Two new pot shops to open

Pullman’s two newest pot shops, Magic Tree LLC and Kush 21, are expected to open this month, barring any delay from a Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board inspection.

As the town’s fourth and fifth marijuana retailers, they will be the first located outside the 1300 block of SE Bishop Boulevard where all previous shops have located.

New sites are now available because of reduced buffer zones required by the state to separate the shop from school and parks.

Magic Tree LLC will be based on the ground floor of a former grain elevator behind Evergreen Tire on Northeast Stadium Way.

Kush 21 will be located in the 300 block of N. Grand across from Dissmore’s IGA.

According to Kush manager Gabe Haulk, the company plans to tear down and refurbish an old car wash next to the site to be used as part of the business. Haulk says he expects Kush 21 to be open for business July 16.

Haulk and Luu Le, proprietor of Magic Tree, are from the Seattle area and both said they decided to set up shop in Pullman rather than the west side of the state because they saw an opportunity to get in on the “ground level” of cannabis sales in eastern Washington.

“We wanted the chance to grow with a town rather than start in a town that’s already grown,” Haulk said.