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© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.1st legal recreational pot industry opens in U.S.
By KRISTEN WYATT DENVER©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
33 Comments
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lostrune2
At one Colorado shop, a long line of people already formed even before it opened 8am. They had to give out numbered tickets to over 700 people, and may not even be able to service all of the customers by closing time.
nath
So don't talk to them. I'm sure you're no one they would want to waste their high on.
globalwatcher
There are shuttle buses "Ski and Smoke" waiting for ya in Denver Airport. We have a plenty of snow this year in the Rockies, maybe the best in the past 6 years. Come and enjoy one of the most beautiful states in USA.
funny car
I do not smoke pot, but I strongly advocate the freedom to use it.
I am not overjoyed or hopeful with this move however. As an experiment, it will be a poor one. The rush to go smoke legal pot will attract bad elements and confrontations, and those who are not too sharp (a lot of people) and those against legalization (those who profit from the affront to freedom that is the ban) will then quickly declare that pot is a primary cause of criminal behavior.
Banning pot has made it about as widely available to teens as it could be already. Teens are not having any trouble getting pot or alcohol. Even for teens, both should be regulated rather than banned. I was exposed to plenty of both as a teenager, and the only ill effect I can think of is that I became too thoughtful to be a robot workaholic like rich people named DuPont want us all to be.
CrazyJoe
Glad to hear that cannabis was decriminalized by the referendum. Prohibition never worked. (but we did have the speakeasies back then).
nath
Step in the right direction.
RomeoRII
Only a matter of time before some Cheech and Chong type tries to transport this poison across state lines. Then the federal government will be able to step in and this very bad social experiment will be over and America can resume putting dope fiends in jail where they belong.
RR
Lowly
Ya, I sure do want to light up and share a toke with her. Nice pic!
Funny car-
It is very difficult for me to imagine this attracting "bad elements and confrontations". I have been to many parties and bars in the world, and have seen plenty of alcohol-fueled confrontations and bad fights, but never once a pot-fueled fight. Like, not even a real argument.
RR-
not sure what you are talking about. It sounds like they are taking precautions to keep unregulated pot from coming IN across state lines so that they can control what is sold. Using your thinking cap, you can infer that there is plenty of pot already out there across those state lines, and legalizing in Co will not affect that like at all. I think "awash with pot" might not even be an exaggeration.
globalwatcher
One guy was interviewed by TV newsman tonight. He said he moved here from NJ for this and is currently looking for a job. He moved here for a wrong reason as well as many others. The weed is very expensive. This is a highly competitive state for good jobs. Many do not make it here.
25psot
Government trying to control out of control weed operations is like trying to control fire by adding more fire.
Mike45
its a prototype, social engineering type experiment. Ive known people who were stoned their entire life, lets just say they were "vacant" Denver could become what vegas is to gambling and prostitution, a legal hub for weed. As long as it stays in denver, I see no issue. Its when other cities, (can you say Detroit) who are desparate for revenue start to copy it that it becomes a social ill.
HonestDictator
One guy was interviewed by TV newsman tonight. He said he moved here from NJ for this and is currently looking for a job. He moved here for a wrong reason as well as many others. The weed is very expensive. This is a highly competitive state for good jobs. Many do not make it here.
Yeah, we do have a few groups of folks coming to Denver because of legal pot. But many of them find out the hard way that you can't stay unless you have skills, good education, and no felonies on their criminal record. Many have become homeless (or came here homeless...) and are wondering why things aren't going right for them.
globalwatcher
And Colorado is not like CA, FL and many other Southern States with welfare mentality. The state of Colorado believes in excellence. Good education, good job skills, no felony record and good FICO credit rating are the must here for minimum survival tools before thinking about the weed. This is a rich state.
funny car
Lowly, do you think most drug dealers specialize? Do you think pot smokers stick to pot? I am no proponent of the gateway drug theory, but those who sell marijuana also tend to sell other drugs. Once people have been loosened up with marijuana sellers and even friends will suggest other drugs. Those who do and sell other drugs will be drawn in for the legalized marijuana. I predict even drinking of alcohol will rise, and surely you can see where that will lead to confrontation?
Organized crime and gangs will be attracted to the lightened atmosphere to push the envelope further.
But in case anyone gets confused I am all for legalization of marijuana and harder drugs as well. I just see a great big problem with trying to do it in one state in 50 as an experiment. 8 states in 50 would be more like it. Any scientist will tell you: an experimental group of one is garbage science worthy only of a creationist.
But I don't even see the need for the experiment. In fact, it reeks of a trap. Marijuana should just be legalized from coast to coast right this very instant.
Jean ValJean
Not only has the US-led "War on Drugs" utterly failed to stop the use of certain substances, but it has also created the much larger and more monstrous cartels who make Al Capone look like a Boy Scout. In addition, it has made tens of millions in US alone members of the new slavery, incarceration and unemployability. ALL substances should be fully legalised. That said, the use of substances can have very detrimental health and other effects, but that choice and its cosequences are the responsibility of the individual. It really boils down to being the individual's choice and responsibility what to put into their own bodies. Or does your body belong to a government?
RomeoRII
@lowly: Was referring to drug fiends trying to take that poison OUT of the state. As I wrote, it's only a matter of time before this horrible social experiment will be squashed by the federal government and the entire U.S. can return to throwing reefer smokers (aka, Schedule 1 Narcotic Users) back into jail because thankfully federal laws trump state laws.
Only dopes use dope.
RR
smithinjapan
It has been proven time and again that banning or making illegal substances like alcohol and marijuana only INCREASE crime, not decrease it. When was the mafia in the US strongest? Prohibition. That's just one example. This allows the government to free up a lot of money it would otherwise use chasing down people who smoke marijuana, allows them to regulate how it is doled out, and also allows them to cash in if they do it right.
