Delaware starts the sale of recreational marijuana

Rehoboth, Del. – Delaware joins the growing list of states selling recreational marijuana starting Aug. 1.

“Delaware has finally launched adult-use sales for cannabis, and we are one of the dispensaries that is going live with recreational adult-use sales starting August 1,” said Lindsay Lopez, retail operations manager for Columbia Care.

“It’s been a long time coming, as other surrounding states have made the switch.”

Local resident Sarah said, “There are obviously pros and cons to both. I think some pros outweigh the cons. And if it can truly help individuals who need it or can use it, I’m all for it.”

Maya Thompson, another local, said, “I genuinely think that should have happened a long time ago. So I’m really happy this is going on.”

Spencer Mind added, “I think it would be a good idea to open up more places around here, kind of follow suit with the rest of the country.”

Lopez shared some things consumers may want to know before the big day, including a 15% tax on recreational marijuana and limitations on payment methods.

“You do have to use cash or debit to shop here. Because of federal regulations, you cannot use a credit card here. We do have cashless ATMs on-site, which function mostly like a debit machine. We also have an ATM for people who just want to pull out cash and use it that way.”

Lopez also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., with fun guests, a “spin the wheel” game, and merchandise to hand out to those in line.

“We’ve brought some new team members on board. We’ve gotten the store ready, we’ve stocked up our products, and we’re just really excited to open the doors and see everyone in the community.”

You must be 21 or older and have a valid ID to purchase recreational marijuana.