Colorado monthly marijuana sales eclipse $100 million mark

[geminibear]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28947869/colorado-monthly-pot-sales-pass-100-million-mark

 

 

What do you think?

[BabyBoomer]

Rocky Mountain High

 

~Boomer ~

[+ friendofsheila]

I think America is usually behind in most progressive things.

 

So maybe legalization of this and subsequent taxation will help pay for a healthcare system that will get rid of greedy insurance corporations.

[+ purplekow]

" Soylent green is people IT IS PEOPLE. " Fat and lazy Americans about to get fatter and lazier

[TruthBTold]

Maybe it will make Americans see that many behaviors we have been brainwashed to believe was seriously damaging is not. Therefore the behavior need not be made illegal although it can be regulated. Sound familiar?

[+ purplekow]

Your right, inhaling foreign substances is not dangerous. Our lungs love smoke. And stoning out and lying around eating carbs and salty foods, just good healthy fun.

People love smoking weed, that is fine. Just don't make it out to be a healthy alternative to anything. As for medical marijuana, while there is definitely some medical benefit from marijuana, I would guess that the vast majority of people using medical marijuana are just getting high, perhaps on their insurance company's dime bag.

This also will allow for the development of social support groups like

WADS Women Against Driving Stoned

ASS America Stoner Society.

And who doesnt love ASS and WADS?

[+ purplekow]

I hope the tax revenue is put to something useful. Like Gambler's Anonymous. Gambling of course is another government sanctioned non-toxic pastime.

[TruthBTold]

Sometimes people do have an ability to control their desire for substances they enjoy. For example, most people do not drink alcohol every day so that any possible bodily toxicity does not take place. Similarly, until they do studies that show otherwise, I have to believe that most people will not spend every day, all day smoking weed. Therefore any damage to their lungs may be minimal (if at all), and any concern for a carb/salt free society will be allayed. I have also seen no studies that demonstrate that those people given prescriptions from their doctors for medical marijuana get no curative effect from the substance and therefore are "just getting high."

[+ purplekow]

Sometimes people do have an ability to control their desire for substances they enjoy. For example, most people do not drink alcohol every day so that any possible bodily toxicity does not take place. Similarly, until they do studies that show otherwise, I have to believe that most people will not spend every day, all day smoking weed. Therefore any damage to their lungs may be minimal (if at all), and any concern for a carb/salt free society will be allayed.

Hmmm that does not coincide with my college experience but perhaps things have changed

 

 

 

 

 

I have also seen no studies that demonstrate that those people given prescriptions from their doctors for medical marijuana get no curative effect from the substance and therefore are "just getting high."

Well let me say it this way, as I said in my post. there is some medical benefit from medical marijuana, but the majority people who request it from me are just looking to get high. Your results may differ.

[+ purplekow]

By the way, I am not saying MJ should not be legal, I just am pointing out that there is no free lunch. The tax revenue will be terrific and the decrease in incarceration of people for petty MJ crimes alone will result in a massive savings. Organized crime will have one less thing to offer. This does come with a price. If you think there isn't, well toke on brother.

[Guest]

The cost advantages are easy to calculate. The downsides are more difficult to calculate. How does one measure a loss in a person's productivity and/or potential? The increased costs related to diabetes, knee problems, back problems, and so on, which come along with the legalization of marijuana? Without an easy way to measure marijuana in a person's system, how will we know if an accident was related to marijuana use? How can we be sure the pilot flying our plane isn't flying high in more ways than one? Our school bus drivers? The person building our cars or maintaining vital pieces of equipment (nuclear or other power plant, etc.)? The extra $$ in the state coffers are easy to notice. The costs are more hidden.

[+ honcho]

I don't use marijuana myself. That being said, I fully and enthusiastically support the legalization of it.

 

Unicorn, can you point to any credible studies supporting that legalization will increase use?

 

The use of it seems so pervasive to me, that it seems unlikely that legalization would have any

measureable effect increasing utilization.

 

It seems to me that the righteous path to ensure clear-headed driving or flying would be to increase the

• penalties for driving under the influence and step up enforcement of *that*.
  

