On Thursday, local time, New York's first government-licensed marijuana shop opened for business, receiving 500 people in a short period of time, and was forced to close after less than 3 hours of opening due to too many cannabis enthusiasts.
The store, located in Lower Manhattan, next to New York University, is the first of 36 pharmacies recently licensed and operated by an institution called Housing Works, The Associated Press reported Dec. 29.
After New York State legalized the use of marijuana in March 2021, the state government received numerous applications to open marijuana retail stores,
There are still 139 companies waiting in line for business licenses, and 900 applicants are still waiting for news.
According to the New York Post, the store opened at 4:20 a.m. local time on Thursday afternoon. At this time, a large number of "cannabis enthusiasts" have already gathered at the door. A long line of eager smokers waited in anticipation of buying marijuana legally for the first time.
People waiting in line to buy marijuana
Chris Alexander, executive director of the state cannabis office, was seen on camera buying watermelon-flavored cannabis gummies. "We've done a lot of work to get to this point, we still have a lot of work to do, and we have a lot of stores to open," he said. ”
Alexander shows the purchased cannabis gummies
New York City Councilwoman Karina Rivera, who also spearheaded the purchase of cannabis gum, said: "We are the financial center of the world, the greatest city on earth. ”
Alex Tlatenberg, 22, paid $50 to hire someone to queue for him for four hours, bought some marijuana food and marijuana vapes, and prepared to watch Avatar 2.
Some people smoke marijuana while queuing
It's worth noting that this shop only accepts cash.
Even so, the number exceeded expectations. Britt Buchner, the store's assistant manager, said they received nearly 500 people in a short period of time. They offer customers a wide variety of cannabis products, from cannabis cigarette rolls to THC vape packs to gummy foods.
Cannabis products sold in the store
The store was forced to close at 7 p.m., while about 150 people were still queuing outside the door, who were told to "come back on Friday."
Crowds in line
Buchner was so pleased with the success that they hired 14 employees, with the number expected to grow.
"It's like a bunch of kids celebrating Christmas," she said, "and it's nice to see everyone's smiling faces, full of energy and excitement." Buchner said it's safer to buy cannabis in the store because everything is tested and "you know what's in your product."
New York State argues that legalizing marijuana, in addition to increasing revenues, would make marijuana users "safer." Compared to the past, cannabis trading is often done in dark alleys, and now the government can strengthen the regulation of cannabis shops.
Previously, marijuana was the most commonly used federal illegal drug in the United States. In 1996, California was the first state in the United States to legalize medical marijuana.
Currently, 39 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., have enacted laws legalizing medical marijuana, with 21 states and Washington, D.C., legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.
In addition to marijuana, New York was the first city in the United States to implement legal drug injection sites. On November 30, 2021, the first regulated "drug-safe injection sites" in the United States officially opened in New York.
"Drug-safe injection points" are said to provide clean needles, but drug users must "bring their own drugs" and "well-trained" staff will help them avoid overdoses and provide them with counseling for withdrawal treatment.
Whether it is the legalization of marijuana or the opening of legal drug injection sites, these measures are controversial. Opponents argue that these legal use of drugs will only lead to a further spread of drugs.