Denver Business Prepares For Legal Sale Of Recreational Marijuana

DENVER (CBS4) – The first businesses licensed to sell recreational marijuana are preparing for the first of the year, when their product officially becomes legal in Colorado.

Store owners are expecting huge turnouts on Jan. 1 and are trying to make sure things run smoothly.

Toni Fox, owner of 3D Cannabis Center, is (as of Friday night) one of 14 medical marijuana shop owners that will make the switch to recreational sales on Wednesday.

"Anyone from anywhere in the world will be able to come into our center if they are 21 and over with properly issued government identification and purchase cannabis," said Fox.

Fox picked up her retail license from Denver city officials on Friday afternoon. She says getting to this point hasn't been easy, or cheap.

"Money-wise we are $1 million in personally, me and my family. Every asset we have is in this business," said Fox.

Though it seems like she has everything she needs, the work is far from over.

"It's an ongoing process. I think we are going to be working like Santa's little helpers all the way into New Years Eve," said Fox.

With crowds of people expected to turn out on opening day, many are wondering if the supply will meet the demand.

"We will run out of marijuana. The question is when will we run out of marijuana, and that's not a bad problem to have," said Fox.

Fox says the first few months will be a learning process for everyone, but it is one she has been looking forward to for a very long time.

"I feel numb, I feel like I want to pinch myself. I can't believe that this is really happening," said Fox.

The city says there are more than 100 applications for store licenses still waiting for their final approval.