Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

So what's it like in Colorado now that grass is legal?


Recommended Posts

Lots of agitation locally to legalize recreational use and sale of marijuana. Many throw up Colorado as evidence that legalization does not lead to the end of civilization.

 

If you are in Colorado, or have visited heavily, tell us what it's like. Stoners on every corner? Or just quiet domestic use with all the violent dealers gone? Or something else?

 

LL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 81
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Now that MJ has been legal for several years in Colorado, there is enough data to form an educated opinion. I have a SCIENTIFIC paper on the subject if anyone is interested in reading it. Bottom line: MJ has been *bad* for Colorado and surrounding states.

 

The paper is rather lengthy, but the executive summary (i.e. an explanation of the bottom line of their findings) is only 2 pages long at the beginning. If anyone wants to read it, PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the non regulated pot growers product from in/out of state is cheaper than the regulated pot sales, well, you can see the light. Still, millions of $$ are being collected from taxation and who knows where the pot tax money is really going.

 

Washington state has the same thing and numerous other states are favoring the legalization so they can get on the taxation money flow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mellow....

Ya beat me to it. :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the way to my daughter's house yesterday for Easter Dinner, we pass, IIRC, 9 Marijuana outlets in a five mile stretch.

More seem to be popping up each trip. What really surprised me was a big sigh on the corner in front of one of the outlets that advertised Recreational marijuana for anyone over 18 years old.

 

When the bill to sell it was passed, it was touted as being for medical purposes only. Yeah, Right Man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of agitation locally to legalize recreational use and sale of marijuana. Many throw up Colorado as evidence that legalization does not lead to the end of civilization.

 

If you are in Colorado, or have visited heavily, tell us what it's like. Stoners on every corner? Or just quiet domestic use with all the violent dealers gone? Or something else?

 

LL

I saw a news magazine report on this. Legalized dope doesn't stop at "quiet domestic use." One of many issues is that, Colorado has become a source for purchase by out-of-state drug runners, who purchase high-grade marijuana in Colorado, then illegally transport it to their own locations for illegal sales.

 

Further, Colorado has become a destination for sub-culture types, who fall off, or do not even show up, on the grid, sink even lower, burden the Systems and increase the crime and accident numbers.

 

It's still a bit early for the casual, visiting observer to see the malignant results.

 

Who really benefits? A Socialist System that controls a significant bloc of zombie-like, listless, highly malleable voters, that rely on Government subsidies and ultimately, are preyed upon by that same system and others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reports are that much of the crop is being illegally sold in other states.

The legalization was supposed to stop the illicit growing and selling. It has not. But because of the high taxes imposed on growers there are continual discoveries of illegal grow facilities. One was just discovered in a high end rental house in a nice Denver neighborhood. Illegal, untaxed grass is still sold on the street because it is cheaper

DUI arrests have increased. Marijuana tourism is increasing as outsiders make Colorado their end destination While you may only possess a small amount, people are gettingn it fronm several vendors to stockmup and take it back to their home states. Local jusisdictions have the right to prohibit growing and retail operations and my county has done so. So far. The neighboring town, Cortez, has numerous pot shops. The biggest is up on a hill next to the 4 Corners Rifle and Pistol club. It has a huge 10 x15 ft marijuana flag flying daily.

The revenues from the taxes go to programs to tell people not to take drugs. Yeah. It doesn't go toward building new schools, hospitals, or roads or any of the great projects the backers inferred that it would.

 

It is not a Reefer Madness scenario but I don't see what benefit to society the legalization has been. But the proponents have a lot of big money backing them and they point to Colorado as a success story.

For the record, I am not a strident Amti Pot crusader. I have never said I thought it was worse than legal alcohol. What I do maintain is that adding grass to the problems we already have with alcohol abuse is a bad idea and it is a slippery slope to legalization of other drugs.

The THC infused edible prodects have proven to be problematic so far. People don't understand the potency of them and somekids have ended up in emergency rooms when irresponsible parents left the candies and cookies in accessible places.

 

Bottom line is that it has not caused the downfall of society as we know it but recreational marijuana is a failed experiment in my opinion. But I suspect other states, encouraged by potential tax revenues, will follow suit with legalization. And I don't see any good coming from that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The very sad reality is, it is not legal. It is still a violation of Federal law. At any moment, if the Feds decide to "enforce the laws already on the books" (which I think is a good idea) then the DEA can raid each and every one of those shops and haul the sellers off to prison.

