Colorado stores begin selling cannabis
Print Edition
America’s first retail stores selling marijuana opened for business in Colorado yesterday, putting the western state in the vanguard of the country’s evolving attitudes on legalizing the drug.
Officials have issued 348 retail marijuana licenses — including for small shops — that allow for the selling of up to 28 grams of pot to people aged 21 or older.
Washington state on the Pacific coast will follow Colorado several months from now, also allowing stores to sell cannabis.
Both states legalized recreational consumption of marijuana in referendums last November.
State officials in Colorado anticipate that marijuana sales will generate some US$67 million in annual tax revenue.
Colorado’s branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) said everyone will benefit.
“It will mean jobs, tax revenue for the state and local jurisdictions, increased tourism and a developing progressive new industry in Colorado,” NORML attorney Rachel Gillette said.
“It will also have an impact in that marijuana sales will be brought out of the shadows and the black market,” she added.
Michael Elliott, head of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, noted that Colorado has licensed medical marijuana businesses since 2010, but said the influx of tourists for recreational use of pot could lead to shortages.
“It’s tough to know whether supply will meet demand, mainly because it’s tough to know the impact of tourism on this new market,” he said.
“It looks like demand will exceed supply, so I anticipate that prices in Colorado will go up,” he added.
Tax collectors are eyeing the revenue the newly legalized trade will generate, while cannabis growers and others are also rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Enterprising companies are even offering marijuana tours to cash in on tourists expected to be attracted to a Netherlands-style pot culture.
“Just the novelty alone is bringing people from everywhere,” said Adam Raleigh of cannabis supplier Telluride Bud Co.
“I have people driving in from Texas, Arizona, Utah ... to be a part of history.
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