On July 1, Deep Roots Harvest opened its doors to the “recreational pot seeking public,”0 but it wasn’t the local residents who graced the long lines, waiting to get into the dispensary. Many people who patiently waited to enter the doors of the Mesquite facility were from California, Las Vegas, Arizona and Utah.
Whether the visitors came from near or from far, each one of them got the VIP treatment from start to finish.
There was nothing anybody could do about the 106 degree temperatures that day but personnel at Deep Roots Harvest provided cold water, free of charge, to the crowds of people who stood in line for two hours or more to purchase some of the product that was, for the first time in Nevada, legal to sell to the recreational enthusiasts.
Mesquite visitor Aaron Howe and Mesquite resident Patrick Balough have waited a long time for July 1, the day when marijuana is legal for both consumption and sales. Howe says he’s waited about 25 years while Balough has waited since 1967. They came early and didn’t mind waiting in a long line to finally enter Deep Roots Harvest’s dispensary. It was the last leg of a long journey and both men agreed, “Today is a good day!”
Ryan Breedan, COO and Keith Capurro, CEO of Deep Roots Harvest were not leaving the wellbeing of their patrons to chance, both were out and about seeing that everyone was as comfortable as they could possibly be in the stifling heat. A tent was set up outside that provided shade once you got that far in line. Under the tent plenty of chairs and sofas were on hand for as much rest and heat relief they could provide. Cones were also set up in the parking lot to guide the lines away from traffic to ensure everyone’s safety.
Through the door into the reception area security was tight but staff was hospitable and efficient. The reception room was cool and spa-like in appearance with plenty of reading material to peruse while waiting for your shopping experience to begin.
Once inside the reception area, it wasn’t long before one was greeted by a perky young woman sporting a warm welcome and a bright smile who was happy to take you on the last leg of the experience and into the dispensary.
In the dispensary, you are introduced to your personal “Budtender.” There were several inside who were knowledgeable about all products from oils to edibles. They are willing and able to answer all questions regarding what DRH has available, potency of the product and what product might be best for the shoppers’ desired effect.
Some were a little astonished at the prices and mentioned that they were a bit higher than the advertised prices on the website. Some even commented that the black-market prices would entice buyers more than the dispensary prices. While the website does list prices, there is a disclaimer stating that the prices do not reflect sales and excise taxes. It has been no secret that across the state, recreational prices would exceed the medical prices as there is no state tax charged on the medicinal end.
What you get for the money in your purchase of cannabis through DRH as opposed to the black-market marijuana is bud that has passed some of the most stringent testing for potency, terpenes (aroma), moisture, foreign matter, microbial screening, mycotoxin (fungus) screening and more. DRH wants their customers to know exactly what is and isn’t in their product. Your purchase through DRH also directly helps your community.
All their cannabis products are packaged in scent, moisture and UV resistant bags. Each package is flushed and vacuum sealed with nitrogen to remove all traces of oxygen.
The city of Mesquite has yet to set the local regulations for sale of recreational marijuana. According to Bob Sweetin, city attorney, the state allows for the city to collect fees but did not pass the fees for the city. On June 26, the state published its regulations which allows the city to collect a three percent fee on sales. Considering the quarterly fees just recently paid to the city, more than $56,000, on medical sales alone, this should be a considerable financial gain to Mesquite.
For more information on DRH, it’s products or the company, visit their web site at www.deeprootsharvest.com.
Money is the motivation to allow Mesquite the Mecca for Criminals,if you think the sale of drugs are Ok,we will see a raise in impaired drivers,more robbery,and influx of out State criminals
The police in Mesquite will be overwhelmed,so be prepared to hire more,the youth will find a way to obtain it much easier than before, so a lot more young users will create burden to Police,court cost will raise to prosecute them
I’v seen it in Washington & Colorado
According to data from the Denver Police Department, violent crime (including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Property crime (including burglary, larceny, auto theft, theft from motor vehicle and arson) dropped by 11.1%.
Anthony,
Respectfully, you couldn’t possibly have seen anything of the sort.
According to data from the Denver Police Department, violent crime (including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Property crime (including burglary, larceny, auto theft, theft from motor vehicle and arson) dropped by 11.1%.
In 2014, the first year of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado and Washington, adolescent cannabis use did not significantly change in either state, according to an important new federal survey released last week.
