Jan 1, 2014

The world’s first state-licensed marijuana retailers legally permitted to sell pot for recreational use opened for business in Colorado on Wednesday with long lines of customers, marking a new chapter in America’s drug culture.

: A fully budded marijuana plant ready for trimming is seen at the Botanacare marijuana store on Dec. 31, 2013 ahead of their grand opening Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Sean Azzariti, a veteran of the Iraq war, prepares to make the first legal recreational marijuana purchase in Colorado from advocate Betty Aldworth at the 3-D Denver Discrete Dispensary on Jan. 1, 2014 in Denver, Colo. (Theo Stroomer/Getty Images)

: Tyler Williams of Blanchester, Ohio, selects marijuana strains to purchase at the 3-D Denver Discrete Dispensary on Jan. 1, 2014 in Denver, Colo. (Theo Stroomer/Getty Images)

: Lynne Johnston of Los Angeles, Calif., celebrates after purchasing marijuana products at the 3-D Denver Discrete Dispensary on Jan. 1, 2014 in Denver, Colo. (Theo Stroomer/Getty Images)

: Jesse Phillips celebrates being the first person to legally buy recreational marijuana at the Botana Care store in Northglenn, Colo., on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Cheri Hackett, center, co-owner of the Botana Care marijuana store, celebrates just before opening her doors to customers for the first time in Northglenn, Colo. on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Customers look over their choices in recreational marijuana products at the Botana Care store in Northglenn, Colo. on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: People wait in line to be among the first to legally buy recreational marijuana at the Botana Care store in Northglenn, Colo. on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Mark Gordon, left, and Ryan Perry display their “I Want Weed” T-shirts as they wait in line to be among the first to legally buy recreational marijuana at the Botana Care store in Northglenn, Colo., on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: A commemorative T-shirt is displayed for sale at the Botana Care marijuana store just before opening the doors to customers for the first time in Northglenn, Colo., on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: An employee brings out a display of drug-infused candies at the Botana Care marijuana store just before opening the doors to customers for the first time in Northglenn, Colo. on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: An employee hangs the state retail marijuana license to sell at the Botana Care marijuana store just before opening the doors to customers for the first time in Northglenn, Colo. on Jan. 1, 2014. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Grower Steve Jenkins checks out his marijuana plants on Dec. 31, 2013 at the Botanacare marijuana store ahead of their grand opening in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Cheri Hackett, co-owner of BotanaCare, carries bags of the company’s sample packs of various strains of marijuana prepared for the store opening in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Troy McIntyre, a worker at BotanaCare, organizes bags of the company’s sample packs of various strains of marijuana prepared for the store opening in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Workers prepare sample bags of various strains of marijuana at the Botanacare marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Various marijuana strains are prepared for sale at the Botanacare marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: A worker rolls marijuana joints for sale at the Botana Care marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: A worker rolls marijuana joints for sale at the Botana Care marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Marijuana buds are packaged for sale at the Botana Care marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Skylar Hall prepares marijuana buds for sale at the Botana Care marijuana store ahead of their grand opening on New Year’s Day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Various marijuana strains are prepared at the Botana Care marijuana store for their grand opening on New Year’s Day in Northglenn, Colo. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)