By SARAH LOW

Staff Writer

The Vashon Senior Center offers programming that addresses a wide spectrum of the needs and interests of the community’s seniors, including off-island trips to notable events or destinations whenever possible. On Thursday, the center will take a full van to Dockside Cannabis, a legal retail cannabis shop in Seattle’s SoDo district.

“We started to get a lot of people asking about going to visit a shop after a presentation we had here last month about medical marijuana,” senior center Program Director Cheryl Richmond said. “At least 40 or 50 people attended that talk. There were a lot of questions.”

The presentation Richmond referred to was given by Shango Los, founder of the Vashon Island Marijuana Enthusiasts Association and host of Shaping Fire, a podcast where Los speaks to top cannabis health providers. It was Los’ second time speaking at the center, and this session was focused on the different ailments that some seek relief from with cannabis and the best ways to take it for each.

“It was a great turn out, the room was packed,” Los said of his return visit to the center. “The senior center creates a really safe environment for everyone to feel comfortable. No one seemed nervous or self-conscious asking questions.”

Richmond noted that despite the fact that cannabis is legal in Washington, there is still a great deal of stigma around its use for “folks of a certain age.” And though many were interested in visiting a shop, there was still some anxiety and even a little bit of fear about doing so.

So Richmond spoke to Susan Gress, the owner of Vashon Velvet (one of the island’s two legal commercial grows) about retail shops she might recommend for a senior center trip — and Gress suggested Dockside.

On first glance, Dockside looks like what you’d get if the Apple Store and Teavana merged. Bright and modern, with informative displays, comfortable consultation area and a card-catalog-like wall of product it refers to as the Cannabis 101 Wall. Not far from CenturyLink and Safeco Fields, the store also has a cannabis museum and holds regular art walks. It also has disabled parking, access and staff trained to offer support for groups making first-time visits.

“We give tours to quite a number of groups,” Jenny Weitz, Dockside’s general manager, said. “We’ve had a number of senior groups come in, as well as tourists and tour groups. Most are just curious about what a retail cannabis experience looks like.”

Weitz said that staff will talk about the store, and what it has to offer, as well as answer any questions the group has.

“It’s really just about getting people comfortable with the space and the environment,” she said.

Richmond agreed.

“It’s about reducing the stress of visiting a place like this for the first time,” she said, adding that spaces for the trip filled almost immediately.

Los sees the trip almost as a necessity.

“So many people who were at my presentation were interested and excited about learning more,” he said. “By hosting this trip, the Vashon Senior Center is doing a great service. Since our medical dispensary was closed and we don’t have a retailer on the island, our least mobile neighbors should not be excluded from accessing cannabis medicine simply because it’s harder for them to get around.”

Lawrence Dean, a senior center member who is signed up for the trip, began using vaporized cannabis after attending one of Los’ presentations. Dean, who has high blood pressure and glaucoma, believes the cannabis is making a difference.

“It has been very effective at lowering my blood pressure, and my opthalmologist said it has been good for my glaucoma as well,” he said, adding that while his doctors did not specifically recommend using cannabis, he discussed it with them and they did not have any objections.

Dean also said that he signed up for the trip because he’s never been to a “pot shop” and wants to see what it’s like.

“There is still such a stigma, even though it’s legal,” Richmond said. “And many who have expressed an interest in this trip have medical issues they are looking for help with. Maybe this will help break down some barriers to use for those who could benefit.”