About halfway between Bellingham and Ferndale, on the east side of Interstate 5 and just south of the Slater Road exit, 2020 Solutions has been offering cannabis products to the public from a funky little building that Director of Actualization Aaron Nelson refers to as “the trailer with the lean-to.” But that well-used, old structure is now being replaced with a new—and much larger—purpose-built store at 4770 Pacific Highway, Bellingham.
“The store is separated into different categories a bit better, now that we have the room to spread out. That whole menu there,” Nelson says as he points to a large TV screen filled with product choices, “is all wellness products, which we’re continuing to expand as the demand has grown.”
Another screen in a different part of the room showcases the selection of edible cannabis products, while a third lists all of the concentrates the store carries. A fourth screen hangs in part of the store that holds what might be the most recognizable product in the place, the smokable flower of the marijuana plant.
Nelson looks pleased as he moves around the spacious, clean room with its big windows illuminating shelves and counters loaded with wares. “This was the plan when we first opened in 2017—we recognized that this community really likes having us in their neighborhood, and we’re giving them the store that they deserve,” he says. “Our competitively priced glass selection is four times larger than what we had previously, and we’ll be adding more growers, and more products.”
While all of the cannabis products come from Washington State, 2020 Solutions especially likes to do business with Whatcom County suppliers. They stock Whatcom-grown buds from Oz Gardenz, SUBx, and Trail Blazin’, Wildflower is a cannabis powerhouse that makes many of 2020 Solutions’ CBD products—which are praised for their medicinal uses and lack of side effects—as well as a variety of tinctures and topical products, within Bellingham.
Nelson will be hiring more staff for this location, including a state-licensed specialist. “We have a medical consultant here, so we have an area off to the side for consulting on medical issues,” he explains. “There’s a 20-hour-long, state-regulated initial training program, and then 10 hours of continuing education each year when the license is renewed. That enables a medical consultant to discuss medical conditions with patients who have a prescription from a doctor or health care practitioner.”
All of this planning, building and growth will be commemorated with a grand opening celebration on February 7 and 8. “We’ve got 20 vendors lined up to showcase their products, and amazing deals in line with 4/20 specials,” Nelson says, referring to the date of April 20, a notable holiday among cannabis enthusiasts and retailers.
The grand opening will last all through regular business hours, which are 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on weekends. Customers might also be interested to learn about 2020’s “happy hour,” which takes place until 10:00 a.m. every morning, and after 8:00 p.m. every evening, when everything is 10% off.
“We have people who travel from Blaine, Birch Bay and Ferndale to shop with us, and people come for the experience,” Nelson says. “You can ‘buy weed’ anywhere, but we staff all three of our Bellingham stores so that you can have that one-on-one interaction, and not feel pressured to move along quickly. We’re happy to let you spend as much time as you need with the budtender.”
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