The Agrestic growing wild: A peek inside a local Corvallis dispensary

A close-up of some of the glass pipes on display for sale at The Agrestic.

A budtender arranging the case of jars filled with marijuana buds.

From the outside the small building seems unassuming, but a distinctive, pungent aroma seeps through its front door, luring in clientele with the promise of something potent.

Inside, the gloss of magazines glint from their spread on a sleek coffee table and chairs line the walls of the waiting area. The lilting melodies of Dionne Warwick fill the lobby background with a low glow of sound. A little pot of pink orchids rests on a sun-lit windowsill and painted silhouettes of trees climb the walls. Customers are greeted at a single sliding glass window, where they are asked to provide their IDs.

A door to the room beyond the lobby reads, “Restricted Access Area, No Minors Allowed.”

The door creaks open and a sun-weathered elderly woman enters the product room, shuffling in with a limping gait. She pauses before the counter, resting her weight on a wooden cane. On the woman’s shoulder a tattoo is fading into her wrinkled skin.

Claire displays some of the best product.

“How’s it going, friend?” asks the young woman at the counter.

“I need 25 bucks of something strong,” replies the limping customer.

The budtender, Claire, recognizes the customer as a regular; a medical cardholder.

“Absolutely. Are you looking for a flower or an edible?” asks Claire.

Expertly recommending a product to satisfy the customer’s needs, Claire is quick to turn her big smile on the next customer arriving through the door.

The environment is relaxed, friendly, and the employees smile in genuine hospitality at The Agrestic, a medical and recreational marijuana dispensary on 3rd Street in South Corvallis. Peddling medical marijuana and marijuana-based products since 2014, The Agrestic has rapidly adapted to the bill signed by Gov. Kate Brown, allowing the recreational sale of marijuana flowers and plant starts, or clones, effective Oct. 1, 2015.

“Good old fashioned weed has been the thing selling the most around here,” said Claire. “And we can barely keep the clones on the shelf.”

Plant clones are provided by Renegade Roots, The Agrestic’s partner in growth and production of live cannabis and dried flower products. The clones clear the shelves in no more than a couple of days, selling for $18.75 each, tax included.

Display shelves are filled with edible products, oils, live resin concentrates and even marijuana-infused beverages. A small case in the corner contains a variety of pipes, glass whorls of bright colors placed next to seashells with tiny golden screens nestled in their pink curves.

There are 725 licensed growers in Benton County, and the dispensary undergoes a constant bombardment of product samples from vendors. With such a wide variety to choose from, The Agrestic is able to hand-pick the best products available.

“As a patient I’m really enjoying a lot of casually medicated products,” said Claire. “We have some honey, peanut butter, and lemon-ginger drinks that are really easy to incorporate into my day without having to smoke. But I’m also really enjoying live-resin concentrates immensely.”

Claire began employment at the dispensary shortly after the October legalization of recreational marijuana sale.

“I came in as a patient and left as an employee,” said Claire.

The customers enter the sales floor two at a time, with medical card holders receiving service first. ID’s are checked twice; once when checking in, and once before completing a sale. 

“Keep it away from kids,” the budtenders remind customers.

Inside the magic door, a pristine glass case is brimming with silver-lidded cylinders containing over 25 strains of dried marijuana flower. Despite black shades drawn down over the large windows, sunlight fills the room with bright light.

The menu is divided into Sativa and Indica strains, variations of the plant which induce different effects on the human body. Each strain is labeled with its THC content, some including CBD content as well. These range from $6 to $12 a gram.

“Lamb’s Bread,” a sativa, is budtender Claire’s all-time favorite strain. Unfortunately, it’s a strain that’s quite difficult to grow unless you’re near the equator. However, they offer a “Lamb Sour Diesel,” which she describes as a stellar alternative.

“It’s our legal obligation to the state, and our ethical obligation to our patients, to ensure that each item on our shelf has been tested for potency, mold, mildew and pesticides,” says The Agrestic’s website, www.theagrestic.com.

Each product is tested in a state-approved laboratory for strength and quality before making it onto the sale shelves.

In this evolving business, the regulations are constantly changing. Adaptation and strict adherence to state law is the key to The Agrestic’s success.

“The thing about this business is that everything changes, products are new, products are complicated. People don’t understand how complicated they are,” said Nathan, an employee since November. “It’s just always exciting because it’s new, and no one knows what’s going to happen.”

Budtender Jason helps a customer with a purchase.

The employees don’t seem to mind a little chaos, however, conducting business with jovial attitudes.

“It can be kind of chaotic but that’s the risk you run, going into a new business,” said Claire. “But it’s been awesome, it’s been fun. I’ve been learning so much every day.”

At 5 p.m. on a Monday, a steady stream of people fill the waiting room. At least 20 customers enter the building over the next half hour.

“The dispensaries are all really different,” said a regular customer. “I like this one. I like this whole environment. It’s so homey, and other ones are not.”

Whether for medicine or pleasure, the business is drawing its customers in.

“We have really great patients that have been around the world and keep coming back here. It’s pretty fantastic knowing the people in your community,” said Claire.

Inside the waiting room at The Agrestic.

At a Glance

• The Agrestic is a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary located at 1665 S.E. 3rd St. in Corvallis, Ore. 
• Their menu is available on Leafly.com
• The Agrestic is open for business seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
• Only those who are over 21 years of age may purchase marijuana.
• Recreational customers may purchase up to seven grams of dried marijuana flowers per day and four plant clones.