Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Retail cannabis sales begin in Michigan

First-time Michigan recreational marijuana shoppers stranded in line given complimentary joints - mlive.com - Gus Burns:

December 2, 2019 - "Sunday Dec. 1, the first day of recreational retail marijuana sales in Michigan ... Ann Arbor marijuana shops, Arbors Wellness, Exclusive Brands and Greenstone Provisions, opened about 10 a.m..... Each experienced consistently long lines with customers numbering in the hundreds throughout the day. First-day marijuana sales among the three stores equaled $221,000, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency reports.

"Hours before Michigan's first retail recreational marijuana sale, eager customers waited in festive lines. Exclusive Brands ... served over 900 people by the time the Ann Arbor city ordinance required them to close shop at 9 p.m., co-owner Omat Hishmeh said. Nearly 25 line-stranded customers were treated for their patience. They were given a 'Willy Wonka golden ticket,' which allows them to cut to the front of the line during their next visit, received discount coupons and were entered into a raffle for front-row Detroit Pistons tickets....

"James Daly, the owner of Arbors Wellness ... said his staff served 750 customers throughout the day and turned nearly 50 away at closing time. As a consolation, those customers were offered complimentary pre-rolled joints, Daly said....

"Based on what employees say they sold and what customers said they spent, it’s likely all three marijuana stores generated sales near or in excess of $100,000.... None of the three shops experienced shortages and both Exclusive and Arbors Wellness said they are able to keep up with demand for the foreseeable future....

"As of Monday, the state Marijuana Regulatory Agency had licensed seven businesses.... It expects at least a dozen to be licensed statewide by the new year....

"Some of the forefathers of Michigan marijuana legalization -- and casualties of its prohibition -- convened at Arbors Wellness prior to 10 a.m.... They spoke of the confusion following passage of the medical marijuana law in 2008, ... the raids and prosecutions that followed and the slow shift in public and political sentiment that led to licensed legalization Sunday....

"Among the legalization pioneers was activist and poet John Sinclair, who in 1969 began serving more than two years of a 10-year sentence that was later overturned for possession of two joints. Sinclair made a ceremonial purchase of pre-rolled joints before the business opened to the public."

Read more: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2019/12/first-time-michigan-recreational-marijuana-shoppers-stranded-in-line-given-complimentary-joints.html
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