Colorado and the public sale of Cannabis

[sars]

Back in November 2012, a few states decided, by vote of the people, that the sale of Cannabis was going to be legalised such that you could go and purchase leaf or even a spliff from a licensed shop in the street and yesterday they opened in Colorado, with Washington joining later in the year. Bizarrely, it remains a federal crime to be in possession and is illegal to buy using credit cards, however it is seen as a trial for the rest of America.

In my distant past I may or may not have been a user, but I can see no difference between cannabis and alcohol except one being legal, excessive use of either has dire consequences. It can be argued that cannabis is less addictive than alcohol, however I believe if you have a disposition to addiction be it alcohol or drugs you are going to over use on it. So I welcome this trial and one day maybe you will be able to buy it freely in a shop near you.

As a side point, they reckon they will get $100 million in tax revenue in the first year for Colorado alone.

 

[mcbeee]

Saw that on the news here the other day, having grown up in the 60's and 70's (and seen all the govt. movies like "Reefer Madness" ) I always said that we could get tax revenue and reduce the apparent crime rate by doing what Colorado eventually just did.

I did see a report recently on the current grow-op products and the difference in the chemical composition compared to the products available in my youth. Basically it said that the new strains produce quite a bit of paranoia in users that was under control in the early more natural strains. The earlier "pots" had naturally occurring chemicals that both induced and controlled the paranoid effects, this balance has been markedly changed in the new strains....with resulting effects. Have to wait and see what happens? Not knowing the prodigious amount of regulations regarding legal growing I can only hope they go back to natural strains 'coz I really don't want to be dealing with a bunch of paranoid stoners. I liked it better when people just got happy, hungry and listened to music, then fell asleep (hypothetically speaking of course , right SARS 8) )

 

[Bad_Pritt]

In Holland it's pretty simple: cannabis is legal up to 5 grams for own use and you can buy it in specialised "coffee shops". In Belgium you can't really buy it legally, but up to 5 grams for own use is generally tolerated.

 

[mcbeee]

Colorado residents can buy 1 ounce while non residents can buy a quarter ounce...

 

[Anonymous]

I believe anyone that's used it now or in the past must have had something lacking in their life

I've never even had a puff of a normal cigarette nor touched one.

 

[Geezah]

Hmmm......Guns and now drugs. Best kept well apart in my opinion.

 

[Oakandacorns]

Hmmm......Guns and now drugs. Best kept well apart in my opinion.

That is a good point.

 

[sp3ctre]

Hmmm......Guns and now drugs. Best kept well apart in my opinion.

Most of the people I've seen high on pot are more likely to kiss you than shoot you

 

[sars]

I believe anyone that's used it now or in the past must have had something lacking in their life

I've never even had a puff of a normal cigarette nor touched one.

In what way, if you have no experience of it how can you know if they are lacking in their life, would that statement include those that consumes alcohol too

and good for you for never smoking

Hmmm......Guns and now drugs. Best kept well apart in my opinion.

You are more likely to be assaulted by a drunk than someone high on cannabis

It's not like people were not doing it before, however it can now be regulated and taxed, I do wonder if people actually have an informed opinion and not one regurgitated from the hysterical press.

 

[BrianD]

I believe anyone that's used it now or in the past must have had something lacking in their life

I've never even had a puff of a normal cigarette nor touched one.

Well said, I too have neither used or tried drugs obviously nothing lacking in my life. Even at my darkest times, and there have been a few times, I have never felt the need to take drugs to give me a high. Only trouble with the high is that it doesn't last, hence the craving to eperience the high again, hence the road to ruin.

 

[sp3ctre]

Only trouble with the high is that it doesn't last, hence the craving to eperience the high again, hence the road to ruin.

Have you ever had a coffee or a chocolate bar... they do similar. Some people crave chocolate to the point they get obese, but some people have the occasional chocolate bar... similar with marijuana to be honest. To say taking marijuana is "the road to ruin" is bonkers.

 

[BrianD]

Only trouble with the high is that it doesn't last, hence the craving to eperience the high again, hence the road to ruin.

Have you ever had a coffee or a chocolate bar... they do similar. Some people crave chocolate to the point they get obese, but some people have the occasional chocolate bar... similar with marijuana to be honest. To say taking marijuana is "the road to ruin" is bonkers.

Guess it down too a lack of will power then. I don't understand the need for people to seek highs, but it is a free country and each to their own to do what they want, however I hate when the NHS and benefit sytem have to help them with their addiction which is self inflicted so don't see why my hard taxes are spent on addicts.

