There were just 18 recreational marijuana dispensaries open for business in Denver on New Year's Day, the first day it was legal for anyone over 21 to buy the drug anywhere in the United States since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.
Little wonder, then, that the lines were long. Some in the queue at The Shelter were long-time smokers, come for their first taste of legal weed; others just wanted to witness a historic moment. One young man was dropped off by his dad.
Only when we reached the front of the queue, after more than two hours outside in freezing temperatures, did we see the price list taped to the door: an ounce (28.3g) of cannabis (the maximum single purchase allowed for Colorado citizens) would cost US$400 ($485) - plus the whopping 25 per cent tax imposed on all recreational marijuana sales. One of my companions grumbled he could buy the same amount on the street, tax-free, for no more than US$250.
Finally, we were allowed inside, where our state IDs were checked - I used my California driver's licence - to confirm that we were all over 21. We were offered a free commemorative T-shirt and told the dispensary accepted cash only. In the waiting area was a display cabinet filled with bongs, vapourisers and other paraphernalia for sale, as well as baseball caps, bobble hats and hoodies all branded with the dispensary logo. A poster on the wall encouraged us to sign into the location on Foursquare, thus informing our social network friends that we were out buying drugs.
