VIDEO: Cape Bretoners line up for first day of legalization

SYDNEY RIVER, N.S. — Wednesday, Oct. 17, marked a historic day in Canada and Cape Bretoners lined up to be part of it.

Upwards of 100 people were in a lineup at the NSLC outlet in Sydney River by store opening at 10 a.m. to mark the legalization of recreational cannabis in the country with their own purchase, a line that steadily remained over the 100 mark and by 11 a.m. reached more than 150.

Famed Cape Breton fiddler Ashley McIsaac camped out at the site overnight to be the first Cape Bretoner to buy legal cannabis on the island and admitted it was a long night.

“Thank God for Burger King,” he said, laughing.

“The next person showed up at 4 a.m. and now there’s a big lineup waiting. I think people are here because they’re happy to no longer have to be in the dark about something they enjoy.”

A 58-year old woman, who didn’t want to be identified, was second in line after arriving at about 4:30 a.m.

“I figured there’d be a big lineup.”

The woman said she’s been smoking marijuana for 30 years.

“I never thought I’d see the day you could legally buy it and not feel like a criminal.”

James MacDonald, 47, of Sydney arrived at 6 a.m. and was urging people in the line to “stand up and be proud to be there.”

“Finally, we have a prime minister who’s standing up for us,”

MacDonald said since 2013 he has faced three different trafficking charges in regard to marijuana.

Being on disability, he couldn’t access medical marijuana due to those charges, although he said his doctor would have given him opiates or other pills. But he didn’t want that.

“I didn’t want that stuff. I wanted marijuana to help me ease my pain. This is a day to be celebrating, we can take care of ourselves and not have to worry about a police officer slapping handcuffs on us. We are making history today.”

The Sydney River store opened at 10 a.m. and MacIsaac got his wish, emerging as the first person in Cape Breton to purchase a recreational cannabis product legally, walking happily from the store holding up his purchase of 30 THC capsules and a gram of “Easy Cheezie” marijuana.

“The first dope bought in Canada was in Newfoundland but the first dope bought in God’s country was in Cape Breton by me,” he said.

“I’m not going to open it until later because I’m going to go driving now.”

At 10 a.m. officials at the store had started off by letting in groups of about 30 people at a time but an hour or so into the morning reduced it to between 10-20.

Security at the scene acknowledged the day was moving along peacefully and orderly.

Anyone making a liquor purchase didn’t have to go to the lineup and was allowed right in.

In the meantime, many were making friends in the cannabis lineup around them including Susan Anne MacDonald, who passed out a few homemade chocolate chip cookies, and Billy Miller of East Bay, whom was found entertaining with a few lines from “When the Saints go Marching In.”

Carol Anne Steeves, 54, of Ashby was not only waiting to purchase cannabis, she was also dressed for the occasion, decked out in a sweatshirt and socks depicting marijuana, purchased at Spencer’s at the Mayflower Mall.

“I had it a while but saved it to wear today.”

Steeves said Wednesday was, ‘A good historic day to celebrate.’

“If they didn’t legalize it there would be more crime associated with drugs. It is a good thing.”

Dee Conrad, 59, of Sydney River was also excited to be there.

“I can not only legally buy it, but legally smoke it.”

Thomas Smith, 33, of Sydney River was found near the end of a lineup of about 150 but said he didn’t mind the wait.

“I’m here for the same reason everyone else is,” he said.

“It’s an historic day.”

Sheri Campbell, 31, of Island View, said she was in line at 8:30 a.m. for her purchase. When she emerged later from the store, Campbell said the entire system of purchasing was easy and orderly.

“It was really well-organized, with lots of people at the cash registers to help you out and also additional staff to help you if you don’t know what you wanted to buy or were confused by pricing or anything like that.”

Carly Beale, 36, and Jacqueline Landry, 33, both of New Waterford, were end of a line of about 150 at about 11:30 a.m.

“I’m not surprised,” Beale said. “I knew there would be a lineup.”

But she said they didn’t mind the wait.

“I waited in line to get into see Titanic, I’ll wait in line to buy legal weed.”

Pot timeline

Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. – Famed Cape Breton fiddler Ashley MacIsaac is first in line waiting for the NSLC outlet in Sydney River to open with the historic sale of recreational cannabis on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m.
10 a.m. - More than 100 people in line
10 a.m. Customers for cannabis are let in 30 at a time, a number later reduced to groups of 10-20. Customers wishing to purchase alcohol could walk right in.
10:08 a.m. Ashley MacIsaac comes out with the first legal cannabis purchase in Cape Breton, happily holding up his purchase of 30 THC capsules and a gram of “Easy Cheezie“ marijuana.
11 a.m. – At least 150 in line.
Less than 10 people were seen coming out of the store with an alcohol purchase during the first hour the store was open while 150 remain in line for cannabis.
11:10 a.m. – Customer leaves with cannabis purchase informing lineup the store has run out of Ghost Train Haze, the product highest in THC.
Susan Anne MacDonald passing out some of her homemade chocolate chip cookies to people around her.
1 p.m. - Still 100-150 people in line at the Sydney River store.