“To be there on midnight of July 1, 2015, when we served the first three medical patients in the state, and to be there with the team this morning, when we served the first adult-use customers of the same location … was a pretty full circle moment,” said Amber Shimpa, president of Green Goods’ parent company, Vireo Growth.
Peter Miller, right, who is visiting Minneapolis from New York City, gets help selecting cannabis products to purchase from patient care coordinator Cassy Taylor at Green Goods Dispensary in Minneapolis on Tuesday. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Peter Miller, 58, made his first stop at Green Goods after flying in from New York City with his wife.
He doesn’t smoke marijuana himself but was buying products for his spouse and her coworkers. He was surprised to discover Green Goods and even more surprised to learn Tuesday was its very first day of recreational sales.
The medical providers have an advantage on newly licensed cannabis businesses because they have been cultivating marijuana indoors for years, said Jason Tarasek, a cannabis attorney. That means they already have product ready, while new businesses must first build growing facilities or source from tribal nations.
“Our medical providers have a bit of a head start, but everyone’s going to catch up rather soon,” Tarasek said.
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