The updated account of Weed-Tuesday, photos and all, can be found here — Legal, recreational marijuana goes on sale for first time in Washington state

Seattlepi.com news intern Evan Pappas contributed to this story.

They started showing up early Monday to be a part of history …

Some of the first retail stores to be licensed by the Washington Liquor Control Board will start selling marijuana under laws created by voters with the passage of Initiative 502 … beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday. (You can see them in the gallery above.)

… they’ll probably have to stop selling for a day or two after that once the supply of state-licensed weed runs out, but that’s hardly the point right now. Right now, with I-502’s passage some 20 months ago, the point is to sell some … get the puffing started … the joint rolling. That sort of thing.

That said, one store we talked to — Altitude in Prosser — is doing more of a “soft opening.” They’re holding on some of their stash for after the first-day rush. “We don’t want to sell out the first day, so we’ve limited it to 300 people” that day and gaging how much to sell after that based on demand and supply, said owner Tim Thompson.

What’ll you pay? $10 to $25 and maybe more here and there for certain strains.

The good folks up in Bellingham running Top Self say they’ll have some $10 or less weed for the first 50 to 100 buyers (judging by the lines) when they open at 8 a.m.

“We’re going to reward the people of Washington state,” said John Evich, a Top Shelf investor.

(Keep in mind that I-502 rules out cutting prices too far by forcing stores to sell their supply for at least as much as they paid for it, plus tax.)

At Cannabis City, which will be the first recreational marijuana shop in Seattle (which will eventually get 21), owner James Lathrop told the Associated Press that he planned to hold off on opening his store until noon on Tuesday.

“Know your audience: We’re talking stoners here,” he told the AP. “I’d be mean to say they need to get up at 5 a.m. to get in line.”









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Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Deb Greene (foreground), 65, and George Vargas, 64, wait outside Cannabis City for the opening on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. Greene lined up at around 3:00 pm so she could "be a part of history." (Joshua Bessex / seattlepi.com)(Joshua Bessex, seattlepi.com) less Deb Greene (foreground), 65, and George Vargas, 64, wait outside Cannabis City for the opening on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. Greene lined up at around 3:00 pm so she could "be a part ... more Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 3 of 12 Deb Greene (left), 65, meets a security team outside of Cannabis City for the opening on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. Greene lined up at around 3:00 pm so she could "be a part of history." (Joshua Bessex / seattlepi.com) less Deb Greene (left), 65, meets a security team outside of Cannabis City for the opening on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. Greene lined up at around 3:00 pm so she could "be a part of ... more Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 12 Pipes sit in a case in Cannabis City on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. (Joshua Bessex / seattlepi.com) Pipes sit in a case in Cannabis City on July 7, 2014. The store opens July 8, 2014 at noon. (Joshua Bessex / seattlepi.com) Photo: JOSHUA BESSEX / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 A framed-print offering congratulations on the opening of the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City sits with a bottle of sparkling wine on the shop counter Monday, July 7, 2014, in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store initially in Seattle to legally sell recreational pot when sales begin Tuesday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less A framed-print offering congratulations on the opening of the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City sits with a bottle of sparkling wine on the shop counter Monday, July 7, 2014, in Seattle. The store ... more Photo: Elaine Thompson / AP Image 7 of 12 Krystal Klacsan prepares artwork to be hung, Monday, July 7, 2014 behind a case displaying glass bongs at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle. When legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, the store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less Krystal Klacsan prepares artwork to be hung, Monday, July 7, 2014 behind a case displaying glass bongs at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle. When legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 8 of 12 An ATM sits next to a case displaying glass bongs, Monday, July 7, 2014 at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle. When legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, the store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less An ATM sits next to a case displaying glass bongs, Monday, July 7, 2014 at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle. When legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, the store will be the ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / ASSOCIATED PRESS Image 9 of 12 A full-page announcement that the grand opening of the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle will be held at "high noon" on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, is displayed Monday, July 7, 2014. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana when legal sales begin on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less A full-page announcement that the grand opening of the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle will be held at "high noon" on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, is displayed Monday, July 7, 2014. The store ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / AP Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 A pamphlet titles "Marijuana Use in Washington State," is displayed Monday, July 7, 2014, at the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana when legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less A pamphlet titles "Marijuana Use in Washington State," is displayed Monday, July 7, 2014, at the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren / AP Image 12 of 12 History: First customers show; meet your 25 Washington marijuana retailers 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Don’t go to Canada with it

