By MICHAEL WEBER | December 18, 2022
CHICO California — It wasn’t a line for concert tickets, nor a new iPhone, but for cannabis.
Arriving promptly at 4:20 a.m., Bryan Samprucci was the first of more than 300 people lined up Saturday morning for the grand opening of Sweet Flower, Chico’s first legal cannabis dispensary.
“We’ve been waiting for years,” Samprucci said.
Two friends, Kiara Castellanos and April Lee, lined up early to beat the crowd and take advantage of the opening special, a $50 grab bag given to the first 200 customers for just one penny.
“It’s an amazing day in Chico history,” Castellanos said.
“I finally don’t have to drive an hour to get some weed,” Lee said.
“Medicine,” Castanellos said to Lee.
“Whatever. It’s legal. I can say weed, marijuana, puff, whatever,” Lee said. “It’s actually just been fun to visit with everybody who is also here. You get to know your fellow people.”
“Cannabis enthusiasts,” said Castanellos, again to correct Lee.
I was going to stay stoner, but …,” said Lee, and the two laughed.
Sweet Flower CEO Tim Dodd said the dispensary has been in the works for two and a half years and is designed from the ground up to be a purpose-built facility with security, open windows and lots of light.
“I think it’s great for Chico, it’s great for Sweet Flower, and more importantly good for the community providing safe legal access to cannabis,” Dodd said.
The dispensary in Chico will be the seventh store that Sweet Flower operates.
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