Sustaining Pot

Sustaining Pot

One of San Francisco’s longest-running cannabis dispensaries has undeniably left its mark on the city’s history and it continues to pave the path for its future

BY G.G. BARRON

The Vapor Room (vaporroom. com) is undeniably a part of San Francisco’s cannabis history. In its original location on Haight Street, it fostered a loyal community, many of whom have returned over the years. It was one of the many dispensaries in San Francisco shut down amidst escalating legal restrictions for medical marijuana stores in 2012.

Now, in 2021, it stands as one of the longestrunning cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco, one of the few where you can sample and smoke in-store because of their onsite cannabis consumption permit, and one of the most dedicated dispensaries to selling cannabis that is grown sustainably. Known as “San Francisco’s Favorite Mom & Pop Pot Shop,” the Vapor Room is here to stay.

Back in 2004, the Vapor Room opened in the Haight as one of San Francisco’s first medical marijuana dispensaries. The space was reminiscent of “That 70’s Show” and it attracted a community from all around the city. The Vapor Room focused on curating a top-notch menu and on educating its visitors about the range of applications and the advantages of medical cannabis.

The Vapor Room has also always prioritized caring for its community. In its original days, it offered a medical compassion program, through which cooperative members could receive a small amount of cannabis, free of charge, if they couldn’t afford it that day. This original practice has carried over into their Compassion Program today.

After closing in 2012, the Vapor Room applied for a new medical marijuana permit in 2016, which was eventually approved. This led the owners, Martin Olive and Tina Gordon, to open a new store with an entirely different decor at a new location at 9th and Mission. When the new Vapor Room opened, it attracted both new faces and original clients.

From its original days to now, the Vapor Room has always sought to cultivate a safe space where clients can learn about and experiment with different types of cannabis, peruse various cannabis options, and ask as many questions as possible to the knowledgeable staff.

One of the primary subjects that the Vapor Room addresses is how their cannabis products were grown. The Vapor Room promotes sustainable farming practices, including co-owner Gordan, who owns her own farm called Moon Made Farms (moonmadefarms.com).

Gordon comes from a background in music, producing, event promoting, and documentary filmmaking. In 2007, she wanted to pursue a life away from the city. According to her website, “through a serendipitous twist,” she acquired what would become Moon Made Farms in Humboldt County from her friend and renowned pioneering musician, Joani Hannan.

Read more at https://issuu.com/rareluxuryliving/docs/troora_san_francisco_2021_pages/434