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| 'Glad I lived to see this day': recreational pot sales begin in Massachusetts | 'Glad I lived to see this day': recreational pot sales begin in Massachusetts |
| (10 days later) | |
| In Massachusetts, hundreds braved hours-long waits in the rain, sleet and snow on Tuesday to be among the first customers east of Colorado allowed to legally buy recreational marijuana. | In Massachusetts, hundreds braved hours-long waits in the rain, sleet and snow on Tuesday to be among the first customers east of Colorado allowed to legally buy recreational marijuana. |
| Recreational marijuana went on sale at 8am at two Massachusetts dispensaries, making the state the seventh in the nation to allow the sale of the drug. Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington all began sales in recent years. | Recreational marijuana went on sale at 8am at two Massachusetts dispensaries, making the state the seventh in the nation to allow the sale of the drug. Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington all began sales in recent years. |
| Massachusetts voters legalized cannabis in November 2016, but a cautious bureaucracy delayed sales until now. The rollout in the state is currently limited to two dispensaries: one in Northampton in western Massachusetts and one in the small town of Leicester in central Massachusetts. | Massachusetts voters legalized cannabis in November 2016, but a cautious bureaucracy delayed sales until now. The rollout in the state is currently limited to two dispensaries: one in Northampton in western Massachusetts and one in the small town of Leicester in central Massachusetts. |
| A number of other dispensaries across the state plan on opening, but it is unclear when state marijuana regulators will give them the green light. | A number of other dispensaries across the state plan on opening, but it is unclear when state marijuana regulators will give them the green light. |
| Customers in line at the Cultivate dispensary in Leicester on Monday were excited. | Customers in line at the Cultivate dispensary in Leicester on Monday were excited. |
| “This is a monumental day in Massachusetts history,” said Rich Sadowsky, 56, of nearby Sturbridge. “I’m on vacation, but I would have taken a vacation day for this.” | “This is a monumental day in Massachusetts history,” said Rich Sadowsky, 56, of nearby Sturbridge. “I’m on vacation, but I would have taken a vacation day for this.” |
| Second chances: how ex-convicts are lighting up the cannabis industry | |
| Andy Gordon, 72, drove 30 miles to the dispensary from his home in Leominster. He first smoked marijuana nearly five decades ago as a soldier in Vietnam and is happy that it is now legally available. | Andy Gordon, 72, drove 30 miles to the dispensary from his home in Leominster. He first smoked marijuana nearly five decades ago as a soldier in Vietnam and is happy that it is now legally available. |
| “It sure did some wonders for our morale then and I hope it will do the same thing for me now,” he said. “I’m glad I lived long enough to see this day. I didn’t think I would, but I did.” | “It sure did some wonders for our morale then and I hope it will do the same thing for me now,” he said. “I’m glad I lived long enough to see this day. I didn’t think I would, but I did.” |
| Local police limited access in Leicester and warned hopeful customers of wait times. Buses shuttled customers to and from a remote parking site half a mile away, but many parked their vehicles wherever they could and made their way to the dispensary on foot. As groups of successful customers departed with their purchases, some left faint whiffs of marijuana smoke in their wake. | Local police limited access in Leicester and warned hopeful customers of wait times. Buses shuttled customers to and from a remote parking site half a mile away, but many parked their vehicles wherever they could and made their way to the dispensary on foot. As groups of successful customers departed with their purchases, some left faint whiffs of marijuana smoke in their wake. |
| Not everybody approached by the Guardian wanted to talk; marijuana remains illegal at the federal level and there is nothing to stop employers in Massachusetts from firing workers who use the drug without a medical prescription. While it is now completely legal in the state, a stigma remains and some still speak of it in whispers. | Not everybody approached by the Guardian wanted to talk; marijuana remains illegal at the federal level and there is nothing to stop employers in Massachusetts from firing workers who use the drug without a medical prescription. While it is now completely legal in the state, a stigma remains and some still speak of it in whispers. |
| But across the nation, attitudes on marijuana seem to be changing. | But across the nation, attitudes on marijuana seem to be changing. |
| The use, possession and growth of recreational marijuana is legal in neighbouring Vermont and nearby Maine. However, neither state permits the sale of the drug yet. | The use, possession and growth of recreational marijuana is legal in neighbouring Vermont and nearby Maine. However, neither state permits the sale of the drug yet. |
| It is similarly legal in the District of Columbia. And earlier this month, Michigan voted to legalise the drug. | It is similarly legal in the District of Columbia. And earlier this month, Michigan voted to legalise the drug. |
| In Connecticut, the governor-elect, Ned Lamont, spoke in favor of the legalization of recreational marijuana during his campaign and on Monday said legalization would be one of the “priorities” of the state’s next legislative session. | In Connecticut, the governor-elect, Ned Lamont, spoke in favor of the legalization of recreational marijuana during his campaign and on Monday said legalization would be one of the “priorities” of the state’s next legislative session. |
| Jim Smith, a Boston attorney whose firm represents a number of cannabis companies in the state, hopes more stores will open soon. | Jim Smith, a Boston attorney whose firm represents a number of cannabis companies in the state, hopes more stores will open soon. |
| “With two stores east of the Mississippi, I think the rollout is going to be pretty chaotic,” he said. “Two stores can’t service the commonwealth of 6.7 million people. Denver has 200 stores servicing 670,000 people.” | “With two stores east of the Mississippi, I think the rollout is going to be pretty chaotic,” he said. “Two stores can’t service the commonwealth of 6.7 million people. Denver has 200 stores servicing 670,000 people.” |
| At the New England Treatment Access dispensary in Northampton, more than 1,000 customers had been served through mid-afternoon according to Norton Arbelaez, the company’s governmental affairs director. | At the New England Treatment Access dispensary in Northampton, more than 1,000 customers had been served through mid-afternoon according to Norton Arbelaez, the company’s governmental affairs director. |
| In line at the Leicester Cultivate dispensary, those waiting expressed hope that the legal sale of marijuana would have a positive impact on the state – and that it would soon be legal nationwide. | In line at the Leicester Cultivate dispensary, those waiting expressed hope that the legal sale of marijuana would have a positive impact on the state – and that it would soon be legal nationwide. |
| Students Jack Merullo and Sam Tufts, both 21, drove to the dispensary from the Boston area early on Tuesday morning. | Students Jack Merullo and Sam Tufts, both 21, drove to the dispensary from the Boston area early on Tuesday morning. |
| 'You're not going to die': how to survive an edible marijuana overdose | |
| “It’s surreal because our whole lives it’s been a crime,” said Merullo. | “It’s surreal because our whole lives it’s been a crime,” said Merullo. |
| As they were parking, they said a local cop directing the rush of people to the small town had recommended a strain they should try, saying he had a medical marijuana card. | As they were parking, they said a local cop directing the rush of people to the small town had recommended a strain they should try, saying he had a medical marijuana card. |
| “It’s empowering, it feels like we’re finally getting the rights that we should have had,” said Merullo. | “It’s empowering, it feels like we’re finally getting the rights that we should have had,” said Merullo. |
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