Jars of marijuana sit in a display case at Sweet Relief in this October 2015 photo.

Runner-up: Five Zero Trees, Astoria

Honorable mention: The Farmacy, Astoria

Sweet Relief, the first licensed dispensary to open in Astoria after legalization, has won Readers’ Choices inaugural Best Bud category for the best marijuana shop in Clatsop and Pacific counties.

Oscar Nelson, owner of Astoria Indoor Hydro and Garden, started Sweet Relief in 2014 with business partner Gary Reynolds inside the former Bent Needle crafts shop at 1444 Commercial St.

The partners gave most of the credit to the more than 15 employees at the downtown Astoria location, part of a workforce approaching 60 at Sweet Relief’s five locations across Northwest Oregon.

“Our customers wouldn’t be happy with us if it wasn’t for the crew here,” Reynolds said.

“Gary and I are owners, but we’re not really the ones who won this award,” Nelson added. “It’s the people that touched the customers, that have created the environment that has really been great for the community.”

Competition among marijuana stores has become fierce as their numbers multiplied around the state. Astoria now includes six stores, with 15 across Clatsop County.

“I feel really excited and stoked because we have so much competition in town,” Reynolds said. “I feel great that people care about us, just like we try to care about our people here.”