Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jan 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Scott Franz, Steamboat Today

STEAMBOAT STARTS POT SALES

Most of the customers on the mountain town's first day of legalized
marijuana sales are from out of state.

Steamboat Springs - Don Eckelmeyer was upbeat when he left his home in
Jackson, Wyo., at 3 a.m.

He then drove more than 300 miles to buy his first legal bag of
marijuana here. "It's the closest place," he said. When he got here,
he and his fiance patiently waited in a line of more than 80 people
for about two hours to make the purchase at Rocky Mountain Remedies.

He and his fiance plan to use the marijuana for medical
purposes.

He said he has a torn right ankle from athletic activities. She gets
chronic migraines.

"We can't get medicinal marijuana back home, so this is the next best
thing," Eckelmeyer said.

Nearby, an Alpine Taxi van pulled up to drop off a large group of
tourists at the shop.

Some were waiting to buy pot just to have a good time. Others wanted
it for pain management or for a loved one dying of cancer.

"I just enjoy it. It makes me feel better," said Frank Rayas, 22,
standing at the front of the line.

But he knew he couldn't take his purchase on the flight home to San
Marcos, Texas, just as it would be illegal for Eckelmeyer to return to
Wyoming with his marijuana.

Wednesday morning marked the start of an unprecedented era of pot
sales in Steamboat Springs, and the demand for the product was high
right out of the gate, especially among tourists.

The vast majority of people in line weren't from Colorado, with ages
ranging from 21 to seniors.

Most hailed from Texas and were here for MusicFest or ski vacations.
Others were visiting from Maryland, Nebraska, Florida, Tennessee,
North Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, South Carolina, Arkansas, Montana, New
York, Illinois and the District of Columbia.

The first bag of recreational pot sold in Steamboat Springs was
purchased by 22-year-old Minnesota resident Patrick Krenke.

Reggae music was playing from his Subaru Outback when he and the first
group of shoppers arrived at Rocky Mountain Remedies an hour before it
opened at 10 a.m.

"How does it feel?" a person in line shouted at him as he walked out
with the first bag of marijuana.

"I'll feel good in about 20 minutes," he said, grinning. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D