In fact, monthly adolescent cannabis use remained unchanged in 48 U.S. states in 2014 — and it declined in a few others, including former No. 1 state Rhode Island — according to the 2013-2014 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
To mark the date, the Drug Policy Alliance has issued a report on what has happened since legalization arrived, and it likes what it sees: “Since adult possession of marijuana became legal eighteen months ago, the state has benefitted from a dramatic decrease in marijuana arrests and convictions, as well as increased tax revenues. During the same period, the state has experienced a decrease in violent crime rates. In addition, rates of youth marijuana use and traffic fatalities have remained stable.”
The report’s key findings include:
Filings for low-level marijuana offenses are down 98% for adults 21 and older. All categories of marijuana law violations are down 63% and marijuana-related convictions are down 81%.
The state is now saving millions of dollars in law enforcement resources that were previously used to enforce marijuana laws.
Violent crime has decreased in Washington and other crime rates have remained stable since the passage of I-502.
Washington has collected nearly $83 million in marijuana tax revenues. These revenues are funding substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, youth and adult drug education, community health care services, and academic research and evaluation on the effects of marijuana legalization in the state.
The number of traffic fatalities remained stable in the first year that adult possession was legalized.
Youth marijuana use has not increased since the passage of I-502.
Washington voters continue to support marijuana legalization. Fifty-six percent continue to approve of the state’s marijuana law – about the same as when it was approved in 2012 – while only 37% oppose, a decrease of 7 points since the election of 2012. More than three-quarters (77%) believe the law has had either a positive impact or no effect on their lives.
“Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure—to individuals, communities, and the entire country,” said Tamar Todd, DPA director of marijuana law and policy. “Washington should be praised for developing a smarter, more responsible approach to marijuana.
Mesquite already sees their fair share of alcohol related impaired drivers; a couple every week. People from out of town will take their purchases back to their homes or someone’s home. Being impaired by marijuana is NOTHING like being impaired with alcohol or prescription medications and people drive impaired by them all the time. Youth isn’t going to find anything more obtainable than before, first off… many won’t have the cash to purchase anything second hand from Deep Roots and what’s available through them won’t be on the black market. Black market will probably be less than it was because if people have the money to purchase marijuana, there’s no place like the Dispensary to do it. There is so much more to be had than what is available on the streets. One source, one strain….dispensary, many options; it’s a no brainer to many of us old school types. We’re not criminals, we’re not derelicts. We hold long-term, steady employment, maintain homes, are happily married and have room to take on several strays of many breeds and species and keep them warm/cool, well-loved and fed.
Out of town purchases can only help Mesquite…think of all the taxes that will be collected, the city needs those funds unless you, a tax paying citizen, would like to pay a bit more in say…property taxes to compensate for the financial trouble the city has seen recently? Not to beat a dead horse but we haven’t forgotten the issue with the Teamsters and “Me too,” along with what they are surely facing in the future.
A wise woman made a statement to think about. She was just coming out of the dispensary on July 1 when she said, “Mesquite will never see another recession.” I hear the lines were just as long on Monday as they were on Saturday and this is just July, imagine the possibilities, especially when the town is full of residents both full and part timers.
We are your neighbors, convenient store attendees, business men and women, professors, scientists, lawyers, relators, retired from a multitude of careers people who live next door and across the street…probably people you associate with regularly and you wouldn’t even know it because truth is, we’re not criminals anymore than anyone who enjoys an icy cold beer or a gin and tonic on a hot summer day. I see anywhere from 140-200 police calls a week for crimes and other issues in Mesquite, that number will not increase due to the legal sale of marijuana. Marijuana became legal to consume on Jan. 1, six months and there has yet to be an increase in DUI’s which include being impaired by alcohol, marijuana and other drugs or any other marijuana related crime.
Thanks Teri, I always look forward to your well informed input. However, as we both know, certain people will still believe what the want to. Once their mind is made up, you can’t confuse them with the facts.
Teri is absolutely right. Marijuana does not create a spike in crime according to the facts. As the article points out, out of towers bought what they wanted and then mostly left. Police don’t get involved, the city gets tax dollars. The only one who got freaked out was councilman Ballweg and Wurst who are living in a dream world. This business isn’t going to cause any problems for Mesquite and if some pop up, we have a great PD here to deal with it. Alcohol is ten times more a problem than pot.