Boulder, Colo. -- Pardon the pun, but Colorado's marijuana stores are offering some smoking deals for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, which they've dubbed "Green Friday."
One Denver store was offering a limited number of ounces of marijuana for $50 each, significantly below the $250 per ounce price buyers would normally pay. Many stores were offering similar deals, including steep discounts on pre-rolled joints.
This is the first Black Friday weekend Colorado's recreational marijuana stores have been allowed to sell pot to the public, and several store managers said they were caught off-guard by customers' interest in snagging deals. Colorado legalized the sale of recreational marijuana on Jan. 1, although medical marijuana sales had been allowed for several years prior.
But as Thanksgiving approached, recreational store workers said they realized their customers might want a little something to take the edge off Uncle Bill's political diatribes while facing a kitchen full of turkey, gravy and pies.
"We were expecting a very quiet day, but when everyone else jumped on it, we definitely didn't want to be left behind," said Ryan Pratt, manager of Boulder's Helping Hands Herbals, as he contemplated his sale pricing on Wednesday afternoon. "We're going to be prepared."
In addition to rock bottom prices on marijuana "bud," stores offered deep discounts on pot-infused foods known as edibles. One marijuana store bought advertising on the Denver Post's Internet homepage to advertise a "Danksgiving" sale.
Among the edibles for sale: Sweetgrass Kitchen's single-serving marijuana-infused pumpkin pies. Another manufacturer was offering pumpkin-spice mocha chocolate bars containing eight servings of pot.
One store was even offering discounts for customers who brought in canned food for the local homeless shelter.
Store workers said they expected customers would roll into their pot shops only after fighting crowds at more traditional retailers. They were competing with bars and liquor stores that also planned to be open both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
"It's a pretty stressful event, and some people might need a little relaxation afterward," laughed Maka Kala'i, director of sales and marketing at Organic Alternatives in Fort Collins.
The store advertised its sale with a picture of a turkey made from joints and marijuana flowers.
Pratt, the store manager in Boulder, said he has worked Black Friday many times -- just not at a marijuana store.
"It's regular old retail," he said. "It's just that this happened to all be illegal a year ago."
News Moderator: Shandar @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com
Author: Trevor Hughes
Contact: 1-800-872-7073
Website: Colorado pot shops hosting 'Green Friday' sales
One Denver store was offering a limited number of ounces of marijuana for $50 each, significantly below the $250 per ounce price buyers would normally pay. Many stores were offering similar deals, including steep discounts on pre-rolled joints.
This is the first Black Friday weekend Colorado's recreational marijuana stores have been allowed to sell pot to the public, and several store managers said they were caught off-guard by customers' interest in snagging deals. Colorado legalized the sale of recreational marijuana on Jan. 1, although medical marijuana sales had been allowed for several years prior.
But as Thanksgiving approached, recreational store workers said they realized their customers might want a little something to take the edge off Uncle Bill's political diatribes while facing a kitchen full of turkey, gravy and pies.
"We were expecting a very quiet day, but when everyone else jumped on it, we definitely didn't want to be left behind," said Ryan Pratt, manager of Boulder's Helping Hands Herbals, as he contemplated his sale pricing on Wednesday afternoon. "We're going to be prepared."
In addition to rock bottom prices on marijuana "bud," stores offered deep discounts on pot-infused foods known as edibles. One marijuana store bought advertising on the Denver Post's Internet homepage to advertise a "Danksgiving" sale.
Among the edibles for sale: Sweetgrass Kitchen's single-serving marijuana-infused pumpkin pies. Another manufacturer was offering pumpkin-spice mocha chocolate bars containing eight servings of pot.
One store was even offering discounts for customers who brought in canned food for the local homeless shelter.
Store workers said they expected customers would roll into their pot shops only after fighting crowds at more traditional retailers. They were competing with bars and liquor stores that also planned to be open both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
"It's a pretty stressful event, and some people might need a little relaxation afterward," laughed Maka Kala'i, director of sales and marketing at Organic Alternatives in Fort Collins.
The store advertised its sale with a picture of a turkey made from joints and marijuana flowers.
Pratt, the store manager in Boulder, said he has worked Black Friday many times -- just not at a marijuana store.
"It's regular old retail," he said. "It's just that this happened to all be illegal a year ago."
News Moderator: Shandar @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: USA TODAY: Latest World and US News - USATODAY.com
Author: Trevor Hughes
Contact: 1-800-872-7073
Website: Colorado pot shops hosting 'Green Friday' sales
