Nevada Legalizes Recreational Marijuana Sales: Other States Where You Can Legally Purchase Cannabis

Nevada became the fifth U.S. state Saturday to allow the sale of recreational marijuana to the public. After this move, it also joined the list of seven other states in the country, which permit the usage of weed for recreational purposes.

Nevada voted to legalize recreational sales in November’s election in order to allow dispensaries to sell weed to anyone above the age of 21 years.

Read: International Church Of Cannabis Is Now Offering 'Weed Weddings'

The first sale began shortly after midnight Saturday when people from across the country flocked to Las Vegas and began purchasing cannabis in the state.

The new move allows those above the age of 21 years with a valid ID to buy up to an ounce of pot. However, it still remains illegal to smoke weed in public places, including the Las Vegas Strip, casinos, bars, restaurants, parks, convention centers and concert halls. Offenders will face a fine of $600. Driving under the influence of cannabis is also still illegal. The millions of tourists that Las Vegas and other Nevada cities attract every year are probably the ones who will make two out of every three marijuana purchases, a USA Today report stated.

"Everyone's excited, it's upbeat. Everyone's happy, giddy," said Troy White, 28, who was a tourist from Boise, Idaho, and decided to "be part of history" while she was on her way to Lake Tahoe, by standing in line for the sales at Blum medical marijuana dispensary in Midtown Reno, Nevada, the report said.

A residence of Reno, Alisha White, 38, stood in the line at Sierra Wellness in order to show support for her daughter and brother even though she is not a smoker. "My daughter started to have seizures two years ago," she said. "I gave her some marijuana, and it helped her. Marijuana helps people in pain. I’ve watched it change people’s lives," she added, USA Today quoted her as saying.

"I've been living in Vegas for 15 years, and I keep missing the cities that legalize marijuana and edibles. So I'm happy that it's here now," said Babs Daitch, who was also waiting in line, the Associated Press reported.

On Saturday the state joined the list along with Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska in permitting adults to buy a drug, which is still banned by the federal government.

Read: Is Marijuana Better Than Alcohol? Diseases Cannabis Can Cure

Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012 and joined Washington in becoming the first two states in the country to do so. Residents and tourists in Colorado can also buy up to one ounce of cannabis. The state even has marijuana bus and limo tours that will allow all the weed lovers to smoke inside the vehicle while enjoying the scenic beauty of the place.

Oregon legalized sales in 2015 and allowed adults to carry up to one ounce and also grow up to four plants in their houses. It is also legal in the state to give weed edible as gifts to friends and family as long as they are ingested in private and not in public places, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

In 2012, after recreational sale of marijuana was legalized in Washington, non-medical cannabis sale in dispensaries gathered over $1 billion that year. However, you can only be eligible for the grower's license if the drug is needed for medicinal purposes.

In early 2015, Alaska, the northernmost U.S. state legalized usage, possession and transport of up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational use for residents in the state. The first weed shop began their business in October 2016, according to Business Insider.