Jill Lane of Sky High Gardens in Seattle, Washington shows off some of the Tier 3 grower’s plants.
By Garrett Rudolph
Within the cannabis industry, seeing live plants and a functioning grow operation are everyday occurrences. But take a step outside the circle and there are millions of consumers across the nation that have never had the opportunity to see how and where their marijuana is cultivated.
However, two Seattle companies have partnered to change that by welcoming members of the public on guided grow op tours. It’s a perk of legalization that Sky High Gardens, through a partnership with Kush Tourism, began hosting tours of its Tier 3 warehouse on Jan. 10.
Co-owners Bryan Humphrey and Jeremy Knox said the biggest reason to do the tours is to be able to inform the public.
“If all we do is educate some people with the tours, then I’m happy,” Humphrey said.
In many ways, the idea of touring a production facility for cannabis is no different than any other industry. Breweries give tours so people can see the beer-making process. Wineries offer tastings and vineyard visits. Candy companies and other manufacturers often welcome the public.
“It brings legitimacy to an industry that has not had legitimacy,”
Humphrey said. “If we’re going to treat it as a normal industry and we’re going to treat it as a normal business, and the potential is there for it to be a massive money-maker for the state of Washington, it needs to have some legitimacy. People need to see this.”
Even before plans for guided tours were finalized, Humphrey said he’d brought people in to see the facility.
People that see marijuana cultivation first-hand are “picking their jaws up all day long,” he said.
“I lose out on the craziness of what we do every day because we do it every day.”
Sky High Gardens, which transitioned from a medical grower to a licensed I-502 grower, were visited by ESPN film crews in early 2014 as part of the media giant’s Super Bowl coverage.
The segment never aired, but it was an interesting experience for Humphrey and his team.
“They had a full camera crew in the warehouse, and here we were, all our staff with our phones out taking pictures of them taking pictures of us,” he said. “I’ve never seen ESPN at a weed grow — let alone mine.”
The South Seattle warehouse provides an excellent backdrop for the tours. Built in the 1930s, it features a combination of modern equipment and vintage fixtures. The brick walls, cavernous, multi-story layout, old-school elevator and various antique leftovers lend themselves to a Prohibition-era theme, befitting of a company that is ushering in the post-prohibition era for marijuana.
Another touch of class is having probably the coolest cannabis delivery vehicle in the entire state — a 1947 Cadillac hearse, complete with dazzling chrome and a coffin.
Where most state-licensed producers are taking an inconspicuous approach to their delivery vehicles, Sky High Gardens is going the opposite direction, Knox said. Compared to the box trucks and panel vans that most companies utilize, the hearse is loud and shapely, a conversation starter, if nothing else.
“It’s marijuana. It’s supposed to be fun,” Knox said of the black beauty.
Although fuel costs will likely keep the Cadillac garaged for longer trips, Knox said he plans on using it for promotional events.
The concept of grow tours began to come together in the summer of 2014, when the Sky High team met with Michael Gordon and Chase Noble of Kush Tourism.
“Not only is it a great opportunity to educate the public, but it also helps them get their brand out there and say, ‘We’re not hiding anything. Look at our facility. We’re doing everything right,'” Gordon said.
Grow tours last one hour, and tickets can be purchased through the Kush Tourism website (www.kushtourism.com). The company also offers longer tours that include retail stores, glass blowers, testing labs and more.
However, the grow tour is the “cream of the crop,” Gordon said.
“Everyone wants to see where the cannabis is grown,” he said. “If you go anywhere else in the country and ask people if they’ve seen a cannabis plant, the answer is probably no, let alone seeing thousands of plants towering over you.”
Humphrey said the security concerns were the biggest factor Sky High Gardens had to consider when deciding whether or not to allow the tours.
But ultimately, security is tight at the warehouse. Dozens of cameras watch every move, and the building is staffed 24 hours a day.
From an ethical standpoint, Humphrey said he felt an obligation to welcome visitors.
“We want you to be able to know what you’re getting,” he explained.
“The only way for you to be able to do that is to come in and see it. If you go to a shop, you’re not going to be able to touch or interact with that product. The only way to see what you’re getting is to come see it here.”
However, the tours will be somewhat incomplete for now.
Tour any of the microbreweries or wineries of the Pacific Northwest and you’ll likely get free samples, and patrons will definitely have the opportunity to buy merchandise and gift items on site.
Due to strict Washington State Liquor Control Board policies, samples — whether free or for sale — are expressly forbidden. Even selling T-shirts or typical gift shop items may violate state regulations.
The Sky High Gardens team hopes those rules will be changed at some point in the near future.
As of mid- December, Sky High was nearing its first harvest, according to Jill Lane, who led a tour of media members through the facility as a precursor to opening the doors to the public.
Lane said she expects Sky High Gardens to produce about 2,500 pounds of marijuana in 2015.
For now, consumers can see the product up close and personal on one of the tours. But to taste the fruits of Sky High’s labor, they’ll have to purchase it from licensed retail shops.