The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. January 2, 2014 Colorado Retailers Begin Legal Marijuana Sales ----------------------------------------------- Colorado has enacted a law allowing recreational sales of marijuana following approval by voters in late 2012. The world's first state-licensed marijuana retail stores opened their doors on Wednesday to long lines of customers. The first person to make a purchase was Sean Azzariti, an Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD. Azzariti spoke to reporters, along with marijuana advocate Betty Aldworth. Sean Azzariti: "Now I get to use recreational cannabis to help alleviate my PTSD and it's a stepping stone for other states to help other veterans, as well." Betty Aldworth: "In Colorado we expect nearly $400 million dollars in sales next year. Across the nation, the marijuana industries will create $2.34 billion dollars of economic activity." Possession and private use of marijuana has been legal in Colorado over the past year but it will now be legally produced and sold as well. Around three dozen stores have been licensed to sell to customers. .