Harborside founder Steve DeAngelo sells the first gram of legal marijuana on Jan. 1 at 6 am to Harborside Attorney Henry Wykowski. | Photo by David Downs
Harborside founder Steve DeAngelo cuts the ribbon at 6 am in Oakland to kick off California's legal recreational sales of marijuana on New Year's Day. | Photo by David Downs
Jeff and Mary Deakin from Walnut Creek were the first in line at Harborside in Oakland on Jan. 1. | Photo by David Downs
Adult use cannabis on display at Harborside in Oakland Monday. | Photo by David Downs
Receipt and purchase of California’s first legal gram. | Photo by David Downs
A customer waits in line at Harborside for early morning sales. | Photo by David Downs
Customers line up in Harborside Monday morning. | Photo by David Downs
A Harborside staffer shows off her custom nails for launch day. | Photo by David Downs
Lines swell outside of Berkeley Patients Group as consumers eagerly lined up on the morning of Jan. 1 to get a taste of legal cannabis. | Photo by Jimi Devine
Consumers stand in line at sometime around dark thirty in the morning outside of Berkeley Patients Group on Jan. 1. | Photo by Jimi Devine
Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin cuts the ribbon on Berkeley Patients Group's legal sales of recreational marijuana at 6 am on Jan. 1. | Photo by Jimi Devine
"I’m stoked about this moment, not just for Berkeley but the state of California. It’s a long time coming, it’s great to be here at Berkeley Patients Group — the longest operating dispensary in the United States," said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. "These are high times for Berkeley and California, I’m hoping we will blaze a path forward." (Photo by Jimi Devine)
Mikki Norris and Chris Conrad make the first legal recreation marijuana transaction with a purchase of 3 joints of Jack Herer and a Kiva dark chocolate bar. It was a full-circle moment for Norris and Conrad, who have both been involved in cannabis legalization in California since Prop. 215. | Photo by Jimi Devine
Chris Conrad: What We’re Getting is three Jack Herer joints in honor of our friend JAck Herer who worked with us for many years but didn’t survive to see the day we’re buying joints in his name today.” | Photo by Jimi Devine
Customers purchase legal recreational marijuana.
Pricecheck: A completed purchase of adult use cannabis at Harborside in Oakland. | Photo by David Downs
At San Jose's Caliva, Miguel Vargas was the first of 130 people in line to purchase legal cannabis after he arrived at 7 pm on New Year's Even and waited overnight in the parking lot in his car. The 55-year-old, who is on disability and has been waiting for 3 and a half years for hernia surgery, also suffers from arthritis. "I'm tired of taking pain pills," he said, planning to stock up on CBD edibles. "It's going to be a lot easier for me and other people out there — people with chronic pain and cancer — to come in and get what they need." | Photo by Carolyne Zinko
State Senator Nancy Skinner (left): I’m very glad to be here. As the Campaign coordinator for the very first successful decriminalization of marijuana initiative passed by any city in the country, which is Berkeley in 1979, I’m glad to see this come full circle , I’m glad prohibition is over, and thank California voters for doing so. It’s a great day. Photo by Jimi Devine
"It’s just been a crazy run — 18 years here at BPG and 20 years since Prop 215. It’s crazy, with all the regulations coming down just six weeks ago and having to scramble to get everything ready. And not knowing where the supply chain will be January 1. Whoa. It’s crazy right now in California marijuana but it’s historic." — Sean Luse, CEO of Berkeley Patients Group | Photo by Jimi Devine
The first legal cannabis at KindPeoples in Santa Cruz was sold to UCSC professor emeritus Craig Reinarman, who spoke on the injustice of the drug war and the historical significance of cannabis prohibition coming to an end. | Photo via Instagram
A line of 35 people suddenly formed outside of ECO cannabis shop in Eureka, Calif., on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales. | Photo by Bill Disbrow
California cannabis prohibition ended Jan. 1 in Oakland and Berkeley with the first commercial sales in state history. Check out photos from the launch day festivities at Harborside in Oakland and Berkeley Patients Group in Berkeley. And go to GreenState.com for our launch guide, live blog and other features
