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MaryWhiteEdit.jpg
In her West Seattle home, Mary White is adding cannabis cooking as a class offering through her business, The Pantry Raid. Many who would never smoke marijuana are showing an interest in learning how to cook with pot. (Linda Thomas photo)

Legal marijuana in Washington sprouts 'potrepreneurs'

December 5, 2012 @ 5:13 pm (Updated: 10:23 am - 12/6/12 )

Standing in her kitchen in West Seattle, Mary White giggles as she reads recipes from a Cannabis Cookbook.

"Stoned starters. I can't believe it's pot butter," she laughs.

White is a pioneer, similar to those who first crossed the threshold when the prohibition of alcohol ended in Washington in 1932.

Today, possessing a small amount of marijuana is legal in Washington. It's still illegal to grow, sell or even give it away.

"You don't want to do it if you're under 21, because that's not smart," says White who admits she's had about 35 years of experience with weed.

"A little bit is good. It's like a little bit of chocolate, or a little bit of foie gras, or a little bit of whatever. I think a little bit is okay. And so now, we're going to make butter."

White teaches cooking classes and hosts a podcast. Her business, The Pantry Raid, is evolving as our state law changes.

People who've never smoked pot, are suddenly curious about cannabis and its potential benefits. Others are becoming what I call 'potrepreneurs' as they develop marijuana-based businesses.

She anticipates a demand for cannabis cooking classes.

"The benefit of cooking with it is that you have much more control over how much you're ingesting. You're not inhaling a bunch of hot smoke which is really tough on the lungs, and you don't need very much of it. A little goes a long way, and it lasts a long time," she says.

Some people have a strong reaction to pot when it's baked into foods.

"It's not relaxing for me. I will vacuum the ceiling, so it's really not my drug," she says as she opens a plastic bag containing less than an ounce of marijuana.

While she hopes it'll someday be legal to grow on her deck, for the moment she gets it from a friend, who gets it from a friend. A quarter of an ounce cost her $75.

There are two main types of cannabis - Sativa and Indica. Most people smoke sativa because it's apparently stronger.

White prefers using marijuana as an ingredient because guests can control the amount they ingest.

She pinches the bud with her fingers and sprinkles flecks of dried, green marijuana it into a sauce pan of melted butter.

"There's a real herbaceous green sort of scent to it," White says. "You can see how the butter is turning green. I'm assuming that's all the goodness coming out of the marijuana. The heat activates the THC."

Tetrahydrocannabino is the active ingredient in marijuana that acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the "high."

Within a year the simmering pot industry in Washington could be more like a rolling boil.

The state estimates a fully functioning marijuana market could gross more than $1 billion in gross sales a year.

In our state more than 360,000 people are projected to buy marijuana at state-licensed stores which are expected to open late in 2013 or early 2014.

Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's for everyone.

"It just means that we won't all be going to jail for 5 years for smoking a couple of joints and having a Bridesmaids marathon, which sounds like a really good idea right now doesn't it?" she says. "Let's watch TV and eat Cheetos."

Jenny Durkin won't be joining the pajama party.

The U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, sent a statement reminding residents the federal ban on marijuana is still in place.

"Regardless of any changes in state law, including the change that will go into effect on Dec. 6 in Washington state," Durkin writes, "growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law."

By LINDA THOMAS

I did not try Mary's 'I Can't Believe It's Pot Butter,' but during the interview she licked the spoon.

You might also like:

Do-gooders like Dave Ross still won't smoke
A California pot grower is moving to WA

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (10)


  • Add A Comment

  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Main problem with trying to make a fortune off newly legalized pot....
    December 5, 2012 10:08 pm
    It's pretty easy for almost anybody to grow their own. Unlike alcohol, where it's pretty unlikely the average consumer would bother to distill his or her own spirits.

    Now that recreational use has been legalized in Washington, a greater number of people who previously did not want to risk growing their own weed are likely to do so.

    Making a fortune off pot will eventually be a notion as absurd as getting rich off dandelions or Scotch broom. :-)

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  • Frogsplash wrote...
    Another problem
    December 5, 2012 10:38 pm
    Banks and credit unions are not currently allowed to do business with those that are involved in the sale or distribution. Some have let non-profits pass, but most are now or already have closed those accounts already. Regulators have already let banks here know what federal law is. Banks and credit unions are federal contractors and thus fall under federal law. Good luck with your for-profit pot business in dealing with the IRS as well. Until the Fed gives direction on this, good luck.
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  • Witchwood wrote...
    Ya'll didn't think Uncle Sugar was gonna play nice, didya?
    December 5, 2012 11:53 pm

    Frogsplash has it right. But I'm still glad that 502 passed, because now everyone in the state will get to see firsthand just how little the federal government values them. The most progressive, hope-inspiring, game-changing president in American history is going to come down on the will of the voters like a ton of bricks. States' rights? That's for rednecks, yo.