[Guest]

Unicorn, can you point to any credible studies supporting that legalization will increase use?

 

Although it seems rather intuitive, I don't know of any studies to specifically answer that question. It might be difficult to measure. We do know, however, that tax revenues have been increasing steadily in states which have legalized marijuana, so that does suggest that legalization results in increased use (this is the data for the state of Washington):

http://vamarijuana.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WA-Marijuana-Graph-388x330.png

 

I think we do agree that increased use is probably a bad thing for the most part. Whether the tax revenues offset the negative effects is another study I'd like to see. As I said, the negative consequences would be far more difficult to measure than the tax revenues.

[+ honcho]

We do know, however, that tax revenues have been increasing steadily in states which have legalized marijuana, so that does suggest that legalization results in increased use ...

 

An alternative explanation for the increased revenue is that people have started to buy from legal dispensaries

instead of their local dealer. (And I believe I heard on the radio that additional outlets were authorized at

a constant rate in oregon after legalization, rather than all at once).

[Mocha]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28947869/colorado-monthly-pot-sales-pass-100-million-mark What do you think?

 

No surprise to me. Living in Denver, this whole pot craze is...I don't even know the word to describe it. I think it's just an overrated bait.

 

I just know, business wise I now have to sift through 100 million stoners who call me, few if non, of whom I really see. I don't even like answering the phone or texts anymore when I'm in Denver. One idiot after the next. Whether they're visiting or reside here, it's usually all idiots. They contact, then they flake. The cards are dealt with a younger base to work with, and with the higher COL here and influx of younger guys coming here who end up realizing Denver is not the Garden of Eden they thought, would-be clients can now easily get some thirsty substance user for a bargain that makes free sound expensive.

 

For all the billions it's bringing in, it's also bringing in the substance abusers and homeless (then again, it's been that way even before) while the cost to rent here ever increases. I personally havent found many potheads to have much at all of personality or depth. Legalized or not, I don't think most people using it are any better off than without it.

[geminibear]

No surprise to me. Living in Denver, this whole pot craze is...I don't even know the word to describe it. I think it's just an overrated bait.

 

I just know, business wise I now have to sift through 100 million stoners who call me, few if non, of whom I really see. I don't even like answering the phone or texts anymore when I'm in Denver. One idiot after the next. Whether they're visiting or reside here, it's usually all idiots. They contact, then they flake. The cards are dealt with a younger base to work with, and with the higher COL here and influx of younger guys coming here who end up realizing Denver is not the Garden of Eden they thought, would-be clients can now easily get some thirsty substance user for a bargain that makes free sound expensive.

 

For all the billions it's bringing in, it's also bringing in the substance abusers and homeless (then again, it's been that way even before) while the cost to rent here ever increases. I personally havent found many potheads to have much at all of personality or depth. Legalized or not, I don't think most people using it are any better off than without it.

 

Where is the "well" that one does speak of?

 

I have found the opposite. I thought there would be many more guys looking to make extra cash to supplement their "pot shop" shopping. I haven't seen such an influx, although I do see many more hot guys in the Metro area. Granted I am not a consumer of the pot industry, I do in theory support the sin tax concept just as I would support legalization of other types of industry. Legalize it, tax it, regulate it, control it.

[seaboy4hire]

Where is the "well" that one does speak of?

 

I have found the opposite. I thought there would be many more guys looking to make extra cash to supplement their "pot shop" shopping. I haven't seen such an influx, although I do see many more hot guys in the Metro area. Granted I am not a consumer of the pot industry, I do in theory support the sin tax concept just as I would support legalization of other types of industry. Legalize it, tax it, regulate it, control it.

 

I say legalize it all and screw the taxes. We are taxed enough. Sin tax does very little but encourage more wasteful gov spending.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[geminibear]

I say legalize it all and screw the taxes. We are taxed enough. Sin tax does very little but encourage more wasteful gov spending.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

That's the good thing about so called "sin" tax. If you don't want to pay the tax don't partake in the activity.