Just my opinion of course

 

[sars]

Only trouble with the high is that it doesn't last, hence the craving to eperience the high again, hence the road to ruin.

Have you ever had a coffee or a chocolate bar... they do similar. Some people crave chocolate to the point they get obese, but some people have the occasional chocolate bar... similar with marijuana to be honest. To say taking marijuana is "the road to ruin" is bonkers.

Not bonkers, just ill informed, if we were talking heroin I would agree with the statement, but there is a reason why cannabis is not classified in the same way as heroin.

 

[inkey$]

My worry with this is the smoking part. In my day [ahem] you mixed with tobacco and that was when the strength of this stuff was a lot less potent! Todays green stuff is [as I understand it] ridiculous in strength so mixing with tobacco means more smokers which as we know is bad right?

 

[sars]

Guess it down too a lack of will power then. I don't understand the need for people to seek highs, but it is a free country and each to their own to do what they want, however I hate when the NHS and benefit sytem have to help them with their addiction which is self inflicted so don't see why my hard taxes are spent on addicts.

Just my opinion of course

Do you partake in alcohol or cigarettes because clearly they would apply to that statement too

 

[WLH]

As of today in Colorado "Rocky Mountain High" has a whole new meaning or maybe that's what John Denver had in mind anyway...

 

[Adamski]

I think it's a good move. So much crime is orientated around the drugs trade. If you take power away from drug lords and allow certain drugs to be taxed and sold on licence, I think that's a good thing. Introduce a governance framework around production/sale and control tax revenue from it. It's win/win.

Less police time would be wasted from policing possession and small time dealers, freeing them up to tackle more important crime.

Governments have spent the last century being "tough" on drugs with a "zero tolerance" approach. Sure those policies win votes. They don't work though. Not one bit. Time for a fresh approach. One that will work.

I'm not saying all drugs should legalised, nor am I a drug abuser. Just think my approach makes sense


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[mcbeee]

All these comments from the "unknowing " who have never tried anything ...ever taken codeine ? there's a million pharmaceuticals that people take every day and think nothing of it. Half the housewives are on Happy pills, the kids are strung out on Ritalin and these are the ones saying "No".

I never liked Pot, the smoke was far too damaging to the lungs, it's not good for you at all, worse than cigs. So the question is: Will they be selling all the products or just smokeable marijuana? (Hash brownies don't hurt the lungs and there's no second hand smoke issues... :wink: )

 

[mcbeee]

I think it's a good move. So much crime is orientated around the drugs trade. If you take power away from drug lords and allow certain drugs to be taxed and sold on licence, I think that's a good thing. Introduce a governance framework around production/sale and control tax revenue from it. It's win/win.

Less police time would be wasted from policing possession and small time dealers, freeing them up to tackle more important crime.

Governments have spent the last century being "tough" on drugs with a "zero tolerance" approach. Sure those policies win votes. They don't work though. Not one bit. Time for a fresh approach. One that will work.

I don't think it will make much difference until all the States and Canada are the same as Colorado, The Mexican drug lords will take a 2% hit on profits for now, I think they won't notice it. The biggest issues killing people and ruining lives now are Crack and Meth, they are a major problem that needs a real hard line approach. Pot is in the same league as beer and wine, not worth worrying about at the moment.

 

[Converted Steve]

Firstly I’m not by any means saying I disagree with all the positive comments in favour of this, but other than the Police not having to spend time on stop and search, or reporting people for having small amounts of cannabis for personal use I don’t understand how exactly this action cuts crime.

Crimes committed because an individual is under the influence of, wont change.

Crimes committed to fund serious addictions won’t change, if individuals can’t afford to buy it now without resorting to crime that situation wont change just because you can buy it legally in a shop. In fact the price of cannabis might go up making it harder for those who smoke it to afford it.

Just like there is with alcohol and cigarettes there will still be a black market for cannabis so the drug lords will still be in business, they will also still have all the other illegal class A drugs for sale, they could just push them more.

Also you will still have the huge costs to the NHS of cannabis abuse, and related incidents.

And isn’t it a contradiction in a way, Governments around the world spend millions trying to stop people smoking per say, but by making cannabis legal aren’t we almost doing the opposite.

Like I said I’m not saying its not a good idea, anything is worth a try, I’m just not convinced that it will have such a huge impact.