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<NBC5 NEWS 6 STARTS NOW> (áááLIZáááÑ THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AT 6. I’M LIZ STRZEPA. NEW TONIGHT… PEOPLE AGES 21 AND OLDER CAN NOW LEGALLY BUY MARIJUANA AT DISPENSARY’S THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VERMONT. NBC 5 STEPHEN BIDDIX VISITED ONE IN BURLINGTON… WHERE THERE WAS A LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING THIS MORNING, AS PEOPLE ANXIOUSLY WAITED FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN. IN DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON ONE OF THREE STATE REGULATED DISPENSARIES OPENED THEIR DOORS ON SATURDAY MORNING. <I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN GOOD SPIRITS AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AS MUCH AS WE HAVE WEATHERS BEEN BEAUTIFUL SO WERE REALLY EXCITED WE’VE GOT A LINE AND THAT PEOPLE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE.> THE LINE WRAPPING AROUND THE BUILDING HOURS BEFORE THE GRAND OPENING. 01;27;38;10- 01;27;49;13 Russ Todia COO Ceres Collaborative <I WAS HERE AROUND 8 AND THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WAITING SO I DON’T KNOW HOW EARLY FOLKS GOT HERE BUT CERTAINLY A FEW HOURS BEFORE WE HAD OPENED OUR DOORS.> THOSE IN LINE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO LEGALLY BUY MARIJUANA FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY KNOWING ITS SAFE. 01;31;17;11- 01;31;23;29 Matt Viscido, Vergennes resident <I THINK IT PROBABLY ENCOURAGED A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST TO DO AWAY WITH ALL THE BAD STIGMA ABOUT IT BECAUSE HONESTLY IT HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE.> MATT VISCIDO IS A NAVY VETERAN THAT USES THC PRODUCTS TO HELP RELIEVE PTSD. 01;31;24;10- Matt Viscido, Vergennes resident <I WAS IN THE NAVY, I HAVE PTSD AND WEED HELPS ME A LOT MORE THAN ALCOHOL DID. SO DEFINITELY CALMS ME DOWN JUST STARTED TAKING CBD AT NIGHT AND IT HELPS ME SLEEP.> AS OF OCT 1 ONLY THREE DISPENSARIES ARE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT MANY MORE WILL BE COMING SOON. 00:02:39:03- 00:02:54:14 James Pepper <WE HAVE 1 OR 2 THAT WILL BE READY QUICKLY AND THE REST, YOU KNOW WE HAVE ABOUT 10 MORE THAT THERE STILL KIND OF BUILDING OUT THEIR SHOP WHETHER ITS GETTING THEIR SECURITY CAMERAS IN PLACE THIS ISN’T LIKE A NORMAL RETAIL BUSINESS.> FOR THOSE THAT ARE OPEN. THEY LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT’S TO COME AND TO CONTINUE SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY. 01;28;12;01 – 01;28;19;23 Russ Todia COO Ceres Collaborative <WE DIDN’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT BUT WE’RE CERTAINLY HAPPY THAT THINGS HAVE GONE SMOOTH AND WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GET EVERYONE T

Recreational marijuana in Vermont is officially available for retail purchase

On Oct. 1, marijuana in Vermont became eligible to buy via retail dispensaries.

On Oct. 1, marijuana became recreationally legal to purchase at dispensaries throughout the state. So far, only three dispensaries are licensed to sell in the state, but many more are in the licensing process. Saturday morning in Burlington, Cere’s Collaborative hosted its grand opening. “I think people have been in good spirits and are looking forward to this as much as we have. The weather’s been beautiful, so were really excited, we’ve got a line and that people are happy to be here,” said Russ Todia, the chief operating officer of Ceres Collaborative. While the dispensary did not open until 10 a.m., many were in line for hours before. “I was here around 8 a.m., and there were some people waiting, so I don’t know how early folks got here, but certainly a few hours before we had opened our doors,” Todia said. People in the community are excited that they can buy marijuana products knowing they are safe. “I think it probably encouraged a lot of people just to do away with all the bad stigma about it because, honestly, it helps a lot of people,” said Matt Viscido, a Vergennes resident. “I was in the Navy, I have PTSD, and weed helps me a lot more than alcohol did,” he said. Cere’s Collaborative’s staff looks forward to what is ahead in the industry and is also excited to serve the community. “We didn’t know exactly what to expect, but we’re certainly happy that things have gone smooth and we’ve been able to get everyone the product they’re looking for,” Todia said.

Saturday morning in Burlington, Cere’s Collaborative hosted its grand opening.

“I think people have been in good spirits and are looking forward to this as much as we have. The weather’s been beautiful, so were really excited, we’ve got a line and that people are happy to be here,” said Russ Todia, the chief operating officer of Ceres Collaborative.

While the dispensary did not open until 10 a.m., many were in line for hours before.

“I was here around 8 a.m., and there were some people waiting, so I don’t know how early folks got here, but certainly a few hours before we had opened our doors,” Todia said.

People in the community are excited that they can buy marijuana products knowing they are safe.

“I think it probably encouraged a lot of people just to do away with all the bad stigma about it because, honestly, it helps a lot of people,” said Matt Viscido, a Vergennes resident. “I was in the Navy, I have PTSD, and weed helps me a lot more than alcohol did,” he said.

Cere’s Collaborative’s staff looks forward to what is ahead in the industry and is also excited to serve the community.

“We didn’t know exactly what to expect, but we’re certainly happy that things have gone smooth and we’ve been able to get everyone the product they’re looking for,” Todia said.