Pubdate: Fri, 02 Oct 2015 Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) Copyright: 2015 Statesman Journal Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/QEzJupzz Website: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427 Author: Saerom Yoo RETAIL MARIJUANA SALES BEGIN IN SALEM A group of about 12 people milled around the locked door of Canna Medicine, a medical marijuana dispensary in South Salem. It was a sunny Thursday morning just before 10 a.m., the first day Oregonians age 21 and up could legally purchase recreational marijuana. More than 250 stores statewide that were already selling medical marijuana opened to the general public to sell to recreational users. Portland dispensaries could start selling retail marijuana starting at midnight, but Salem stores began selling at 10 a.m. Diane Gourley, 70, of Lyons, had been waiting outside Canna Medicine since 6:40 a.m., she said. "I thought there would be a big long line," she said. "I thought they were going to sell out." Canna Medicine's manager, Crystal Young, walked outside and greeted the customers. "I'm going to check everybody's ID so please be patient!" she said, as she opened the door. "Even the old farts too?" one man quipped. "Everyone!" Young replied. The group, a mix of women, men, young and old, streamed through the lobby in a line to show their IDs. Each person received a goody bag, filled with brochures and a small wooden pipe. They walked into the restricted area of the dispensary, where the goods would be sold. With white paper lanterns and wood-panel walls, the room had a relaxing, tiki hut feel. The crowd quietly waited their turn. Oregon is the third state to allow recreational marijuana sales to adults after voters passed a ballot measure last year. Customers can buy up to 7 grams at a time. Edibles, oils and lotions are not yet available to retail customers. At the counter, customers were asked to show their IDs once more. They sniffed mason jars filled with marijuana of different strains, with names like Train Wreck, Cheese and Gumby. Train Wreck was the most powerful, with 29 percent THC, and also the most coveted. "It's the most potent right now," Young said, as she pre-weighed 1 gram containers of weed, rapidly trying to stay ahead of the demand that streamed in consistently. "That's what most people are going for." Young said she and other staffers stayed up until 3 a.m. Thursday morning preparing the 1 gram bottles of weed. The containers look like prescription pill bottles, but they're solid and green. But before the first hour of sales were up, the hundreds of bottles of product they prepared were running dangerously low. "We are very nervous but super excited," Young said. "We want to make sure we get it right, but we're very excited for everyone in Oregon." Young was referring to the detailed regulations the Oregon Health Authority has put forth for medical dispensary operators selling retail marijuana. OHA spokesman Jonathan Modie said Thursday that a compliance specialist visited five dispensaries in the Portland area to monitor retail sales. He said for the most part dispensaries were in compliance with regulations, although a few had problems with not posting clear signage in the entryway indicating only medical marijuana cardholders and retail customers age 21 and up could enter. He said another issue was dispensaries giving away free product, which is against the rules. OHA will continue to visit dispensaries and also respond to complaints of noncompliance, including allegations that people were giving away marijuana in the parking lot of a dispensary without checking ID and with a child nearby, Modie said. Modie added that while the medical marijuana program only has two compliance specialists on staff currently (with one on vacation) it is in the process of hiring about a dozen more. "That speaks to our recognition of this new situation we're in with regard to retail sales," he said. At Canna Medicine, Young shifted quickly from weighing and bottling marijuana to answering phone calls asking about recreational sales (as long as you have an ID indicating you're at least 21, she can help you), to assisting the occasional medical marijuana patients who walked in. Medical marijuana cardholders have paved the way for the recreational marijuana market, Young said. They have their own area of the dispensary to purchase their medicine. They will never wait behind recreational marijuana customers, she said. John Cotton was among the first to buy recreational marijuana from Canna Medicine. He went with Train Wreck, he said. "It's phenomenal," Cotton said. "I never thought I'd live long enough to see it become legal. And I'm glad it did. Oregon is a progressive state." Cotton said he enjoyed marijuana's "tranquility effect" and that using it brings back old memories. Willamette University law students Drew Thomas and Brodia Minter visited the store looking for a different kind of high. Rather than a euphoric high, they sought a relaxing, medicinal experience. They ended up purchasing Critical Mass, which Young said has a low THC level and is recommended for pain relief. "It's wonderful it's absolutely wonderful," Minter said of the opportunity to purchase recreational marijuana legally. "There's no stigma." Still, multiple customers asked not to be named or photographed. Modie urged dispensary operators to continually check their protocols against the regulations posted on Oregon Health Authority's website. [sidebar] Salem dispensaries selling retail marijuana The Holistic Choice, 1045 Commercial St. SE, (503) 990-7312 Peace Love and Cannabis, 2625 Highway 22 NW, (971) 701-3694 Piper's Holistic Essentials, 1729 Center St. NE #170, (503) 586-3349 Club Pitbull, 4088 State St., (503) 409-8192, http://www.clubpitbull.org TLC Medical LLC, 4550 Commercial Street S, (503) 339-7158 1st Choice Cannabis, 4142 Liberty Road S, (971) 301-0744, www.1stchoicecannabis.com The Joint, 3270 Market St. NE, (971) 304-7131 Cherry City Compassion, 2025 25th St. SE, (971) 273-7607, http://www.cherrycitycompassion.net ANCIENT REMEDIES, 2350 State St, (503) 990-6723 Kaya Shack 2, 5757 Commercial St. SE, #108, (503) 954-2348, www.kayashack.com 2nd Step Dispensary, 1295 Oxford St. SE, (503) 391-8214, http://naturequestllc.com Herbal Grasslands LLC, 1130 Royvonne Ave. SE, #104, (503) 364-9522 Green-Way Medicinal Inc., 1865 Beach Ave. NE, (415) 377-1817, http://www.greenway.care/ Canna Medicine, 3212 Triangle Drive SE, (971) 239-7215, www.cannamedicine.org Source: Oregon Health Authority - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom