Colorado Legalizes Marijuana For Recreational Use

[JonDuke]

Pretty historical day, and I ain't talking about another pointless election...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...comm_ref=false

The Rocky Mountain High just got a whole lot higher. On Tuesday night, Amendment 64 -- the measure which sought the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults -- was passed by Colorado voters, making Colorado the first state to end marijuana prohibition in the United States.

Under Amendment 64, marijuana is taxed and regulated similar to alcohol and tobacco. It gives state and local governments the ability to control and tax the sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults age 21 and older.

[vektor]

A: that's awsome
B: hopefully it doesn't get repealed tomorrow
C: hopefully it spreads north... a lot north

[Canuck-Hater]

The new rocky mountain highhhhh maaaaan!

[CampbellsTransgressions]

According to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2074168.html

Looks like it'll be legalized in Washington as well. I wonder how the feds will respond.

[Winsor_Pilates]

That was fast!
#BlameObama

[Daradon]

Surprised about this (Colorado anyway) as it's known to be a pretty conservative swing state.

A movement like this in the States will help us up here. They've all but controlled our drug policy too.

Though the immediate impact to BC's chief export might actually hurt the province a little.

[nik-]

I assume this will be like the medicinal marijuana shops in California. The federal law will supersede state law and it will be up to the DEA as to whether they want to press the issue.

[vektor]

honest question, why would it hurt the province? It would hurt drug dealers and massively help everyone who has to buy marijuana from drug dealers

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by vektor

honest question, why would it hurt the province? It would hurt drug dealers and massively help everyone who has to buy marijuana from drug dealers

But a lot less money coming into the province. Drug dealers and smugglers buy stuff too. Often expensive stuff.

Course they don't really pay taxes. Well, that's not exactly true, but not their appropriate share.

[bizaro86]

The governor of Colorado was just on CBS saying that marijuana is still illegal federally and they won't be able to make it like buying alcohol right away or even anytime soon...

[chalms04]

‏@BrownieScott Washington residents were complaining about us buying all their milk and gas before - they haven't seen nothing yet

[vektor]

that's a backwards perspective though, all the money they spend is literally an investment to create a profit that can be taxed

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Daradon

But a lot less money coming into the province. Drug dealers and smugglers buy stuff too. Often expensive stuff.

Course they don't really pay taxes. Well, that's not exactly true, but not their appropriate share.

Actually, failing to pay taxes is one of the ways they do get busted. I know tax lawyers who say the smartest thing they could do would be to simply declare their grow op earnings and be taxed on them.

Hopefully Colorado is just domino number one.

[Matty81]

Ya I expect a lot of money will leave the Kelowna area as a result of this... there are tonnes of grow ops here and the bikers gangs smuggle alot of it across the border. Even locally I'm sure their sales may be down a little when you can drive an hour to the border at Osoyoos.

I think Washington will have a bigger impact on Canadian policy.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by vektor

that's a backwards perspective though, all the money they spend is literally an investment to create a profit that can be taxed

Wel that's basically where I was going with that. Just meant they don't get taxed on their income. Or at least, not all of it. Most would have a crooked accountant diverting some of their money to visible taxable income.

But yeah, eventually the money ends up in the province and gets taxed somewhere.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The governor of Colorado was just on CBS saying that marijuana is still illegal federally and they won't be able to make it like buying alcohol right away or even anytime soon...

soooo what was the point of the vote then? I don't think I get this, does anyone else?

[Matty81]

Medical Marijuana dispensaries are illegal federally too. Hard to say what will actually happen but I think they'll roll it out, bad pun joke here.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

soooo what was the point of the vote then? I don't think I get this, does anyone else?

People need to read about these bills before voting. All the hippys are cheering not realizing they just put twice as many restrictions on use as there was previously.

Welcome to the world of THC DUI testing.

Part 1 of the bill is all they care about
Part I identifies the goal of the initiative and authorizes the Washington State Liquor Control Board "to regulate and tax marijuana for persons twenty-one years of age and older, and add a new threshold for driving under the influence of marijuana."

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

soooo what was the point of the vote then? I don't think I get this, does anyone else?

I'm pretty sure a number of states allow anyone who gets enough signatures on a petition to put something on the ballot.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

People need to read about these bills before voting. All the hippys are cheering not realizing they just put twice as many restrictions on use as there was previously.

Welcome to the world of THC DUI testing.

Part 1 of the bill is all they care about
Part I identifies the goal of the initiative and authorizes the Washington State Liquor Control Board "to regulate and tax marijuana for persons twenty-one years of age and older, and add a new threshold for driving under the influence of marijuana."

What other restrictions does the bill put in place?