Retailers sold more than $11 million of marijuana during Oregon’s first week of legal recreational sales, outpacing the early business done in other states that have legalised pot, according to the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association.

Oregon retailers had sales of $3.5 million by the end of opening day, Casey Houlihan, executive director of the association, told the Statesman Journal. By contrast, Colorado’s first week of sales reached $5 million. In Washington, sales during the first month hit $2 million.

Under the state law approved by Oregon voters last year, possession of marijuana in limited quantities has been permitted since July 1.

But there was no legal way to buy it until October 1. Pot shops that already sell medical marijuana made big plans for the historic day, with some opening just after midnight.

One reason Oregon posted stronger early sales was the existing medical marijuana infrastructure. More than 250 medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon have told the state they will sell to recreational customers. By contrast, Colorado had 24 stores on day one, Washington had just four, and a year later, still has fewer than Oregon.

In New Zealand, Council of Trade Unions president, Helen Kelly, told the Nation program on Saturday that she intends to get government permission to purchase cannabis oil legally after using it to alleviate cancer pain in the face of her continued suffering while undergoing conventional treatment and medication, including chemotherapy and morphine.