 

No harm no foul.

[Guest]

I say legalize it all and screw the taxes. We are taxed enough. Sin tax does very little but encourage more wasteful gov spending.

 

Well, that's a little absurd. Then the government and society have to end up paying for the costs of the behavior, while getting nothing in return. At least with cigarettes, the only person being directly hurt is the person smoking (as long as he's doing it outdoors). With marijuana, the person is putting others at risk if he drives or operates machinery, to say nothing about general lost productivity. If you see government waste, do something about it. But our roads are falling apart, and our public education system is in serious trouble. No Europeans spend anywhere nearly as much as we do for state universities (generally less than one tenth). And I strongly suspect that you take out from government many times what you personally put in. Or would you deny it?

[seaboy4hire]

Well, that's a little absurd. Then the government and society have to end up paying for the costs of the behavior, while getting nothing in return. At least with cigarettes, the only person being directly hurt is the person smoking (as long as he's doing it outdoors). With marijuana, the person is putting others at risk if he drives or operates machinery, to say nothing about general lost productivity. If you see government waste, do something about it. But our roads are falling apart, and our public education system is in serious trouble. No Europeans spend anywhere nearly as much as we do for state universities (generally less than one tenth). And I strongly suspect that you take out from government many times what you personally put in. Or would you deny it?

 

I love how you for the 2nd time you imply that I moonch from the gov. You really are a piece of cake. Till you actually know me, shut the fuck up. Your ass is on ignore. Piss off.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[marylander1940]

http://cannalink.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Ben-Rush-quote.jpg

 

http://hempbeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bill-o-reilly-marijuana-supporter-hemp-beach-tv-hbtv.jpg

 

http://cannalink.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Wisdom-from-the-master-750x481.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/dtVI1JL.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/e4YUAw3.jpg

[Guest]

I love how you for the 2nd time you imply that I moonch from the gov. You really are a piece of cake. Till you actually know me, shut the fuck up. Your ass is on ignore. Piss off.

 

Well, maybe I'm just guessing, but I doubt you're paying for your fairly expensive medications out of pocket. If you are, you must be the most successful escort in town. Maybe I'm wrong about your entitlements, but you certainly don't deny it if it's true. And, no, I won't "shut the fuck up" just because you want me to. Maybe I don't like to hear your whining about your have to pay a little tax so that you can enjoy a high. But you have every right to express your opinions (as do I). And why on earth would I care whether you put my tush on ignore?

http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1284392960193_1878431.png

[Mocha]

Where is the "well" that one does speak of?

 

I have found the opposite. I thought there would be many more guys looking to make extra cash to supplement their "pot shop" shopping. I haven't seen such an influx, although I do see many more hot guys in the Metro area. Granted I am not a consumer of the pot industry, I do in theory support the sin tax concept just as I would support legalization of other types of industry. Legalize it, tax it, regulate it, control it.

 

There are many more guys looking to make extra cash, but it's probably not to support their pot shopping, but to make their rent because they were too busy pot shopping.

 

The escort market in Denver is very entry-level and amateur. The clients here seem to be on a similar playing field. Not all, or even most. But many. The main thing is this place is still quite conservative and family oriented. Like I've said before, there's a lot of piñata stick up the ass mentality in the majority of the community in Denver.

 

That said, it's not the worse market, but I feel the legalization of pot here sorta disturbed what would of been an okay escort market. When most of the gay (and bi/curious) community are stoners, it just doesn't offer the sort of client I go for: sophisticated, well-dressed, multi-hours, vacations to key largo, etc.

 

If you ask the average man in Colorado what they're up to this week, beer or getting stoned will be the answer 99.9% of the time. During the 1 or 2 weeks I'm in town, I'm usually only seeing regulars and out of towners. A new client comes very, very rarely. And it's more and more often, whenever I get an inquiry here, it's just a bunch of bullshit. Most don't follow thru, or flake at the last minute for nothing. No other reason but to be a douche and make my day harder.

 

Typical stoners. They talk good game, but never step up to the plate.

[Juan Vancouver]

How does one measure a loss in a person's productivity and/or potential?

