Pubdate: Wed, 09 Jul 2014
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2014 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/625HdBMl
Website: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Authors: John Langeler, Cogan Schneier, John Bacon

9 Jul 2014 USA TODAY US EditionJohn Langeler, Cogan Schneier and John 
Bacon USA TODAY

POT FOR FUN GOES ON SALE IN STORES

SEATTLE - Pot shops opened to long lines Tuesday as Washington became 
the second state to legalize recreational marijuana.

After a busy day of sales, people were still in line just before 10 
p.m. PT, minutes before Cannabis City in Seattle was set to close. As 
of 9:30, 857 customers had been served.

Earlier in the day, dozens of people were waiting their turn when Top 
Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham opened for business at 8 a.m. PT - as 
soon as allowed under state regulations.

The first three customers were Kansans. Sarah Gorton, 24, of Abilene, 
her brother and boyfriend were visiting Bellingham for their 
grandfather's 84th birthday.

"It's just a happy coincidence and an opportunity we're not going to 
have for a long time," said Sarah Gorton. "I'm really thrilled to be 
a part of something that I never thought would happen."

Cale Holdsworth, 29, also of Abilene, was the first person in the 
door at Top Shelf Cannabis. He arrived at 4 a.m.

"This is great. You know, it's really great," said Holdsworth. "It's 
something that I believe in. It's a cause that I would actually stand 
up for and participate in, and I'm glad to do so."

The state is joining a fast-growing market that's already generating 
tens of millions of dollars in taxes with no signs of slowing down. 
Twenty months after state voters approved recreational marijuana, 
Washington's Liquor Control Board released the names of 25 retail pot 
shops Monday. Most expect to open this week, although some are not 
sure whether there is supply to handle the immediate demand.

Cannabis City owner James Lathrop wasn't in a hurry, opening his shop at noon

"Know your audience: We're talking stoners here," he said. "I'd be 
mean to say they need to get up at 5 a.m. to get in line."

Raquel Diaz went to Cannabis City during her lunch break.

"I expected it to be a lot crazier," said Diaz. "I had a friend 
waiting in line for a bit, and jumped in there."

Within an hour she made it inside the store and came out with her 
purchase. She picked a brand called "OG Pearl."

"People were telling me it's a little overpriced, but it's more of a 
novelty, and I thought it'd be cool," she said.

In Spokane, Spokane Green Leaf was schedule to open at 2 p.m. PT. 
Green Leaf employees said that, due to a tight supply, they would 
only allow customers to buy two to four grams on Tuesday. The cost: 
$20 to $25 per gram.

"I'm expecting a line out the door. A couple hundred people, at 
least," said Chad Welsh with Spokane Green Leaf.

First come, first served could be an important principle as pot flies 
off the shelves. Chad Champagne owns 420 Carpenter, a Lacey shop 
scheduled to open Friday.

"It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to be closed come 
Sunday night for a couple weeks until we can replenish," said 
Champagne, who won two retail marijuana licenses. He called the 
process "long and ever-changing," but said he expected it to be hard.

"It seemed like as soon as you cleared one hurdle, there were three 
more you had after that," he said.

A team of 18 is processing the volumes of marijuana selling and 
growing applications, Liquor Control Board Director Rick Garza said. 
Between 10 and 15 more applications could be approved every week, he 
said, adding that any delays came from the applicants themselves, not 
his office.

"Sure, people can be critical," said Garza. "One of the things to 
keep in mind is, there's no blueprint here. There is no one that has 
done this before."

As for the perceived lack of supply, Garza strongly disagreed.

"Remember that for 19 months, it's been legal for people to possess 
an ounce or less of marijuana," he said. "Where do you think they're 
getting that marijuana? I don't think there's a lack of supply in 
Washington state."

John Langeler reports for KING-TV, Seattle. Contributing: Trevor 
Hughes, Rachel Chason and Paulina Firozi, USA TODAY; Whitney Ward, 
KREM-TV, Spokane; Associated Press 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom