Asheville prepping for possible marijuana sales

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A North Carolina city's alcohol regulators say they're preparing to sell marijuana should it become legal in the state.

The Asheville Alcoholic Beverage Control board chairman told the City Council Tuesday that there's a national trend of marijuana legalization, and it's the board's job to anticipate changes.

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The Asheville Citizen-Times reports Board Chairman Lewis Isaac told the council he expects the agency would oversee marijuana sales and distribution if the drug were to become legal.

He says the city's Alcoholic Beverage Control system recently built a $3 million warehouse to handle growing liquor sales. He says the warehouse was also built to hold marijuana products if needed.

Recreational marijuana sales are legal in several states including Colorado and Massachusetts. Medical marijuana is legal in nearly two dozen states.

Associated Press