What better way to truly enjoy and appreciate glass art than by using it to dab some hash or pack a fire bowl of flower? That’s where a trip to the dispensary transcends being just an avenue for getting high and becomes an exercise in enhancing the way art is partaken of.
For this month’s Shop Review, TreeHouse Collective — a Portland-based, independently owned and operated business with its finger on the pulse of both the Cannabis and glass industries — was a natural choice.
Originally opened in 2013, THC started making a name for itself with patients in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program before recreational legalization. In 2014, they moved locations to Sandy Boulevard, and then just two years ago, expanded their canopy to include a second shop in St. Johns. With expanded geographic coverage, the new store serves as a neighborhood hub and a destination for travelers driving up and down Interstate 5.
Walking into THC, there is a clear intention in curating an environment that shows respect to Cannabis counterculture beyond simple retail design. There are fragmented blotter sheets made by local glassblowing maestro Mike Gong, hand-drawn designs by famous tattoo artist Winston the Whale and even a large mural outside the building by graffiti legend GATS. Both store locations also feature a display case filled with awe-inspiring pieces by popular flameworkers, such as Kid Glass, Cowboy Glass, Cody Olson and Blueberry Glass.
Flower is a highly sought-after item for shoppers at THC, with a lineup of some of the most popular farms in Oregon, like Evans Creek Farms, Deep Creek Gardens, Tao Gardens, Herbal Dynamics and Urban Canna. Harvest dates are listed on every jar, and the dispensary focuses on carrying manageable amounts of each strain to maintain quality standards. The idea is to emphasize freshness and a more dynamic selection.
“Prices aren’t necessarily the thing. We don’t care about testing. We basically just want to sell fresh, sticky, dank flower that you want to smoke yourself,” Justin Baker, co-owner of THC, explained. “I’m a smoker, so I really don’t want anyone to ever leave our shop feeling like they didn’t get the right product.”
With a diverse array of choices from concentrates to topicals, it would be difficult for prospective clientele to walk out of the store dissatisfied. Budtenders are highly knowledgeable and utilize a nonpushy, customer-driven approach, which helps strengthen the overall shopping experience.
At the end of the day, co-owners and long-time friends Baker and Nathan Roszina have created an elevated Cannabis dispensary by authentically leaning into their love of the culture and their passion for the plant. From greenery to glass, visitors to TreeHouse Collective are in for a genuine adventure.
“We’re just lucky to be here. … If anything, we are just grateful for the culture, for the state for allowing us to do what we do, for our budtenders and especially for the customer base. Our gratitude (for the customers) is huge,” Baker concluded.
