Washington OKs Pot, But Shops Not Ready

As of Tuesday, it is legal to buy marijuana in Washington state, but good luck finding a store that sells it. Although 25 shops have been licensed to sell marijuana, only five in the state are ready to do so, including just one in Seattle. Shockingly, logistics may not be the strong suit of pot-store owners. “Some were still trying to work out financing, some were waiting for permitting,” said Mikhail Carpenter, spokesman for Washington’s Liquor Control Board. Other stores are waiting to open until they have better supply lines established. Despite the long waits, there are still those who are determined to wait for the good stuff. Deborah Greene, a 65-year-old grandmother, is the first to buy in Seattle. “It was the first thing I wanted to do when I retired. I wanted to smoke a joint and not worry about drug testing.”