There was no shortage of crowds at pot shops in the City of Shasta Lake which began recreational cannabis sales Monday.
And there was definitely an excitement in the air as many people set foot in a marijuana dispensary for the first time.
“We’re fully staffed,” Stephanie Pierce of 530 Cannabis said. “Everybody’s very excited, anxious, and we’re just happy to be a part of this great day.”
First time customers were given information packets to teach them about the different kinds of products available to them.
And staff were available to answer any questions.
Owner Jamie Garzot said she and her staff have spent a lot of time getting to know the new rules inside and out.
“And we’ve had to get used to a whole new array of policies, how we deal with a new customer base in conjunction with our existing customer base,” Garzot said. “And it’s been a transition for all of us and it will continue to be that.”
One of the main differences is that there’s a cap on the amount and strength of the products a recreational customer can buy versus a medicinal patient.
But for former medical marijuana patient Jon Bell of Anderson, the cap is more than enough for him to get the medicine he needs.
“My script had expired about two months prior, didn’t have the money to afford to reinstate it,” Bell said. “But now that it’s recreational, I can just come in and buy it myself.”
But at Leave it to Nature, staff said most of the people they helped today were first time customers.
“We definitely have seen quite a few adult use patients,” manager Randi Diem said. “And it’s kind of exciting for them to come in. I figured we’d get a a lot of lookie lookies to see actually what a marijuana store is.”
Many people seemed optimistic.
Bell said he sees the new era as a win-win for the city and for consumers.
“I think it’s great,” he said. “I think it gives a lot of people an opportunity to get medicine that they need without having to go get a recommendation. And they can also stop taking all these prescription pills and everything. It’s going to be really healthy for everyone in the community.”
In Siskiyou County, dispensaries in the City of Mount Shasta also began selling to recreational customers January 1.
Customers need only be over the age of 21 and have a valid ID or driver’s license to purchase recreational marijuana in the State of California.
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