Kirkland has its own recreational dispensaries inside city limits, plus a couple of close-by Redmond and Bellevue options. Kirkland regulars who drive across the lake to Seattle Cannabis Co usually do it for the late hours, the neighborhood-shop continuity (operator-owned since 2010, well before I-502 retail launched), and the deeper menu that comes with a higher-volume Seattle location.
The drive
520 west across Lake Washington, 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 Kirkland Marina: 16.2 miles, about 30 min off-peak. SR 520 toll applies.
- From the Kirkland-Redmond border (Totem Lake): 17.8 miles, about 32 min.
- From Houghton / South Kirkland: 15.5 miles, about 28 min.
Route alternatives most Kirkland drivers won't consider:
- 520 + I-5: the default. Direct + reliable off-peak.
- I-405 south to I-90 west: about 35 min. Toll-free if you avoid the 405 express lanes. Worth it if 520 is backed up (which happens regularly between 4-6 PM weekdays).
- 520 + I-5 via the floating bridge bike-trail spur to Rainier Ave directly: if you're an e-biker or coming back from a Bothell ride, this is the route most won't think of. Not faster, just scenic.
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 Capitol Hill or a show downtown and want to swing by us on the way home, the 9-to-11 PM window is the typical Kirkland pattern. Most east-side dispensaries close by 10 PM, which is why the late hour matters.
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 Kirkland customers typically pick up
Kirkland customers tend to fall into a few patterns at the counter:
- Late-night pickup — pre-rolls (single or 5-pack), small flower (eighths), low-dose gummies (2.5 or 5 mg). Most common 9-11 PM trip purpose.
- Multi-day stock-up — flower (quarters or halves), edibles (10-piece packs), vape cartridges. Worth the cross-lake trip if you're already in Seattle for dinner or work.
- Browser stop — coming over because the menu's deeper or a specific brand isn't carried east-side. 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 30.