The Northern Albertans are starting the cannabis game very strong.

In terms of being anti-climatic, today's weed legalization falls somewhere between Y2K and Season 2 of True Detective. Was this what it was like when Prohibition ended? A huge part of the problem is that there's no newly opened establishment where Jane and John Q. Citizen can stroll into and celebrate this day by legally buying pot for no other reason than they want to get high. Sorry: there's one, but it's in Kamloops, a short 4.5 hours away over the Highway Thru Hell. Great. Meanwhile, our friends in Alberta have gotten their game together. Perhaps it's that they didn't have the hundreds of grey area spots to mute the transition or perhaps it's the Prairie work ethic, but when the not failing New York Times did their big story of Canadian legalization today, which establishment did they choose to feature? This kick-ass spot in Edmonton. It's called Fire & Flower, and while the above shot is from their downtown flagship location (where they used "mixed woods, stonework and bursts of lush green plants to exude lively peacefulness" according to their website), they also opened three other locations today, with seven others soon to follow. Wait, there's more. Just scanning their website I came across this insane little tidbit: one of the directors of the company is Norm Inkster, a former commissioner of Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the former head of Interpol. I Googled him assuming it was a prank. It is not. To be fair, B.C.'s lone store in Kamloops looks pretty dope as well (hah!): But it's 350 kilometres away. So hats off to you, YEG—round one of the Stoner Olympics goes to you.