    But don't worry. While the DEA is joyfully kicking in doors, you'll still be able to get married if you're homosexual.

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  • Witchwood wrote...
    The weed-naive are easy to spot
    December 5, 2012 11:48 pm

    It's not 1970, Chuck. Casually-grown cannabis represents the extreme low end of the market. The high-potency stuff found in medical dispensaries can actually be quite time consuming and labor-intensive to produce. Very often it's hydroponic. Got a hydro setup in the garage, Chuck, or no?

    Also, "people will just grow their own" tells me you live in a house with a nice backyard. Renters won't have that option.

    When cannabis is finally made fully legal (in the next republic, not this one), it will be like any other product. Some brands and manufacturers will be avoided, others will become bywords for quality. That market will always be there.

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  • roomtemp wrote...
    Green Fluff!
    December 6, 2012 12:52 am
    Hehehehe... (Just giving TNC a hard time.)

    "The benefit of cooking with it is that you have much more control over how much you're ingesting."

    No, you don't. The amount you're ingesting is controlled by the amount your ingesting (and the potency). Smoking takes effect faster and goes away faster, eating takes effect slower and lasts a little longer.

    "Most people smoke sativa because it's apparently stronger."

    No, it isn't. It still depends on amount of THC in the individual plant.

    "Tetrahydrocannabino is the active ingredient in marijuana that acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors_"

    It's Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and there are at least two known types of receptors. One in the brain (nervous system), one in the body (immune system and blood).

    Did you know there is THC in human breast milk? Not anything close to the levels you'd get from weed of course. It seems interesting that it's in there by design though.

    "Some people have a strong reaction to pot when it's baked into foods."

    The same people would get a strong reaction in any form. Baking doesn't make any difference.

    "The heat activates the THC."

    No, it doesn't. The THC is contained in a fairly viscous oil. For cooking, all the heat does is thin the oil and make it separate from the vegetable matter.

    "Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's for everyone."

    ^^Very true, and bears repeating.^^ In fact, the effects can make some people very uncomfortable. If you are tempted to try it, start with an extremely small dose and wait, then wait some more. Modern stuff is way more potent than the old Columbian brown that Chuck used to smoke when he was in college. -giggle-

    "It just means that we won't all be going to jail for 5 years for smoking a couple of joints_"

    A-friggin-men, what a waste of tax money!

    "Let's watch TV and eat Cheetos."

    Nah, that's arguably worse for your brain and body than the pot is.

    Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form, should this post be construed as advocating any form of drug use, watching tv, or eating junk food. Just keepin' it real...

    @Chuck... It takes as much or more effort to grow high quality pot than it does to make beer, wine, or spirits. And it still carries the legal risk. Most people aren't going to bother when they can just run up to the store and get it. I wouldn't worry to much about it.

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  • DesertRez wrote...
    Risk
    December 6, 2012 6:13 am
    There is too much risk in growing for profit right now. I "know a guy who knows a guy" that was making good money selling it up in Spokane to the clinics, but there are all sorts of pitfalls such as transporting it, federal raids, permits (you can grow more plants with a certain form) etc. It's just not viable for a legit businessman yet.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    The argument stating that everybody will want to smoke super-pot
    December 6, 2012 7:36 am
    is similar to somebody stating that 80-proof alcohol eliminated the demand for beer and wine.

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  • 333 wrote...
    Chuck
    December 6, 2012 7:48 am
    I respect you more than anyone on these posts....BUT. First time i've completely disagreed with you. This idea that weed is easy to grow is COMPLETELY wrong. I will bet my life you've never grown professionaly. Yes, anyone can grow the weed, but it won't produce high quality/profitable stuff at all, that takes 24 hr care, $$$$ equipment, footage and knowledge. It's like growing a coffee bean by your window and then declaring starbucks is doomed. I won't get into all the details,but you should really google before you speak.
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  • 333 wrote...
    Chuck
    December 6, 2012 7:52 am
    You're killing me now. Superpot?? Chuck, stronger pot just means that it has less carcinogens and you don't need to smoke as much, in other words it's healthier, it tastes better too....It's the product the consumers like me (professional 30-50 crowd) will buy. I'm going to guess you're well over 70.
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  • columbare1 wrote...
    marijuana legalization
    December 8, 2012 8:34 am
    These states that have been farsighted to legalize and control and tax marijuana are just the tip of the iceberg. Alcohol prohibition ended in the same way when the people forced their respective states to legalize alcohol. The same thing is happening here and now and it's about time it did. The government is changing because we the people are changing it.
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