Western Oregon Dispensary: Braving Bumps in the Road, and Eyes on Expansion

Western Oregon Dispensary – Newberg, OR

We met the owner of Western Oregon Dispensary, Sherri, early one morning in the burgeoning suburb of Newberg, Oregon, just outside of Portland. Well-known for their wine, the pace out here is a bit more relaxed and refined. Western Oregon Dispensary has been open for almost two years, and began with medical sales due to a ban on the recreational market when the shop first opened. “But with some hard work and persuasive conversation in some public forums, we were able to turn [the ruling] around, and it’s been a good relationship ever since,” Sherri tells me. But every store is a battle to open in its own way, and there’s never a shortage of hiccups that demand attention: “Every one of our licenses has either been banned, picketed or appealed,” Sherri notes, but so far they’ve been able to overcome the red tape.

Western Oregon Dispensary – Newberg, OR

The lobby is comfortable and features beautiful local art and glass pieces to add to your wish list. Sherri said her shops are aiming for more of a one-stop shopping experience, and their selection shows it; a full array of edibles, flower and cartridges from award-winning companies are represented. “We weren’t the first state to go rec,” Sherri explains, “but [here in Oregon] we’re definitely pot snobs.” Western Oregon Dispensary also offers more non-traditional products like a Magic Butter Maker, just in case you feel like taking their top-shelf flower home and turning it into tonight’s dessert—quite the full-service shop!

Sherri’s business savvy and calm demeanor really impressed me. She takes a slow and methodical approach to growing her business, and her 30+ years’ experience in local business has served her well: she’s in the process of opening more locations, and currently boasts four shops. Western Oregon Dispensary also has two large grow sites that provide a portion of their product, as well as plans for an in-house cannabis kitchen, and they’ve collaborated with a top local purveyor of hard-to-find exotic foods to introduce some new food products to the market. I was really impressed with Western Oregon Dispensary and will make it my go-to stop before heading out to the beach or touring wine country!

As a lifestyle publication, DOPE Magazine is dedicated to creating purposeful, relevant conversations. When we printed our inaugural issue in 2011 we positioned ourselves in the cannabis arena as a team of professionals determined to normalize the plant. While cannabis remains the central theme of our brand, 2017 has marked a turning point in our progression. We’ve built a steadfast framework of inclusivity when speaking about gender, race, class, politics, family and culture—with the ethos DEFEND.