The Denver Post, this morning, was full
of cannabis related stories, facts and figures, a year after it was legalized. The nay-sayers who claimed the sky would fall and society would be in chaos have been proven wrong. The same percentage of people that voted for Prop 64 would do it again, a year later. In the first 9 months, there has been approx $246 million in sales, with 7% going to out-of-staters, BUT, in mountain towns that figure is 90%. People who smoked before, still do, and those who didn't still don't, as the percentage of users hasn't really changed. 'Edibles' are a much larger part of the market (45%) than was expected. In the high profile (only) murder, that involved marijuana, it was not widely reported that the 'suspect' was also WAY drunk and full of prescription pain killers. And there were some good quotes...
Survey respondent Byron St. Clair of Westminster said he's just old enough to remember Prohibition — and he doesn't think that turned out well.
"The negative effects of trying to enforce a ban on marijuana exceed the bad effects of letting people have it," said St. Clair, 90. (which is exactly my personal opinion.)
There were also several good articles about new studies, involving medical marijuana, that are being financed by the millions in tax revenue that the state is receiving and they had interviews with former 'black market' dealers who have been forced out of business by 'legal' pot businesses. Also, it told how most communities, (like Broomfield), do not allow marijuana businesses, but are waiting to see how it turns out, THEN will have local elections. There have been many new businesses, in tourism, growing, retail, testing, etc, and that is expected to continue, esp once those businesses are allowed access to banking, (instead of just CASH, as it is now) and that is gonna happen soon. Overall, it's been an interesting and eye-opening year, as Colorado is 'the crucible of a social experiment', that allows the will of the people to become law. What a concept!, that the Pubs just don't understand, as they are still in favor of incarceration, by a 2-1 majority, according to the article. Over 75% (which has to include those same Pubs) believe that cannabis has medical benefits, which new research will reveal. Nobody ever accused Repubs of rational or logical thinking...
Survey respondent Byron St. Clair of Westminster said he's just old enough to remember Prohibition — and he doesn't think that turned out well.
"The negative effects of trying to enforce a ban on marijuana exceed the bad effects of letting people have it," said St. Clair, 90. (which is exactly my personal opinion.)
There were also several good articles about new studies, involving medical marijuana, that are being financed by the millions in tax revenue that the state is receiving and they had interviews with former 'black market' dealers who have been forced out of business by 'legal' pot businesses. Also, it told how most communities, (like Broomfield), do not allow marijuana businesses, but are waiting to see how it turns out, THEN will have local elections. There have been many new businesses, in tourism, growing, retail, testing, etc, and that is expected to continue, esp once those businesses are allowed access to banking, (instead of just CASH, as it is now) and that is gonna happen soon. Overall, it's been an interesting and eye-opening year, as Colorado is 'the crucible of a social experiment', that allows the will of the people to become law. What a concept!, that the Pubs just don't understand, as they are still in favor of incarceration, by a 2-1 majority, according to the article. Over 75% (which has to include those same Pubs) believe that cannabis has medical benefits, which new research will reveal. Nobody ever accused Repubs of rational or logical thinking...
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