Girdwood’s first marijuana store: The Herbal Cache

By Marc Donadieu
Glacier City Gazette

Girdwood’s Laundromall storefront is undergoing renovations to become the first retail marijuana store in town. Sue Carse and Ronda Lambert are expecting to open The Herbal Cache in September after a state application is completed and a municipal license is granted. They are hoping for a positive reception in a community that is generally tolerant toward discreet marijuana use.

The businesswomen initiated the application process that involves a lot of paperwork and time, as well as money. The earliest a license can be issued is by September, and sales will begin shortly thereafter.

“Once the state application is deemed complete,” Carse said, “then they have 90 days to either grant or deny your application. If we can complete our state application by the first of June, it will still be timely to get the state license in September.”

With state and municipal regulations still being fine tuned and finalized, neither woman could say whether or not there would be a consumption area created by closing off the front deck with fencing and a ventilation unit. It all depends on what the final regulations are, and these women are eager to comply while helping their customers.

Carse and Lambert are excited to take part in a brand new industry that offers a unique opportunity for them as well as other businesses in Girdwood. Laundromall owner Danny Pfister was excited about the tourism possibilities and how it could increase visitors to the valley while benefitting other area businesses.

There is a thick book of brand new regulations that must be followed, especially because they know the state and municipality will be checking the business thoroughly for compliance. One regulation to follow is sending out letters to every person within 500 feet of the beginning business to make the community aware The Herbal Cache is opening and address any concerns. The new business owners are expected to give a short presentation at the Land Use Committee meeting on April 11.

The Glacier City Gazette will be following this story closely as it continues to develop.