 

Also, there that line on the form you use to buy a gun. "Are you an illegal user of marijuana?" Even in Colorado, the answer is yes.

 

I still think this legalization of pot, is among other things, back door gun control.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The very sad reality is, it is not legal. It is still a violation of Federal law. At any moment, if the Feds decide to "enforce the laws already on the books" (which I think is a good idea) then the DEA can raid each and every one of those shops and haul the sellers off to prison.

 

 

Feds aren't going to do this, too much political fallout! After a new President is elected, who knows.

 

One of the reasons that the tax benefits are really unrealized here in Colorado is that we have a state law commonly called TABOR or Taxpayers Bill of rights. This was a ballot initiave passed that limits the raising of taxes without a vote of the people. When pot was legalized, the state underestimated the amount of tax money that would be generated and now can't spend it all without going back to the people. This year lots of it went to state income tax credits as a way to give it back.

 

Lots of cities and counties have outlawed recreational pot, which they can legally do. I spend a lot of time at the Indoor shooting range that Utah Bob refers to that is right next to the largest pot seller in the county. Tons of customers. I personally have not seen any real impact, but that doesn't mean it's not there. Our County Sheriff was guest speaker at our last Shrine Club meeting. He said right now the biggest problem for him is that the legally defined threshold of "under the influence" of pot is still not defined as far as DUI. We are pretty far removed from the Denver metro area, so problems that are seen there just don't show up here for the most part.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ran into a friend the other day. he said he still drinks non taxed moonshine. point being even if you make it legal too tax it, some will still get it illegally and not pay the tax.

 

I know people that run red-off road, non taxed diesel fuel in their diesel PU's. Saves them 45's cents per gallon.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pass the Brownies! I mean pass the ammunition!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like Rye said, it's far out here in the land of rocky mountain highs!

 

Other than seeing pot stores here and there where before there we none, I have experienced no changes.

 

As UB pointed out, which has been publicized in the news, the edible pot products seem to pose the highest risk as folks may not be familiar with the proper dosage for lack of a better word.

 

As others have pointed out there have been news reports of Colorado legal growing operations being used as fronts for 'product' for illegal export or sales.

 

Like most things these days most of us only 'know' what we see in the news, which I think most of us would agree is skewed by those who control the reporting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're supposed to be voting in Nov. for "medical maryjane", the last time it came up it was voted down. It included "recreational" a use also.

 

Is Colorado just medical or recreational also??? :wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're supposed to be voting in Nov. for "medical maryjane", the last time it came up it was voted down. It included "recreational" a use also.

 

Is Colorado just medical or recreational also??? :wacko:

Colorado was initially just medical (which was kind of a joke.I never saw anyone over the age of about 25 coming out of the pot dispensary). :rolleyes:

Then after people got used to seeing the medical pot dispensaries, they got it on the ballot for recreational. That's the pattern. Get a foot in the door first.

 

I have no problem with medical legalization, but it needs to be well controlled. They discovered one doctor was issuing about 80% of the THC prescriptions for the whole state.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have it in Washington, of course, and now we see multiple marijuana shop ads in the daily newspaper, and the shops themselves in many locations.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I saw my first intersection dancing sign carrier for a pot shop, like the guys who dance around with a sign for the pizza joint, tax service, etc.

 

To me, it is part and parcel of the coarsening of our society and culture that is never-ending. Now our kids and grandkids will grow up with dope shops everywhere as normal, and no particular basis to resist the use of it.

 

I've been listening to potheads for over 45 years, since I first went to U Cal/Berkeley in 1966. I don't care who they are; they're still potheads to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've never known a stoner in any state that went without pot. It's always been out there just not as open. Tobacco and booze can be had at just about any convenience store. Yet, everyone does not choose to use it. Living in a neighboring state I have not heard of addition MJ activities or an increase of car crashes due to DUI's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Legal pot might be on the ballot here in Maine this November. Some debate about signatures on the petition. ( I think some civil war veterans signed ) But we have had "medical" use in the state for years, and that is a joke, you can buy prescriptions here, if you find the right Doctor. When it was first passed, was only for cancer patients, now you can get it for a hang nail. Might as well legalize it, at least they won't have to lie or pay a doctor for a prescription to get it. (You make people honest by legalizing it.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Colorado was initially just medical (which was kind of a joke.I never saw anyone over the age of about 25 coming out of the pot dispensary). :rolleyes:

Then after people got used to seeing the medical pot dispensaries, they got it on the ballot for recreational. That's the pattern. Get a foot in the door first.

