The long wait for recreational marijuana sales to begin in Massachusetts is over.
It can hardly be termed a robust launch with only two stores opening initially, in Leicester and Northampton. But they can boast of being the first anywhere in the eastern United States as the commercial cannabis industry looks to expand its geographic base amid increasing public acceptance.
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Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016, but it's taken more than two full years to reach this point.
WATCH LIVEThe first recreational marijuana sales on the east coast are set for 8 a.m. | Watch as the mayor of Nothampton and another military veteran make the first purchases
Posted by Boston 25 News on Tuesday, November 20, 2018
The first adult-use cannabis sales on the east coast were made this morning in Northampton and Leicester. https://t.co/dd1cfB39j7 pic.twitter.com/KIjatQfB8E
— Dalton Main (@Dalton_Main) November 20, 2018
Some things to know:
THE FIRST SALES
The first pot shops opened at 8 a.m. in Northampton, a small city in western Massachusetts, and in the central Massachusetts town of Leicester. Both stores already operate as medical marijuana dispensaries but are the first to be cleared by state regulators to sell recreational pot to adults 21 and older.
People are LINED UP already to purchase #marijuana LEGALLY for the first time in Massachusetts.
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) November 20, 2018
Watch for LIVE team coverage coverage from the 2 shops in #Northampton and #Leicester that are opening in just over 1 hour. @boston25 Morning News stays local all morning. pic.twitter.com/ugqBoFkTFd
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The symbolic first buyers have already been chosen.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz ushered in a new era of legal marijuana in his city by making the first purchase at New England Treatment Access.
Narkewicz bought a marijuana chocolate bar but doesn't plan to eat it.
Stephen Mandile, a disabled Iraq War veteran and medical marijuana advocate, has been chosen as the first to buy at Cultivate in Leicester, The Boston Globe reported.
A historic day in Massachusetts. The first two pot shops will open at 8am! Here’s a look inside Cultivate Holdings in Leicester. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/qWK6zl0c1E
— Natalie Rubino (@newswithnatalie) November 20, 2018
WHAT SHOULD SHOPPERS BRING?
Consumers need to show government-issued identification to enter the stores, regardless of how old they are or look.
Driver's licenses and passports are among documents accepted.
Bringing cash is also a good idea at least during the initial period of legal sales. The federal prohibition on marijuana means that most banks and credit card processors won't service marijuana businesses.
A spokesman for the Northampton store says it will accept some debit and credit cards with four-digit pins. A spokeswoman for the Leicester store says it would accept cash only during the first hours of sales, though debit may be available later Tuesday.
ARE LONG LINES EXPECTED?
Based on what happened when other legal states - and Canada - launched retail sales, yes.
It's safe to assume that crowds will gather when the first stores open. Many people are no doubt eager to be among the first on the East Coast to buy recreational pot legally.
"It's going to look like one thing on the first day and another thing on the 100th day," said Norton Albaraez, a spokesman for the Northampton store.
This gentleman (next to cannabis “man”) is first in line at New England Treatment Access. Been waiting and still waiting since 12:30a. #Northampton pic.twitter.com/YnsrJv80RF
— Joy Dumandan (@JoyDumandanTV) November 20, 2018
In other words, anyone not wanting to deal with the initial crowds might consider waiting a few weeks or months for things to settle down.
To help speed up purchases and move the lines along, the stores suggest that people familiarize themselves with available products on the company's website before arriving at the store.
A first for the Commonwealth. Recreational marijuana sales start today. People lined up since 12:30a at New England Treatment Access in #Northampton. What you need to know if you want to buy cannabis. Live reports this a.m. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/c83VhXlP3c
— Joy Dumandan (@JoyDumandanTV) November 20, 2018
WHAT WILL BE SOLD?
Marijuana products come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and potency. Much of what is offered can be divided into the categories of cannabis flower, cannabis extract (often referred to as concentrate) and cannabis-infused products.
Here are some prices for you... Remember, taxes amount to about 18% and Cultivate is only taking cash until 12pm, then you can use your debit card. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/LZZoZTW0G0
— Natalie Rubino (@newswithnatalie) November 20, 2018
The "flower" refers to the part of the marijuana plant that might typically be rolled into a joint (stores also offer pre-rolled joints). It comes in several variations and often with exotic brand names such as Tangerine Haze, Purple Punch and Buddha's Sister. Strains differ in levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana.
Concentrates includes waxes, oils and tinctures. Edibles are the most common form of cannabis-infused products, and often include brownies, chocolate bars, gummies and lozenges.
State regulations limit potency levels for edibles to no more than 5 milligrams of THC for a single serving. A package of edibles can contain no more than 20 individual servings.
HOW MUCH CAN BE PURCHASED?
State regulations limit total purchases by a single customer to 1 ounce of flower or its equivalent in concentrate. Stores may also set their own limits, at least in the early going, in the hope of minimizing inevitable supply shortages during the initial sales period.
Weed is still illegal in public spaces so consumers won't be allowed to sample anything inside the store, or in the parking lot outside the store, or in a public park near the store. It can be used - legally - only in homes or other private spaces.
WHAT ABOUT TAXES?
Recreational marijuana sales are subject to Massachusetts' 6.25 percent sales tax, along with a 10.75 percent state excise tax and a 3 percent local tax. That adds up a 20 percent tax paid by the consumer at the point of purchase.
Medical marijuana remains untaxed.
WHEN WILL MORE STORES OPEN?
The slow rollout of recreational marijuana sales is expected to continue for some time in Massachusetts.
A third store, in the town of Wareham near Cape Cod, has been issued a final license and could open soon.
For the moment, that still leaves large swaths of the state without easy access to legal recreational marijuana, including all of greater Boston where more than half of the state's population resides.
WHERE ELSE IS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LEGAL?
Recreational marijuana sales are legal in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California and Nevada. Maine is expected to begin legal sales sometime next year.
Adult use of marijuana is also legal in Vermont and the District of Columbia, but there are no provisions for legal sales in either place.
In November, Michigan became the first Midwestern state to approve a recreational pot measure. Sales there could begin in 2020.
Associated Press