Hundreds wait in line for first day of legalized recreational marijuana sales

ANN ARBOR – Nearly two hours before the first sales of recreational marijuana began Sunday, the line at Arbor Wellness snaked around a city block.

And Nick St. Onge was the first in line, arriving from his Clinton Township home shortly before 7 a.m.

“It’s a historic moment. I wanted to be one of the first ones to buy legal marijuana,” he said. “To not have to worry about it anymore. I can just walk in and buy it instead of going to somebody on the street to find it. It’s tested and that’s comforting.”

It wasn't a cheap trip for St. Onge. His bag of Head master Kush and Mint Milano flower rang in at $414, "But it will last me awhile."

The actual first sale happened at 9:50 a.m. to legendary cannabis activist John Sinclair, a Detroit resident who racked up three marijuana-related arrests in the 1960s and landed a 10-year prison sentence for giving an undercover cop two joints. His plight attracted the attention of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who headlined a concert in Ann Arbor in 1971 to bring attention to Sinclair's arrest.

He was joined by Ryan Basore, who also was arrested and spent three years in federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, for running medical cannabis dispensaries in Lansing during a time when there were few rules and regulations on medical marijuana. Their 10 pre-rolled joints of GG #4 and Forbidden Jelly totaled $160.35.

These days, Sinclair doesn’t have to worry about finding weed, he’s been smoking every day for decades. But he wanted to be in Ann Arbor to help celebrate the momentous moment for marijuana.

“To me, this is all for other people. I’ve been able to get weed every day since 1962,” he said. “But I’m glad for the average person that they don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

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Hundreds of people waited in lines at three Ann Arbor marijuana retail stores — Arbor Wellness, Greenstone Provisions and Exclusive Brands — on the first day of legal recreational sales in Michigan. Those were the only three shops open on Sunday with more to come as the state licenses more stores.

Customers came from near and far for the first day of recreational sales, including trips from Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The day was one part rampant capitalism with marijuana businesses dealing with the challenges created by the crowds and one part circus.

“I love cannabis,” hollered one man at Greenstone Provisions.

“You don’t have to run anymore. It’s legal now,” said another man at Arbor Wellness to a pair of runners who passed the line of marijuana customers.

And Aaron Bobo, an employee at Hungry Howie’s in Saline, ran back and forth to his car grabbing more cheese and pepperoni pizzas that he was selling — at $10 bucks a pop — to the hundreds of people patiently waiting in line at Exclusive Brands.

He was doing a brisk business.

State Rep Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, wasn't buying products Sunday, but wanted to greet customers — many were his constituents — outside Arbor Wellness.

"It's a whole new day," he said. "As we go into the recreational market, we have to make sure we’re not doing it at the expense of the medical market, because this demand is huge."

The recreational sales became possible when the state decided to allow licensed marijuana businesses to transfer 50% of their inventory from the medical side of the business to the recreational side. But there is a fear that the transfer will result in a reduction in supply for medical patients.

"While we can’t guarantee there won’t be a shortage at some point, we’re doing fairly well at this point," said Narmin Jarrous, executive vice president for business development at Executive Brands. "I got here at 6 a.m. and there was already a long line."

The sales come more than a year after voters approved legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use. Under the ballot proposal, use, possession and sales of marijuana are now legal to anyone 21 or older. People also can grow up to 12 plants for personal use.

Andrew Brisbo, director of the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency, said he was proud of the state’s ability to get recreational sales started months sooner than expected.

“I am proud of the hard work our team put in to implement the will of the voters, ahead of the deadline,” he said.

But Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of the Smart Approaches to Marijuana which opposes legalization, said it was a sad day for Michigan.

“An addiction for profit industry can now target vulnerable communities just as it has done in other states,” he said. “And it’s only a matter of time before we begin to see its lobbyists bankroll lawmakers and claw away at any and all regulations placed upon it.”

Others looked at the day as a celebration.

Rick Thompson, owner of the Michigan Cannabis Business Development Group, said Sunday was the culmination of decades of work to legalize marijuana.

“We’re the first state in the Midwest to be able to walk this path. We are a leader and the way cannabis law reform has been accomplished so far,” he said, after buying several pre-rolled joints. “Damn it. America is a beautiful place. And Michigan is more beautiful today.”

By 9:30 a.m., about 200 people were waiting in line by the historic yellow house where Greenstone Provisions sets up shop. Despite the cold and drizzle, people were in good spirits.

Al Gray, who made a 40-minute drive from Toledo to get to the Ann Arbor dispensary, said he had "nothing else to do."

"It helps me sleep at night," the 62-year-old said.

Gray suffers from insomnia and has been using marijuana off and on for 30 years. He planned to purchase an ounce of marijuana flower at Greenstone.

"Used to be hard to find until today," he said, laughing.

Tony of Belleville, who didn't want to give his last name, made a new friend while waiting in line, getting to know Jordan Zawaski of Livonia. The 29-year-old and the 28-year old said they prefer marijuana over drinking.

"I feel like when I take medicinal or recreational marijuana, I'm in control, I feel good, I eat more because I'm trying to gain weight, I sleep better. Those are the reasons why I choose to use it," he said.

Daniel Armstrong and Travis Elliott, were one of the first customers at Greenstone, driving from Angola, Indiana at 6 a.m. to mark the historic moment.

Armstrong has been a marijuana supporter ever since he was a teenager in the mid-'80s. Now 49, he recalled attending protests on the diag at U-M when he was 15. The Coldwater resident said he has been a medical marijuana user for about 10 years.

"I want to be a part of history, and this is part of history," he said.

Legal weed is a new concept for Elliott. He is from Charlotte, North Carolina, where having even the smallest bag of pot will put one in jail. The 29-year-old said he was arrested three times for possessing the drug while attending Winthrop University in South Carolina.

 "Coming to a market where anyone over the age of 21 can purchase flower, dab, concentrate, anything they want; walk out, put in in the trunk of your car, go home and smoke it is just a blessing," he said.

Rashad Sweed, a military veteran from Monroe, became fast friends with Brett Cole and Micheal Agrusso, who drove from Findley, Ohio, during their four hours waiting in line at Exclusive Brands.

"I feel like this is our opportunity now," Sweed said. "Instead of me having to fight for it and getting thrown in jail, I can freely smoke and deal with my PTSD as a normal person."

Cole said he got hooked on opiates when he was diagnosed with cancer as a kid, but eventually turned to marijuana.

"At 18, I went to alternative medicine because that was the better choice for me. It was a healthier options with less damage to the body," he said. "I've been waiting for 10 years for legalization, so this is great."

The Ann Arbor Police Department had officers posted at several of the pot shops. Officer Jennifer Sartori chatted with customers at Arbor Wellness.

"It's been really chill," she said. "Everybody's in a good mood and there have been no problems at all."

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Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.