What does it mean to be part of a movement—one that traces back to the beginnings of a culture that has profoundly shaped the way people live, connect, and grow together? At Origins Cannabis, the answer is woven into how we do business and how we engage with our community. Our journey is rooted in history, guided by passion, and grounded in authenticity.
Rooted in Washington Cannabis Culture
Here in the Pacific Northwest, cannabis has always carried a deeper meaning. From the early pioneers and renegades who cultivated and experimented, to the creatives who embraced cannabis for inspiration and healing, Washington has been a hub for cannabis innovation and connection. Our Seattle dispensaries are a reflection of that legacy—community-driven and built on trust.
A Look Back: From Prohibition to Counterculture
Imagine Washington State in the 1920s: long before federal prohibition, marijuana was already classified as a narcotic locally. Yet in smoky backrooms and speakeasy-style venues, artists, activists, and thinkers gathered for secret sessions. For them, cannabis was both a rebellion and a way to see the world differently. By the 1960s and 70s, the counterculture movement pushed cannabis closer to the mainstream. While frowned upon by traditionalists, youth culture embraced cannabis as a path toward creativity, consciousness, and social awakening.
Hempfest & the Rise of Visibility
The 1990s brought a new era with the birth of Seattle Hempfest (founded in 1991 as the Washington Hemp Expo). What began as a small gathering evolved into the world’s largest pro-cannabis rally—cementing Seattle’s role as a global leader in advocacy and visibility. From Medicine to Legalization In 1998, Washington legalized medical cannabis, opening the door to mainstream conversations about therapeutic benefits for patients and veterans. By 2012, Washington became the first state in the nation to legalize recreational cannabis—setting the stage for a thriving industry and paving the way for Origins dispensaries in West Seattle and Redmond.
The Birth of Origins
Our first West Seattle cannabis shop opened in 2016, followed by our Redmond dispensary in 2017. Our founders had already built strong relationships with growers during the medical-only era. When legalization arrived, they remained committed to medical-era ethics: working directly with farmers, testing for purity, and keeping the cannabis experience personal, safe, and community-focused. Back then, there were no flashy cannabis brands—just legacy growers cultivating strains like Blue Dream, Green Crack, Sour Diesel, and OG Kush. To help customers navigate beyond the old “indica vs. sativa” approach, Jon and Andrew created Origins Lifestyles: categories based on terpene profiles and cannabinoid ratios that describe the nuanced effects of different strains. For example - the Adventurous Lifestyle features uplifting, euphoric strains high in terpinolene or THCV. Whereas the Discovery Lifestyle, while still sativa in nature,offers more grounded, focused varieties rich in alpha-pinene.
This system gave customers a deeper way to connect with cannabis—making Origins one of the first dispensaries in Washington to bring terpene education directly into the shopping experience.
Staying True to Our Name
To us, “Origins” is more than a name—it’s a promise. It reflects our deep ties to Washington’s cannabis history, our respect for the growers and communities who paved the way, and our mission to keep cannabis personal, ethical, and community-driven. Whether you’re visiting our West Seattle cannabis shop or our Redmond dispensary, you’re not just buying cannabis—you’re becoming part of the culture, the history, and the movement that made it possible.