Washington State Marijuana Sales: 5 Things You Should Know | HuffPost

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What You Should Know About Buying Weed In Washington

The Huffington Post B.C.

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AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

You can now buy legal recreational pot in Vancouver.

Vancouver, Wash., that is.

This week, 24 businesses in Washington state were issued retail licences to sell pot for the first time. Customers from across the U.S. and Canada lined up outside some stores as they opened on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

This means it's not that far of a drive for British Columbians to purchase legal weed. But how easy is it for you to hop across the border and buy from these shops?

Here are five things you should know:

Will I have any trouble crossing the border into the U.S.?

You might. Groups of young people in particular may attract a higher level of scrutiny from border guards, Bellingham immigration lawyer Len Saunders told The Province.

“I’m trying to warn Canadians that if you come to the border and answer honestly that you’re coming down to purchase marijuana or smoke marijuana, you will be denied entry — so almost no answer is better than the truth,” Saunders told the newspaper.

“Now, is every officer going to ask you that? Of course not. But if the question comes up ... you do not have to answer it.”

How old do I have to be to purchase the weed?

21.

Washington, as well as Colorado, voted to legalize marijuana for adults over 21, and to create state-licensed systems for growing, selling, and taxing weed, back in November 2012. Legal sales of recreational pot began in Colorado on Jan. 1.

Where can I use the pot I bought at a legal shop?

You can use marijuana on your own property, even in plain view of the public, The Bellingham Herald reports. You cannot, however, smoke in the retail store where you bought your weed, nor can you smoke in public spaces. (Uh, don't ask us where you're supposed to smoke it.)

How much weed can I legally have on me?

You can buy up to an ounce of dried marijuana. State law also allows 16 ounces of pot-infused solids, or 72 ounces of pot-infused liquids or 7 grams of concentrated marijuana, like hashish.

Can I take the pot I purchased back into Canada?

Carrying pot over the border is still illegal, says The Canada Border Services Agency. If you're caught you could be arrested and face charges, reports Global News. In fact, the marijuana cannot even cross state lines; it must remain in Washington.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

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In 2009, rookie MP Justin Trudeau votes for Bill C-15, which would have imposed mandatory minimum sentences for marijuana-related offences. The legislation passes the House of Commons with the support of both Tories and Liberals but dies after Parliament is prorogued. (credit:CP)

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In May of 2010, Trudeau tells Maclean's magazine that marijuana decriminalization is a step in the wrong direction. "It's not your mother's pot," he tells Mitchel Raphael of the stronger marijuana grown today. "I lived in Whistler for years and have seen the effects. We all need our brain cells to deal with our problems." (credit:CP)

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Seventy-seven per cent of delegates at the 2012 Liberal convention tell the party's leadership they want a future Liberal government to legalize marijuana. "Frankly, the status quo doesn't work and that's what needs to change," says interim Grit leader Bob Rae. "The Liberal party is saying that the current laws do not work and that we need a new direction." (credit:CP)

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In November of 2012, not long after launching his leadership bid, Trudeau tells a group of Charlottetown high school students he is a "huge supporter" of marijuana decriminalization. "I think we have to recognize first and foremost that the war on drugs, as it exists right now, doesn’t work," he says, adding that the next logical step may be legalization. (credit:CP)

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In January of 2013, Trudeau tells a crowd in Red Deer that he would seek the full legalization of marijuana in order to tax and regulate it, making it more difficult for young people to access. "When it's illegal and only available in the black market, someone pushing it doesn't check for ID," Trudeau says. (credit:CP)

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In April of 2013, Trudeau speaks to party members at the Liberal leadership showcase. His speech, titled "Hope and Hard Work," makes no mention of his marijuana policies but does attack the Tory tough-on crime agenda. "The Conservatives have forgotten about the value of service," he says. "The only time they talk about community service these days is when it's punishment for a crime." (credit:Getty)

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About a week later, Trudeau wins the Liberal leadership with more than 80 per cent of the vote. His victory speech makes no mention of pot. (credit:CP)

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In August of 2013, Trudeau Liberals launch an online petition calling for an end to marijuana prohibition. "Liberals believe in a smart on crime approach, targeting real criminals instead of ordinary Canadians," it reads. (credit:Liberal.ca)

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