 

That's a romantic concept and very poignant when it comes to find arguments against pot. You seem to forget, however, that many of our former and current world leaders, scientists and greatest artists have been and some still are marijuana smokers.

 

You waste potential because you're lazy, not because you do drugs, drink alcohol or have sex. Most of perfectly sober people never fulfilled theirs.

 

The increased costs related to diabetes, knee problems, back problems, and so on, which come along with the legalization of marijuana?

 

The what?

 

In all countries in which marijuana has been either legalized or decriminalized, most people, including pot users are lanky, perfectly healthy people. It's not an accident that ALL stoner films depict skiny kids wearing clothes that are too big for them. Stoners tend to be thin. Maybe malnourished, but never obese.

 

If you are seeing obese pot users it's because you live in the USA. You will also see obese car drivers, obese cellphone users, obese newspaper readers. Neither cars, cellphones nor newspapers cause obesity with the obvious knee and back problems. Poverty, fast, cheap food and the culture of inactivity causes obesity.

 

Pot doesn't cause obesity. Pot doesn't cause diabetes. Pot doesn't cause back or knee problems.

 

This is not open for debate. This is a fact. Whoever has tried to convince you of this is deliberating misleading you to get an emotional response out of you. If this is your argument, then it necessarily means that you are making up stuff. Get your facts straight.

 

Without an easy way to measure marijuana in a person's system, how will we know if an accident was related to marijuana use?

 

I just had a conversation with a paramedic about drugs. He is a very uptight and conservative paramedic who is uncomfortable about the advent of the marijuana stores all over Vancouver, but even he has to confess that it's a known fact amongst paramedics and law enforcement that even in Vancouver, where a good 50% of people use pot to different degrees, there has not been a single accident related to pot.

 

The few emergency instances they get related to pot (and I mean perhaps 5 or 6 a year for a three million inhabitants city) are kids who ate too much of it and are freaking out so end up at the emergency room. Nothing can be done, they just have to wait it out.

 

Not a single accident is caused by marijuana. And yes, it is very easy to determine when a person is under the influence.

 

Accidents are mostly caused by alcohol, a small percentage by alcohol combined with other drugs, like cocaine. Stimulants cause violence, fights and heart attacks. Hallucinogens cause panic attacks and accidents because of lack of judgment. Amphetamines cause over doses, violence and cross infection through unsafe sex. Opiates cause overdoses and cross-infection by needle sharing.

 

Sure, I hope people don't drive under the influence and I can assure you that for a pilot it will still be highly illegal to have pot in his blood.

 

All your arguments are emotional, none of them are well informed nor rational.

 

I understand you may have been raised in a culture in which pot smoking was equated to horrible things (Hell, I remember "Reefer Madness" and it's gory depictions of all the Marijuana violence induced crimes.) but just repeating those prejudices ad nauseam won't serve any purpose other than keeping the illegal drug trade alive and thriving, with the real (not imagined) violence it brings with it.

 

Take time to inform yourself.

[Frequentflier]

1. I think legalizing use was appropriate. Sellers are now investigated, regulated and monitored by authorities. Plants that supply these sellers are tagged and tracked. Video monitors exist where they grow and sell the product.

2. The police supported legalization as that replaced most (if not all) street selling and the police don't have to spend time arresting people for having small quantities.

3. Cities & states get tax revenue they didn't before and, lets think positively, use most (if not all perhaps) for good purposes including educating people (starting in school) about any scientifically agreed to dangers, helping people with substance abuse (not necessarily marijuana), etc.

4. While cities & states are getting taxes, so is the federal government (payroll & other employment taxes plus income taxes).

5. The most recent change being worked on would allow marijuana companies to put their sales revenue in bank accounts and pay bills without fear of federal reprisal. This would not only reduce the possibility of those people getting robbed but the IRS would have better records if they choose to audit to make sure all taxes have been paid.

6. The police in the legalized areas have been trained to test any drivers that may have smoked too much In comparison, driving while drunk is far more out of control.

7. No, I don't smoke it.