Personally, I don't like marijuana, but I'm all for having people who do in one place, smoking it and chilling out than smuggling, dealing, and smoking on the streets or in homes.
MASSWIPE
First move towards righting a great historical wrong. The initial push to criminalize marijuana in the 1930s was rooted in racial bigotry and had nothing to do with scientific evidence of the drug's dangers, as there was no such credible evidence. Because it was widely thought that weed use was more prevalent among blacks, law enforcement authorities viewed criminalization of weed as an excuse to arrest and imprison more blacks. That's the main reason pot was outlawed in the USA.
globalwatcher
Jean ValJeanJan. 02, 2014 - 04:06PM JST
No you have missed a history of weed legalization here that took almost 30 years. It did not happen overnight.
It has been proven many with serious life threatening seizures are successfully treated with marijuana and they are now living in seizure free life. And the marijuana is the last medical option for them to stay alive. That's how the legalization started.
randomenigma
I'm curious about what legalisation did to the prices. Did they go down? If they went up, you can expect a black market to continue, undercutting the legal price.
StormR
Making marijuana legal for adults is not an experiment, "Prohibition was the experiment and the results were abysmal."
Lowly
funny car,
i guess I see what you are saying. sort of...
I think being legal there will be less confrontations between dealers tho, ... cuz they'll be legit.
I also wouldn't say it is an "experiment" because no-one decided to do an experiment, or see how it is in Co before legalizing elsewhere. Just some voters said legalize it, and it was done. I agree it does put a sort of pressure on Co for ppl coming to get some, but I personally think only "marginal" folks (like kinda crazy) would think/ do that, as pot is SO readily available everywhere else, illegal but often not seriously prosecuted by the cops, and now so many states with medical pot laws, and also Oregon or Wash went legal? Anyway, I don't see it as as worrisome as you do. Probably the next few years a lot more states will legalize and/or medicalize it.
RR-
I don't know what it is you been smoking man, but it sounds like you are coming down really hard, man. That's like some messed up paranoid trip you are on man. That stuff can get you down man, like be careful of that. You should get some uncut straight up legalized stuff man, cuz that is regulated and confirmed and good for you. Toke up on that stuff man and you won't be paranoid anymore man.
gelendestrasse
Bill Clinton was there, but he didn't inhale....
I think we need to decriminalize drugs, tax them, and then use the tax money to help the people who get sucked in. My reasoning is that there will always be people who get sucked into addiction but if it's out in the open and regulated then, at least, the violence of the criminals will be ended. I know it's rather like making a deal with the devil but prohibition doesn't work. The US proved that. Why the US thinks they can have any better luck prohibiting drugs, or anything that people want, is beyond me.
MarkG
Depending on what studies you choose to believe but some say it is more cancerous than tobacco when smoked.
I am with Jean ValJean on this one. Decriminalize it all. The war on drugs is clearly a failure. Jails are full of drug related criminals. I prefer the violent criminals occupying a jail cells. I choose not to use any drugs in my current life and some drugs I will never do if readily available. Leave that choice to individuals. After all they do it illegally anyway.
RomeoRII
Just got off the phone with a person I know living in Colo. who said the dope fiends there are paying between $400 and $500 for an ounce of that poison. Heh, fools and their money are soon parted.
RR
lostrune2
There's a snowstorm in the US, and people are still lining up out in the snowfall. Colorado is raking in the cash.
The majority of American population already favor legalizing marijuana. That has been slowly trending up for decades. It's only a matter of time for the laws to catch up with the changing American mindset.
Ironically, the issue in the future could be NOT big criminal gangs or cartels, but rather big business - like how big tobacco controlling the market. Food for thought.
globalwatcher
RomeoRIIJan. 03, 2014 - 04:52AM JST
It is nothing. Colorado is in full of cash and opportunity. Also remember this is a PROGRESSIVE state- no too inflexible conservative are welcomed.
T-Mack
One mans poison, is another' s mans medicine...or recreation I should say, Kudos!!!
Thunderbird2
Watch the hippies flock towards Colorado for their spliffs, getting off their faces... Legalising that crap is something I hope stays on the other side of the Atlantic. Or if you're in Japan, the Pacific.
globalwatcher
MarkGJan. 03, 2014 - 04:22AM JST
RomeoRIIJan. 03, 2014 - 04:52AM JST
gelendestrasseJan. 03, 2014 - 02:48AM JST
LowlyJan. 03, 2014 - 02:25AM JST
StormRJan. 02, 2014 - 10:19PM JST
StormRJan. 02, 2014 - 10:19PM JST
RomeoRIIJan. 02, 2014 - 05:11PM JST
ends trying to take that poison OUT of the state.
Jean ValJeanJan. 02, 2014 - 04:06PM JST
I live in Colorado over 50 years and I am not a marijuana user. You guys are all missing a point. We are legalizing ONLY marijuana use. If you are interested, you can research all legal cases on this issue how we came to this conclusion. We, the people of Colorado, grant you freedom to do so, but we demand everyone of you to take a personal responsibility while you are in Colorado. Simple.
Kimokekahuna Hawaii
in answer to one question about prices.. it is the same as street price + 25% tax. There is more quality control with legally distributed buds .. the thing is that it is easy to grow your own and 2-3 times a year you can have a gift from nature. Alcohol kills.. not some weed growing in a pot on the balcony.. it is a weed people.. it is not as bad as tobacco and has proven physical and mental health benefits especially if eaten or vaporized.. people who have never tried it should not think they are in a position to discuss like people who never have taken a drink making all who have a few beers as drunks and alcoholics.. it definitely takes the money out of crime syndicates. Never going to happen in Japan.. maybe Okinawa.