademarked the name “Hempapalooza” and expects to use that name for future events, although none are currently planned.
“We are waiting to see how this one does,” she said.
Black said the event is employing a “patient-to-patient model,” as there are many unknown factors about medical marijuana use.
Exchanging personal experiences and information allows current and prospective patients to determine which products might work for a particular ailment as well as the proper dosages.
Black said this is most valuable in the use of “medibles,” infused food products that can result in an unpredictable high more than an hour after they are eaten.
One of the most common mistakes, she said, comes when someone eats more of the product because they don’t think it’s working and then are overwhelmed by the eventual effect.
“Whenever someone has a medible they need to start with a small amount and wait at least an hour,” she said.
“It can taste really good, but it’s best to have a little bit of relief that won’t incapacitate you, make you sick or put you to sleep for a long time.”
One of the featured vendors, Sabin King, who owns Ology Infusions of Port Townsend, has developed an infused trail mix and has already cut the per-bag THC content by half, from 100 milligrams to 50 milligrams, so that people won’t become incapacitated after eating the whole bag.
Since the trail mix is in smaller pieces, users are able to better control the dosage, and it allows people who are diabetic to benefit from a category that is made up mostly of chocolate and sweets, King said.
King, who sells her product to local medical marijuana outlets, is looking forward to the event because it will allow her to sell at a retail price and provides direct contact with potential customers.
“This is a good opportunity for the processors to meet the people,” she said.
“It’s a chance for education on all levels. We are an infant industry, and we are all in this together.”
Black, 42, a medical marijuana patient who suffers from residual pain from a 12-year-old gunshot wound, has needed to figure out treatment on her own.
She hopes the farmers market will give patients a shortcut to the best treatment.
But she also has an ulterior motive.
“There is an economic development component to this,” she said.
“We want people to come down to South County and spend their money.”
Black said she is still looking for “responsible” cannabis vendors to participate in Saturday’s event, as well as musicians who are willing to perform in exchange for exposure.
For more information, visit www.potstop.net or phone 360-301-0844.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
