NEWAYGO COUNTY, MI -- Roy Boothe shivered in his Carhartt jacket.

The North Carolina native moved to Michigan only four months ago, and with wind chills in the single digits, this was by far one of the coldest days this winter.

Some others waited nearby in their cars and trucks. But not Boothe: he desired to be one of the first customers opening day of a recreational marijuana dispensary in White Cloud.

“Down in North Carolina, we have nothing like this, so when I heard you can actually have this experience I was going to be here all night if I had to,” he said before laughing. “It wasn’t that bad of a wait.”

Boothe, who waited for about an hour, was among about 15 other people in line as Skymint White Cloud, one of few recreational dispensaries in West Michigan, had its grand opening for recreational marijuana sales Thursday morning, Feb. 13, at 194 N. Charles St.

If you are reading this in your Facebook app, use this link to view the entire gallery of photos.

Most of those in line were from Newaygo and White Cloud. Those who traveled the furthest were from Greenville and Grand Rapids.

Where can I legally buy recreational marijuana in Michigan? Here’s a map

Brian Franklin, who said he’s been a long-time user of cannabis for its calming qualities, traveled an hour on snowy roads from his home in Greenville.

“It’s weird,” Franklin said as he waited to make his first legal purchase of marijuana. “It’s a lot better this way. It’s rough trying to get it any other way.”

Newaygo resident Suzanne Maring said legal marijuana sales have been a long time coming. She said she knew it would eventually come but thought it would happen during her children’s generation.

“We’ve been waiting our whole lives for this,” Maring said. “It’s a world of difference. I don’t have to depend on anyone else. I can just run to the store and grab it like the guy next to me can his six pack.”

At the grand opening, Skymint White Cloud offered about 14 strains of marijuana, with names like 9lb Hammer, Sherbnado, Wonka Bars 11, Platinum OG Kush and Wedding Pie.

The shop additionally sold a variety of THC-infused edibles, smoking glassware, vaping devices and CBD products.

Boothe, who moved to Michigan for family and lives in White Cloud, said he’ll be back to shop again.

"It’s nice because you don’t have to worry about what is being put on it, that it’s safe,” Boothe said of legal marijuana sales. “And you don’t have to sweat bullets getting it. It’s a great experience. Something I’ve been waiting for.”

Just an hour after opening, about 30 people had been serviced. The shop’s ATM machine stopped working shortly after opening, forcing some to get cash elsewhere and then come back.

The sales floor space -- with display cases for products and computers to browse through other offerings -- measures about 300 square feet.

The shop was rebranded as Skymint White Cloud after being a medical marijuana provisioning center called White River Wellness.

Lansing-based Green Peak Innovations owns White River Wellness and the Skymint brand.

The White Cloud location is one of the few active recreational dispensaries in West and Southwest Michigan. Currently, there are recreational dispensaries open for business in Muskegon and Battle Creek and near South Haven.

There also is an active recreational marijuana shop in Evart, which is about 17 miles northwest of Big Rapids and 35 miles northwest of White Cloud.

Regular dispensary hours at the White Cloud store are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Read more:

‘It’s about time:’ Patients can get medical marijuana from facility in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids sets 4/20 target date to accept recreational marijuana applications

Grand Rapids approves more medical marijuana dispensaries, bringing total to 24

Second Muskegon marijuana dispensary announces recreational sales forthcoming