‘It could mean big things’: Countdown to recreational pot

Beginning Thursday, if you are 21 or older and have a valid ID, you can purchase recreational marijuana.

The Oregon Health Authority is overseeing the early sales period for pot while the Oregon Liquor Control Commission accepts, approves, and helps put retail recreational marijuana stores into place.

“We believe it could mean big things,” member and founder of Cannabend member and founder Ronald Koch said Tuesday.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon can opt to sell recreational marijuana, in addition to Oregon Medical Marijuana Patient card holders. Owners were required to submit a form to OHA and be approved before Thursday.

Cities with bans on recreational marijuana sales do not allow the medical marijuana shops to sell recreational pot.

“We were planning on buying more product, hiring a few more employees, and we definitely planned on big sales,” said Matt Toepfer, the owner of High Desert Botanicals in La Pine. “We’re still sitting here with our hands in the air, like, ‘What are we going to do next?'”

La Pine city councilors decided not to participate in early recreational marijuana sales, as did many Oregon cities and counties. In Central Oregon, Crook County also chose to ban recreational marijuana sales.

“We were really expecting some good sales, once recreational hit,” Toepfer said.

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Crook County, Klamath County and La Pine won’t be able to sell recreational pot come Thursday. Of the 10 medical marijuana dispensaries in Bend, all are choosing to sell recreational and medical pot; three in the city of Madras will as well.

For more information, you can visit: marijuana.oregon.gov