Bellevue has its own recreational dispensaries inside city limits. The reason east-side regulars drive across the lake to Seattle Cannabis Co is the late hours, the neighborhood-shop continuity (the original opened in 2010, well before I-502 retail launched), and the deeper menu that comes with a higher-volume Seattle location.
The drive
I-90 west over Mercer Island to Seattle, south on I-5 to the Spokane St / Columbian Way exit, surface streets east to 7266 Rainier Ave S in Rainier Valley. Free parking out front.
- From Bellevue Square: 11.4 miles, about 25 min, no toll (I-90 is free).
- From Bellevue Downtown Park: 11.7 miles, about 25 min.
- From the Microsoft main campus (Redmond corridor): 14.5 miles, about 30 min.
Two route alternatives most east-siders won't be aware of:
- 520 + I-5: about 30 min off-peak but you'll pay the SR 520 toll. Slightly less reliable in PM commute.
- I-90 + Rainier Ave direct (no I-5): about 28 min off-peak, scenic via the I-90 floating bridge directly onto Rainier Ave. Adds 3 min on average but skips the I-5 north-of-Columbian merge.
Hours that matter for the drive
- Open daily 8 AM to 11 PM — including Sundays + holidays.
- Pickup orders — last online order is 15 minutes before close.
If you're crossing the lake for dinner in Columbia City or a show at the Royal Room and want to swing by us after, you have until 11 PM. Most east-side dispensaries close by 10 PM.
What to bring
- Valid 21+ photo ID. Washington accepts out-of-state driver's licenses, US passports, US passport cards, military IDs, and Tribal IDs. International passports work too. Expired IDs do not.
- Cash. Every Washington dispensary is cash-only — federal law prevents the major card networks from processing for cannabis. ATM in the lobby ($3 surcharge typical).
- A reusable bag is convenient but not required.
What east-side customers typically pick up
Bellevue + east-side customers tend to fall into a few patterns:
- Late-night pickup — pre-rolls (single or 5-pack), small flower (eighths), low-dose gummies (2.5 or 5 mg). The 9-to-11 PM window is roughly 40% of an east-side trip.
- Multi-day stock-up — flower (quarters or halves), edibles (10-piece packs), vape cartridges. Worth the cross-lake trip when you're already heading west for dinner or work.
- Cross-shop browsing — coming over because the menu's deeper. We carry roughly 250 active SKUs across categories on a typical weekday.
If you're new to a Washington dispensary, take 10 minutes at the counter — we'll walk you through the menu. Our first-time customer guide covers the door-to-bag walkthrough if you want to read ahead.
Critical legal stuff
- No consumption in public. Hotel rooms with smoke-free policies are off-limits for smoking; vape pens are quieter and lower-odor. Edibles are the most discreet option.
- Don't drive impaired. Cannabis DUI is the same as alcohol DUI under Washington law. Plan a designated driver, Lyft, or stay over.
- No consumption on the dispensary property. The exit bag is for transport, not for use in the parking lot.
- You cannot legally cross into Idaho with cannabis. It's federally illegal everywhere AND state-illegal in Idaho specifically. Take it home in WA.
About the shop
Seattle Cannabis Co has been on Rainier Ave since 2018 — same neighborhood, same staff. The original shop opened in 2010, before Washington recreational cannabis was a thing (we're one of the oldest cannabis retail operations in the state). The Rainier Valley location is where we live now.
Pair it with
If you're crossing the lake anyway, worth knowing what's in the neighborhood:
- Columbia City restaurants — 5 min north of us, walkable village strip.
- Othello International Market — 3 min south, weekend grocery run.
- Seward Park — 7 min east, Lake Washington loop and old-growth forest.
- Hillman City + Big Chickie — 5 min south, late-night pickup chicken.
See you in 25.