get hi!
What's being billed as the Bay Area's largest full service marijuana superstore opened in Oakland filled with the enthusiastic support of local politicians, reports CBS Station KPIX in San Francisco. But don't expect to buy any pot there.
The very first customers Thursday at the iGrow store on Hegenberger Road found a doctor ready to help with a medical marijuana prescription, even a massage therapist. The actual plant however was nowhere on site.
"Basically we have everything you would need for medicinal marijuana except for the plants itself. So everything from the systems to the nutrients to the pest control," said operations manager Justin Jorgenson.
In other words, it's not a pot club. It's a gardening supply store that sales sophisticated hydroponic systems to help you grow your own-whether that's pot, tomatoes or roses.
"We're saying look, we'll openly talk to people about marijuana if they have the correct documentation," Jorgenson said.
Three city council members have said they would attend the ribbon cutting Thursday evening for a business they hope will create much-needed jobs and generate tax revenue.
The doors of iGrow opened as San Jose debates whether to regulate pot clubs, and as activists gather signatures for a November 2010 ballot measure to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana without a doctor's note.
Leaders of the campaign backing the measure said volunteers would submit around 700,000 signatures Thursday across all 58 California counties.
The initiative needs about 434,000 signatures from registered voters to make the ballot. Campaigners typically try to collect far more to build a cushion in case some signatures are invalidated.
The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. It also would allow limited growing on private property and would permit local governments to decide whether to legalize and tax pot sales.