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Main Street Marijuana: It’s open!

I’ve been Tweeting like a mad fiend all morning at @Col_Cannabis, taking pictures and filing stories, but I wanted to get at least a small post out to all you wonderful blog readers.

Thanks so much for following along with us! It’s a fascinating time to live in Washington and I really appreciate the support everyone has given for this blog.

(Main Street Marijuana opened its doors this morning just after 11 a.m.)
(Main Street Marijuana opened its doors this morning just after 11 a.m.)

It’s been a fun, if tiring day. Tons of people showed up for the grand opening of Main Street Marijuana this morning.

Justin Dufour of the marijuana services company Viridian Sciences, which has offices down the street, was the store’s first honorary customer.

(Justin Dufour, Viridian Sciences, is Main Street Marijuana's first customer)
(Justin Dufour, Viridian Sciences, is Main Street Marijuana’s first customer)

But Mark Edwards of Salem, Ore., was the first customer in line to buy pot in Vancouver. Edwards, 42, and a friend drove to Vancouver at 3 a.m. to secure their places at the front of the line.

I, of course, had to get silly photos with both of them to mark the day.

(here's me with Mark Edwards, who was first in line at the store)
(here’s me with Mark Edwards, who was first in line at the store)
(here's an even sillier picture of me with Justin)
(here’s an even sillier picture of me with Justin)

At the ribbon cutting, I managed to get a few quick moments with Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt. I asked him what he thought about the city eventually allowing a hempfest in Esther Short Park.

(Leavitt enters the store prior to the ribbon cutting)
(Leavitt enters the store prior to the ribbon cutting)

“If somebody wanted to put on a hempfest and we would be able to accomodate that I don’t see why we wouldn’t do that,” Leavitt said.

However, he added that there would have to be some assurances that illegal activity (i.e. public consumption or illegal sales of marijuana) would not be part of a hempfest.

Leavitt didn’t buy any pot on Wednesday, but he did admit he smoked some in Amsterdam on a visit a few years ago.

Asked if he would buy some in Vancouver when the prices drop. he said “I would put it at better than 50-50 that I would.”

Somewhat of a political answer, but I think it does show the city’s willingness to support the industry.

The legal industry.

The perfectly legal marijuana industry in Washington state.

That has an interesting ring to it, doesn’t it?

I’ll have a lot more tomorrow. For now, though, I hope everyone has had a great day.

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know if you partook of the festivities in uptown today!

Cheers,
-SueVo