NEWS

Marijuana and other prohibited drugs are now freely available in United States after the state voters approved the legalization of pot industry in November 2012. The first recreational marijuana industry in US reportedly opened its doors to the public right on the very first day of 2014. The first recreational drug spot in the U.S. opened in Colorado, where customers stood in lines for hours to buy legal marijuana after presenting nothing more than identification. 

Thousands of people celebrated the end of drug prohibition and several drug users traveled from other states to Denver just to buy drugs from the legal market. Around 37 Marijuana stores across the state were fully licensed and opened to sell the drugs to anyone 21 or over for any purpose, according to the official lists and Denver Post research.

"In a historic swirl of commerce and cannabis, the world's first stores licensed to sell marijuana legally to anyone 21 or older opened in Colorado on Wednesday, January 01, 2014," Denverpost news said.

Despite the long lines and blustery winter weather, marijuana shoppers in Denver, Colorado cheerfully and patiently waited on the long lanes of drug users testing the nation's first legal recreational pot shops Wednesday, the AFP news reports.

"This feels like freedom at last," said Amy Reynolds, owner of two Colorado Springs medical pot shops. Reynolds came to Denver to toast the dawn of pot sales for recreational use.

"It's a plant, it's harmless, and now anyone over 21 can buy it if they want to. Beautiful," he added.

The Marijuana Customers

Lucas DaSilva of Georgia made a night-long drive and slept in his car with his dog before settling at the front door of the Telluride Green Room about dawn. A few hours later, he emerged from the store $180 lighter but holding 6 grams — about one-fifth of an ounce — of African Queen, Acapulco Gold and Bubble Gum strains of cannabis and several marijuana-infused edibles.

"I'm at a loss for words," he said, then, with arms outstretched, yelled, "Happy New Year!" — prompting cheers from the line. "This is history I just made," he said. "I can't believe it. Such a blessing."

"It's a huge deal for me," said Andre Barr, a 34-year-old deliveryman who drove from Niles, Mich., to be part of the legal weed experiment. "This wait is nothing."

"I've been waiting 34 years for this moment," enthused Chrissy Robinson, who arrived at one store, Evergreen Apothecary in Denver, at 2 a.m. to be among the first in line. "I've been smoking since I was 14. No more sneaking around."

“I’m going to frame the receipt when I go home, to remind myself of what might be possible. Legal everywhere,” James Aaron Ramsey said, who served a brief jail sentence for pot possession less than a year ago and was excited to legally buy weed.

Activists hope to prove that legalization of Marijuana sale is a better alternative compared to the costly American-led war on  prohibited drugs. Moreover, drug advocates argued that a legal market with proper regulations would generate revenue for states and save money by not having the drug offenders put into jail.

Marijuana activists enjoyed the success of their attempt to overturn anti-cannabis laws. (PDI, AFP, Denverpost)