XPost: alt.support.marijuana, seattle.politics, or.politics   
   From: a425couple@hotmail.com   
      
   Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot   
   By Theresa Waldrop, CNN   
      
   Updated 6:23 AM ET, Tue January 2, 2018   
   California legalizes recreational marijuana   
   Now Playing California legalizes...   
   Source: CNN   
      
   California legalizes recreational marijuana 01:49   
   (CNN)California began selling recreational marijuana Monday in what's   
   seen as a milestone in the mainstreaming of the weed, and hundreds lined   
   up to buy it.   
      
   Lines formed outside stores licensed to sell the drug long before   
   opening hours, and store owners said they had stocked up in expectation   
   of huge demand.   
   "It is probably our busiest day in our seven-year history," said Matt   
   Lucero, the owner of Buddy's, a dispenser of medical-use marijuana in   
   San Jose that holds the first license issued by California to also sell   
   recreational marijuana. "We have folks outside; every chair in the   
   building is filled right now."   
   At Harborside dispensary in Oakland, hundreds lined up to be the first   
   to buy the legal weed, CNN affiliate KGO reported.   
   Speaking with CNN, Lucerno said he expected a 30% bump in sales   
   overnight, but "it looks, in looking around this room, more like 50 to 60%."   
   A sign advertises deals at Harborside marijuana dispensary on Monday.   
   A sign advertises deals at Harborside marijuana dispensary on Monday.   
   California is the sixth state to allow sales of recreational marijuana,   
   and as the nation's most populous state, it's widely seen as a   
   tremendous boost to mainstreaming marijuana.   
      
   "Cannabis is now legal in the most populous state in the country," New   
   Frontier Data, which tracks the cannabis industry, wrote in its 2017   
   annual report, "dramatically increasing the total potential size of the   
   industry while establishing legal adult use markets across the entire US   
   Pacific Coast given the legalized states of Washington and Oregon."   
   Pot remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government, and it is   
   illegal to take marijuana across state lines, bring it on a plane or   
   mail it.   
      
   Different types of marijuana sit on display at Harborside  dispensary.   
   Different types of marijuana sit on display at Harborside dispensary.   
   The California industry is forecast to reach $7 billion in a few years,   
   more than the $6.6 billion of the entire legal cannabis market in the   
   United States in 2016, according to New Frontier Data.   
   Legalizing it will mean a lot of people may try it who had shied away   
   until now, Lucero said.   
   "By having the state come in with a regulatory program really helps   
   legitimatize it," he said. "And I think we're going to be seeing a lot   
   of folks who otherwise are a little hesitant to shop at dispensaries. "   
   California adults 21 and older can possess as much as an ounce and grow   
   up to six plants at home as of Monday.   
   Who gets the dog in a divorce and other state laws going into effect in 2018   
   Who gets the dog in a divorce and other state laws going into effect in 2018   
   Monday was a muted rollout, though, because the licensing procedure is   
   not in place in many cities. No recreational marijuana could be bought   
   legally in Los Angeles or San Francisco, the state's biggest cities.   
   Buddy's had "stocked up tons because we've seen other states, once they   
   go recreational, how most of the dispensaries sell out on the first or   
   second day," Lucero said.   
   State and local taxes add a hefty chunk to the price, and depending   
   where it's bought, taxes can add as much as 45% to the cost.   
   Customers at Buddy's could pick up half an ounce of Homemade Cherry Pie   
   for about $260. Blue Dream is about half that price. Many customers pick   
   up an eighth of an ounce for anywhere between $25 to $60.   
   A customer buys marijuana at Harborside marijuana dispensary in Oakland.   
   A customer buys marijuana at Harborside marijuana dispensary in Oakland.   
   Massachusetts will begin selling retail marijuana on July 1. Maine has   
   approved it, but there is no set date to begin sales.   
   Other states that allow the sale of recreational marijuana are Colorado,   
   Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Nevada.   
   More retail shops are certain to open soon in California. The Bureau of   
   Cannabis Control, which issues licenses from the state, had handed out   
   about 200 by the end of last week, spokesman Alex Traverso said in an email.   
   As far as he's concerned, the first day has been a success, since he   
   hasn't been besieged with calls and emails.   
   "That's huge, because I'm certain we'd be getting tons of calls if   
   things weren't working," he wrote. "So far so good!"   
   CNN's Miguel Marquez and Aaron Smith contributed to this story.   
      
   http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/01/us/california-marijuana-sales/index.html   
      
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