It’s a Happy New Year indeed for California state residents, and those of you planning a trip to Cali, as the state has legalized recreational marijuana. Precisely at 12:01am, marijuana received broad legalization, two decades after California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, according to the Associated Press.
Recreational marijuana is no legal for those of you who are 21+ in age.
“This was another milestone in California’s voter-approved efforts to be smarter and more cost-effective about preventing real crime,” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told HuffPost. ”Now it’s time for California to transition a billion-dollar industry largely existing in the shadows of the black market into a tracked, traced, taxed and tightly regulated system.”
It will be hard to find the establishments offering you recreational marijuana as only 90 businesses received state licenses to open on New Year’s Day. It’s worth noting that Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the many cities where recreational pot won’t be available right away, so have some patience.
Berkeley Patients Group, the nation’s oldest, continuously operating dispensary in the country, as well as the first dispensary in the Bay Area – and fifth in the state – one of the few companies to receive a temporary retail permit from the California Bureau of Cannabis Control.
“We are thrilled to be one of the first recipients of a state license and are thankful for the opportunity to now serve quality cannabis to a larger community in a safe and welcoming environment,” Étienne Fontán, vice president and director Berkeley Patients Group, said to HuffPost.
“This historic occasion represents a culmination of dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. We have been fighting long and hard to get to where we are today, and the significance of this moment cannot be overstated. We are honored to have the opportunity to further legitimize the cannabis industry while continuing to provide a first-class experience for our patients and introducing a broader base of adult consumers to the enjoyable qualities of cannabis” Sean Luse, BPG’s Chief Operating Officer, said in a press release.
420 Discovery is working hard to build a directory for Californians to use so they can find their 420 shops, and we wanted to commemorate the milestone by featuring Berkeley Patients Group today.
Although this phrase is used daily, it has special meaning in California today; Happy 420!