NORTHAMPTON — Gone are the days when sheepish-looking patrons peeked their heads into The Hempest smoke shop and nervously inquired whether anyone else was inside — at least that’s the hope of employees there.
Thursday, recreational marijuana use becomes legal for Massachusetts adults enjoying the substance in non-public settings. Hempest Manager Steve Leone said the legal shift should help store customers — and marijuana enthusiasts in general — feel more comfortable about using ganja and buying the water pipes and other products used to consume it.
Voters approved the ballot question legalizing recreational marijuana use by a margin of 53.6 percent to 46.4 percent, a victory narrower than past ballot questions about pot — and evidence of a heated debate about whether legalizing recreational use is a step toward freedom or wider abuse.
In 2008, a ballot measure that decriminalized possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana passed with 65.2 percent of the vote. In 2012, a question on legalizing marijuana for medicinal use passed with 63.3 percent.
“I feel people are going to feel more comfortable coming into our store, and stores all around, and purchase stuff that they normally wouldn’t because they’d be embarrassed or scared,” Leone said as he worked a shift in the Hempest Tuesday evening.
When he assures uneasy customers they’re in a safe space, he added “they say ‘OK, good,’” as they shut the door behind them. “Once someone else comes in, they’re out. It’s something I still see.”
Leone said he and his colleagues are taking full advantage of the policy shift by also offering 10 to 15 percent off all merchandise on Thursday, the first day adults can legally grow, possess and use limited quantities of pot in private settings.
The store manager said he more than doubled inventory for an anticipated spike in demand for marijuana-related products. (Retail sales of the substance won’t be allowed until January 2018.)
At Exscape Smoke Shop in Amherst, Manager Brenon James wasn’t expecting much drama Thursday.
“We’re pretty much just going to treat it like every other day,” James said.
That stems from the inability for the store’s managers to create promotions and specials, because their Amherst store is a part of a chain with locations across Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
Right now, he added, it’s hard to foresee what sort of impact the new measure will have on the store’s sales and client base.
“I can’t really speculate or say,” James said. “I guess time’s gonna tell … it’s a different dynamic for each state.”
On another side of the conversation stands Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper, who emphasized her worry that the drug would be marketed to young people.
“When you look back at big tobacco and how big tobacco advertised, who they targeted (and) how they got people to smoke a product they know is not good for you, you know what the outcome of that was,” Kasper said. “And tobacco coalitions and public health people and many, many people had to work for decades to overcome the damage that big tobacco did. And there are people dying today still of smoking-related disease and illness.”
Now, Kasper added, she fears a similar pressure from private-sector pot.
“When you legalize something, it sends a message that it’s OK,” the chief said. “And now we’re going to see an increase in marijuana in people’s homes, in people’s pockets … And when that happens, it means we’re going to see more youth who have an ability to get their hands on it.”
Leone said he’s not as worried that use will spread among underage consumers. But he and Kasper do agree on at least one thing — whether the substance is legal or not, individuals who wish to use it will find a way.
Some opponents of recreational marijuana use “are like ‘this is going to ruin my town or ruin my neighborhood,’” Leone said. “Well,” the store manager said with a smile, “it’s already here.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.