Colorado Legalizes Marijuana For Recreational Use

[vektor]

Originally Posted by blankall

A market for different strains of Marijuana only really exist in places with sub-par Marijuana. In BC for instance, you can find differenet strains, but most people just sell straight out BC bud, because it is that good. Even then the average user really isn't that concerned. In fact, the only place I've ever been offered any kind of specialty Marijuana is in the USA. Even then, my friends, who are regulars (I am not), told me the stuff was not as good was what was being offered in BC.

Sure, you'll have some aficionados, but most people just want to get high. Either way you'd put a serious dent in profits having the government supply high quality and consistent Marijuana. You might have a few suppliers continue to make designer brands, but most would say it wasn't worth undertaking an illegal enterprise to supply a small segment of the population. You always have the option to increase penalties for Marijuana production if you want to further deter people.

not all strains get you high. Most in fact get you stoned and yes there is a difference. Most people think they are high when they are actually stoned. The difference is THC vs. CBD. THC gets you high and the effects are euphoria, mental stimulation, energy, alertness etc. etc. The CBD's that most people think is THC makes you sleepy and distorts reality also inducing a common experience called couchlock. The reason most pot gets you stoned is because plants early in development have white hairs that get you high, but later in development once they have grown more develop orange hair so most growers go with the orange hair pot to make more money.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by blankall

Conservatives aren't necessarily against drugs. In areas like Colorado many of the Conservatives are "Libertarians". Libertarians are oppossed to government interference in general. A true Libertarian supports legalizing all drugs.

As for the legalization, this is nothing but a positive in my mind. It's pretty clear the "War on Drugs" is a massive failure and has criminilized entire populations.

The USA needs to follow a model like Portugal. Legalize use and small possession of all drugs. Divert the money you were spending on punishing these offences towards rehabilitation and health care. Cracking down on major trafickes makes sense. In the case of Marijuana, just eliminate their market by supplying state grown Marijuana.

My comment was in response to "I always thought Colorado was a more conservative state" posted above. I definitely agree with your comment about libertarians, which is a group I generally identify with.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Off topic, but we were recently in Amsterdam where we were told visitors cannot legally smoke this stuff. No, we don't so it didn't affect us. Now I'm reading that the nation is backing down on laws prohibiting visitors from using. Instead, they will leave it up to individual cities to prohibit, or permit it. Amsterdam is a very interesting city.

Yeah I'm in the midst of planning a trip over to Europe and when I read about this I couldn't help but laugh. Why exactly would they potentially prohibit one of the main draws of Amsterdam? Thankfully it sounds like they realized this might negatively impact the tourism sector, but what a strange one to be going after.

[vektor]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Yeah I'm in the midst of planning a trip over to Europe and when I read about this I couldn't help but laugh. Why exactly would they potentially prohibit one of the main draws of Amsterdam? Thankfully it sounds like they realized this might negatively impact the tourism sector, but what a strange one to be going after.

the conspiracy theory was that it coincided with the release of a THC based pharmaceutical, but of course, it's a conspiracy theory so who knows if it has any credibility at all.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Oh man, could you imagine the Randy episode we would have got out of this? Son of a ----

they already did one a few years ago. and it is the funniest episode of South Park i've ever seen

[kipperfan]

If Congress was smart and forward thinking (and not the Teabaggers they are) they would start talking about legalizing pot federally and then, of course, taxing it federally. I'm no economist and have no interest in sitting here and trying to run numbers, but common sense tells me that making pot legal and open for purchase nationwide would generate billions per year in tax revenue alone. Not only that, but I would again have to think that billions per year would be saved (or diverted at the very least) nationwide in no longer enforcing or prosecuting existing MJ related laws (with a few exceptions of course).

Federal legalization and the subsequent sale and taxation of pot could easily solve the fiscal cliff/debt ceiling crisis and could possibly be the start of balancing the budget and eliminating the deficit long term. Just think of how much a move like this could start to rejuvenate the Republican image among younger voters, especially those younger voters (a lot, I would guess) who are right leaning fiscally but left leaning socially.

But hey, God says drugs are bad, so who cares about the $$ or the science (or what the American people want)...pot IS bad!

[vektor]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

But hey, God says drugs are bad, so who cares about the $$ or the science (or what the American people want)...pot IS bad!

funny,

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth."

didn't say anything about not smoking it

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by blankall

A market for different strains of Marijuana only really exist in places with sub-par Marijuana. In BC for instance, you can find differenet strains, but most people just sell straight out BC bud, because it is that good. Even then the average user really isn't that concerned. In fact, the only place I've ever been offered any kind of specialty Marijuana is in the USA. Even then, my friends, who are regulars (I am not), told me the stuff was not as good was what was being offered in BC.

Last time I was in BC kush strains were all the rage and all I saw. OG Kush I recall but is apparently not an actual kush strain.

About a half decade ago my friend used a bicycle dealer in Vancouver who would come by with 2-3 different strains that would vary each time. I remember Grapefruit, can't recall the others. Even in Calgary I ran across different strains occasionally the only one I remember being Purple Indica.

But yeah BC Big Bud is quite common, perhaps here more than there even.

The variety of strains you could buy in Amsterdam was quite impressive last time I was there.

