VANCOUVER, Wash. – Legal *** means tourists are going to get to know “The Couv” a little better.

Mayor Tim Leavitt cut a green ribbon outside Main Street ********* on Wednesday, opening the doors to the first recreational ********* store in Vancouver, Washington.

The southwest Washington city is just a 10-mile drive from downtown Portland, Oregon. Culturally, however, it is many miles apart, and Portlanders give little thought to crossing the Interstate 5 bridge to visit their suburban neighbours.

Leavitt says he expects legal *** to boost tourism, and he welcomes an influx of Portlanders to downtown Vancouver.

Main Street ********* general manager Ramsey Hamide says putting the business near Portland was a strategic decision to attract both Oregonians and tourists visiting Oregon.