If you’re thinking of going back to Canada with some stash or just crossing the border to wave it around and thumb your nose at our neighbors known collectively for supplying decades of B.C. Bud … don’t.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection send out an advisory this morning saying as much. The agency is …

… reminding travelers crossing the border that possession of any amount of marijuana remains a violation under Federal law. In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance and CBP’s enforcement of that Act remains unchanged irrespective of any changes in Washington State law. Whether arriving or exiting the United States, seizure and civil monetary penalties remain in effect for possession of any amount of marijuana. Foreign visitors who are found to have violated any Federal or State law or regulation relating to a controlled substance risk additional consequences and may be deemed inadmissible to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and barred from entry.

However, they’re also hoping “you enjoy your summer travels.” Okey dokey.

Related story: Marijuana for sale on Tuesday: High noon in Seattle, 8 a.m. in Bellingham

Also, some of the nations pro-pot/legalization groups sent word of their applause:

“Washington and Colorado are leading the way, and it won’t be long before more states follow. Americans are fed up with the failed policy of marijuana prohibition. Voters and elected officials around the country have been waiting for viable alternatives, and now they can see what they look like in practice. It’s clear that regulating marijuana works,” said Mason Tvert, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project. “This is a major shift in public policy, so it is not going to be perfect at first. Like with alcohol, it will take some time to determine which regulations work and which do not. Legislators, members of the marijuana business community, and other experts are working together in Colorado to do just that. Marijuana is a less harmful substance than alcohol, so there is no reason why it can’t be regulated in a similar manner.”

And from police officers who back legalization (including Seattle’s Norm Stamper):

“I’m sure the first day will be a disappointment to some consumers,” said Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), 34-year police veteran and executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of law enforcement officials opposed to the war on drugs. “But this isn’t meant to be a party. Any delays are reflective of the fact that Washington state is taking the responsibility to regulate and control this new industry seriously.” “Washingtonians know that, as in Colorado, governments both foreign and domestic will be watching to see how legalization progresses in the state,” said Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper (Ret.), a LEAP speaker and advisory board member. “And I imagine that, as in Colorado, lower crime rates, increased tax revenue, thousands of new jobs and continuing public support will indicate legalizing and regulating marijuana is one of the simplest ways to improve not just our criminal justice system, but our state governments generally.”

Also, Leafly (a Seattle-based online info/education resource for cannabis consumers, whose evaluation of strains we’ve used in the past) will be giving out hundreds of free lunches around Seattle and passing around tips for safely using marijuana.

Will you get in line to buy legal marijuana in Washington? Yes

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Not Tuesday ... but maybe later in the week! View Results

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What the Liquor Control Board said (note the press release says 24 but one more store was cleared and is now in the list):

Businesses receiving their licenses today represent the first of 334 licenses allotted by the WSLCB for retail sales who have successfully completed the licensing process. Locations receiving licenses were selected by taking into account population, geographic dispersion and the individual applicant’s readiness to be licensed. Today’s issuance of the first retail licenses represents the latest step following nearly 18 months of establishing a tightly controlled and comprehensive system of producing, processing and retailing recreational marijuana. Highlights include: Crafting the rules governing Washington’s recreational marijuana system;

Establishing a traceability system for tracking marijuana products from production to retail;

Establishing a system and certification requirements for laboratories and testing procedures for labs testing recreational marijuana;

Building and training marijuana licensing, enforcement and financial teams for administering and enforcing the law;

Conducting thorough criminal and financial investigations of all license types;

Developing a process for a third-party to conduct a double-blind lottery for establishing an ordered list of retail license applicants; and

Actively working with industry members, public agencies and community organizations to further public and consumer safety education. The WSLCB was especially concerned with the impact to children. There are strict rules regarding packaging, labeling and advertising to ensure they not appeal to children. In June, the LCB announced emergency rules that include a label and product approval process.

Now … enough preamble, damn it!

Jake Ellison can be reached at 206-448-8334 or jakeellison@seattlepi.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook.

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