I was intrigued when an email blaring the provocative subject line “Weed Man Targets Seattle for Franchise Expansion” popped into my inbox. Imagine my disappointment when the pitch was for a lawn-care company, not a pot shop. I’m sure that’s not the reaction the PR team was anticipating.

You probably recall that Washington was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana back in 2012, when almost 56% of voters approved the sale and use for those 21 and over. It was the second to begin sales in 2014, right after Colorado. Now, almost half of all states (including the District of Columbia) have legalized marijuana use. Washington began allowing the use of medical marijuana back in 1998.

Today, pot shops are everywhere, with more than 600 across the state, according to Washington Cannabis Information, a portal with a treasure trove of information. Many are clustered close together. Just check out Ballard or head over to Stone Way in Wallingford (no pun intended). I know a few people my age who smoke marijuana. Many more use edibles to help them ease anxiety, relax, or sleep. When used properly, it can become another arsenal in the mental-health tool kit.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board says the state collected $3.31 billion in excise taxes and $37.2 million in fees between 2014 and fiscal 2023. That revenue has gone to health care, health education, and cannabis-related research, among others. The revenue, however, is only part of the story.

“Legalization drove many illicit market cannabis dealers out of business while empowering people to start businesses, create jobs, and avoid criminal charges for a now-legal activity,” a letter from the board of directors notes. “A recent independent study showed that Washington leads the nation in cannabis consumers buying from regulated retail outlets rather than the illicit market.”

Equally important: The statewide 2023 Healthy Youth Survey found that marijuana use among adolescents has declined since legalization. About 8.4% of 10th graders across the state had used marijuana the past 30 days, slightly higher than in 2021 but still significantly less than in 2010, when 20% of 10th graders admitted to using pot.

The stigma has, for the most part, disappeared.

The Visit Spokane website, for example, features an entire section devoted to Washington’s cannabis laws. It even lists what it calls the best dispensaries in Spokane for visitors and locals alike. The Visit Seattle website seeks to educate tourists on the dos and don’ts of state law, noting that it’s illegal to use marijuana in public, and that 75% of hotels across the state prohibit smoking any substance.

Both Washington State University and the University of Washington have dedicated cannabis research centers. WSU’s Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach consists of more than 70 researchers across the WSU system. The University of Washington’s Center for Cannabis Research has more than 50 researchers and seeks to “solidify science and protect long-term policies.”

So, is marijuana safe? Some clinical studies show CBD in particular can reduce anxiety. Others indicate mixed results. But friends increasingly tell me that it helps them feel more relaxed and less stressed.

Ten years since legalization, it’s fair to call Washington state’s experience a success.