[Azure]

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by vektor

funny,

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth."

didn't say anything about not smoking it

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

So, where are the drugs mentioned in this verse? Actually, the word translated "sorcery" is the Greek word pharmakeia,4 from which we get the English word "pharmacy." The primary meaning is "the use or the administering of drugs" (usually associated with sorcery or idolatry). Since this verse comes from a list of things that, if practiced, would preclude one from heaven, this should be a reasonably strong suggestion that the Christian should not practice drug use. In addition, the book of Revelation lists drug use as one of the things for which the unrepentant will suffer the wrath of God.5

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/marijuana.html

Go ask some born again's (or Tea Party supporters) if God thinks smoking Pot is okay. I can promise you their answer is no.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Last time I was in BC kush strains were all the rage and all I saw. OG Kush I recall but is apparently not an actual kush strain.

About a half decade ago my friend used a bicycle dealer in Vancouver who would come by with 2-3 different strains that would vary each time. I remember Grapefruit, can't recall the others. Even in Calgary I ran across different strains occasionally the only one I remember being Purple Indica.

But yeah BC Big Bud is quite common, perhaps here more than there even.

The variety of strains you could buy in Amsterdam was quite impressive last time I was there.

There are specialty dealers offering multiple strains. However, the average consumer doesn't use them. Also, knowing that what you are getting is regulated and consistent is a huge bonus. And who's to say the government couldn't offer multiple strains themselves. As far as I understand you can buy all sorts of strains to treat medical problems. I'm sure they could offer the same selection to the general public. They could even allow private companies to offer marijuana and sell different strains/flavors. Simlar to the Tabacco industry but more regulated. The idea being to drive the illegal growers/dealers out of the market, whether that accomplished through government or corporate production is irrelevant.

[polak]

I can never recall even hearing about anyone saying they felt "euphoric" or "energetic" after smoking pot.

Ever.

[Flash Walken]

I think you guys are missing the point.

Does 'the government' brew my beer? Heck no.

Do they make sure the processes involved in it's manufacture and distribution are in accordance with Canadian law, food regulations and labour standards? Yes.

Just license it to be grown. Start a Weed Pool. Have your tiers of consumption, beer, booze or spirit; cigarette, cigar or chew.

Have your specialty wine stores and your corner 24-pack specials, your king size and your ultra lights, your craft beer and your malt liquor.

Cook with your risotto with a dry white or make your beef stew with a stout.

Just let the people have what they want.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Azure

States should have the right to regulate this kind of stuff.

The feds have found their way around this stuff before.

For example it is the states' right to regulate their own legal drinking age. But if it isn't 21 (or whatever age the federal government sees fit) then they lose out on a big chunk of federal money for highways.

[vektor]

Originally Posted by polak

I can never recall even hearing about anyone saying they felt "euphoric" or "energetic" after smoking pot.

Ever.

then they've all had orange haired weed. Just saying, I know a lot about and I always try and get the white haired weed that lifts you up instead of the orange haired ones (most common >90% in my experience) that get you stoned.

Leafly is a good site that describes the varying effects and show you the differences between indicas, sativas, kush, diesels, sours etc. etc. There are a lot of different effects, most people just don't anything about how the plant actually works.

http://www.leafly.com/sativa/jack-herer

click on effects

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by vektor

not all strains get you high. Most in fact get you stoned and yes there is a difference. Most people think they are high when they are actually stoned. The difference is THC vs. CBD. THC gets you high and the effects are euphoria, mental stimulation, energy, alertness etc. etc. The CBD's that most people think is THC makes you sleepy and distorts reality also inducing a common experience called couchlock. The reason most pot gets you stoned is because plants early in development have white hairs that get you high, but later in development once they have grown more develop orange hair so most growers go with the orange hair pot to make more money.

Love me some grapefruit. Hate me some couchlock.

[Stumptown]

Expect Oregon to follow Washington in two years. We had a legalization ballot measure that got absolutely no attention, no campaigning, and no money, and it still only failed by a few percentage points. It was also more poorly worded, and would have put regulation and distribution into the hands of the liquor control commission, and everyone hates them. When the apocalypse doesn't come to Colorado or Washington, and those states start to demonstrate the benefits of legalization, I'm sure we'll have another measure modeled on Washington's pass.

Meanwhile, Vancouver (Washington, not BC, just over the river) will really start living up to its reputation as Portland's Tijuana.

[polak]

Originally Posted by vektor

then they've all had orange haired weed. Just saying, I know a lot about and I always try and get the white haired weed that lifts you up instead of the orange haired ones (most common >90% in my experience) that get you stoned.

That must be a glorious time.

[iggypop]

For those curious, this was the wording on the ballot:

"Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning marijuana, and, in connection therewith, providing for regulation of marijuana; permitting a person twenty-one years of age or older to consume or possess limited amounts of marijuana; providing for the licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores; permitting local governments to regulate or prohibit such facilities; requiring general assembly to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of marijuana; requiring that the first $40 million in revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and requiring the general assembly to enact legislation governing the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp?"

Spoiler!

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by iggypop

For those curious, this was the wording on the ballot:

"Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning marijuana, and, in connection therewith, providing for regulation of marijuana; permitting a person twenty-one years of age or older to consume or possess limited amounts of marijuana; providing for the licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores; permitting local governments to regulate or prohibit such facilities; requiring general assembly to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of marijuana; requiring that the first $40 million in revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and requiring the general assembly to enact legislation governing the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp?"

Spoiler!

won't anyone think of the kids...