Tokeland Cannabis is a unique Cannabis retailer in Pacific County, operated by the Shoalwater Bay Tribe since 2021. This reservation has a deep-rooted history in the area. Despite being recognized in 1866 by presidential executive order, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe did not gain sovereignty until 1971. This allowed the reservation to gain rights as a legally independent nation, which provides economic independence and access to direct federal protections. This is where our Budtender of the Month, Matthew White, now calls home.
He grew up just south of Tokeland in the beautiful seaside community of Long Beach. Once he graduated from high school, White spent time in Bellingham at Western Washington University earning his degree in history. Then, it was on to Seattle for his 20s and early 30s. Eventually tiring of city life, he spent some time enjoying the Oregon coast and finally ended up landing here in Tokeland, where for the past three years he’s been working at Tokeland Cannabis.
This is more than just another pot store down the road; this is a remote, small area, and this team puts a ton of focus on two main things: community and medical patients.
“I think that’s part of the benefit of out here. We even have limited options for shops; it doesn’t matter what you want to go buy,” White said. “The amount of community involvement we get, I think, is going to be higher than almost an average pot shop because people come in here just to chat about the weather and how they’re doing.”
This definitely seems like more of a third space than just another Cannabis retailer to us. Offering medical assistance in a small town like this is also a huge benefit to the community. Not all products are created equal, and the purchasing team here listens to their clients’ feedback and researches the companies supplying products to their customers. This is all to maintain the high standards their community has come to rely on.
From the local retired Aussie who doesn’t consume Cannabis herself but humorously claims the store has turned her pooch into a “pot dog” to the tribal members who have found mental and physical relief through the plant, the stories of happiness and healing here are abundant. If you time your visit right, you can really see the community come out for Tokefest! It is the annual gathering the store puts on that has really gained speed and continues to grow each year. Full of live music, food trucks and producer/processor booths, this is another one of White’s favorite times of the year. We asked him what the best part of working here was, and he simply said, “This job is so fulfilling.”
So, needless to say, if on your next journey to the coast you should be near Tokeland, stop in and say hi to White and the team while you enjoy the beach vibes.
Matthew White’s Favorites
Flower: Washington Bud Company Gorilla Girl
Concentrate: PurForm Labs Tropical Jet Fuel
Edible: Wyld Kiwi Gummies
Preroll: Ooowee Raspberry Mimosa
Beverage: Green Revolution Blueberry Acai Wildside Max THC Shots