 

I have no problem with medical legalization, but it needs to be well controlled. They discovered one doctor was issuing about 80% of the THC prescriptions for the whole state.

I had a volunteer job in an operation across the street from a pot "dispensary", this was when only medical was legal. I saw lots of people who looked over 25, a regular was on a walker, and numerous vehicles had handicapped license plates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(You make people honest by legalizing it.)

Sort of like a magic wand....

 

Well, the attitude toward drug use, as we all know, has changed indeed. We have millions of people hooked on prescription narcotics, and thousands dying of it, whose parents and grandparents wouldn't have taken a narcotic pill under almost any circumstances. They had almost what amounted to a horror of narcotics and the possibility of addiction.

 

I know; I took depositions of such people often in injury cases decades ago; I don't know how many times I heard the statement "I don't take pills" or "I don't believe in pills" or similar, back then. But that was a long time ago, now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Red, I was being a wise @$$! That one does not need to lie about needing it or doctors knowingly writing prescriptions for someone who doesn't have a use for it other then recreationally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have it in Washington, of course, and now we see multiple marijuana shop ads in the daily newspaper, and the shops themselves in many locations.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I saw my first intersection dancing sign carrier for a pot shop, like the guys who dance around with a sign for the pizza joint, tax service, etc.

 

To me, it is part and parcel of the coarsening of our society and culture that is never-ending. Now our kids and grandkids will grow up with dope shops everywhere as normal, and no particular basis to resist the use of it.

 

I've been listening to potheads for over 45 years, since I first went to U Cal/Berkeley in 1966. I don't care who they are; they're still potheads to me.

I am with you on that, Red.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Colorado was initially just medical (which was kind of a joke.I never saw anyone over the age of about 25 coming out of the pot dispensary). :rolleyes:

Then after people got used to seeing the medical pot dispensaries, they got it on the ballot for recreational. That's the pattern. Get a foot in the door first.

 

I have no problem with medical legalization, but it needs to be well controlled. They discovered one doctor was issuing about 80% of the THC prescriptions for the whole state.

Thanks Bob that's what I thought. The reason Ohio's was voted down was because of the recreational use and the fact that there were 10 hand picked companies that were allowed to grow it and they were the ones backing the bill with $$$. It was a joke! They had a mascot called "buddy" and he had a head that looked like a pot bud!!! Unbelievable!! :lol: Yep, first medical pot then fun pot!!! :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Legal pot might be on the ballot here in Maine this November. Some debate about signatures on the petition. ( I think some civil war veterans signed ) But we have had "medical" use in the state for years, and that is a joke, you can buy prescriptions here, if you find the right Doctor. When it was first passed, was only for cancer patients, now you can get it for a hang nail. Might as well legalize it, at least they won't have to lie or pay a doctor for a prescription to get it. (You make people honest by legalizing it.)

Well they probably need the stuff more than anyone else. Can you imagine what kind of pain those fellows might be in?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

More and more states will pass laws to make pot legal because the tax revenue stream is too big to ignore plus the majority of people want it or don't care. New state funded projects such as schools, roads, parks and other attractive stuff will be thrown out to appeal to the voters. Law enforcement and jails will have some relief under current pot illegal enforcement. LE can then put more effort toward the other drug related social problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a volunteer job in an operation across the street from a pot "dispensary", this was when only medical was legal. I saw lots of people who looked over 25, a regular was on a walker, and numerous vehicles had handicapped license plates.

Definitely not what I saw around here. And there were usuall 3-4 guys and gir;s kinda hoveriong around the front of the store. Occasionally the cops would shoo them off. If the prescription procedures were tighter, medica;l use wouldn't be a big deal. As it is, you tell the right doc you're in pain.... and he writes a scrip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.