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Recreational Pot Is Officially Legal in California

NeverTrump

NeverTrump

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NeverTrumpGOP said:
I'm hearing that you can't have more than one ounce for personal use.



https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/us/legal-pot-california.html
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At these prices maybe this is yet another California mismanaged project...


When he went to purchase an ounce of low-grade cannabis from his regular West Hollywood dispensary, he was told that the new law would significantly drive up prices. State, city and sales taxes will push up the price of the drug by more than a third.

Those who register with the Los Angeles County Department of Health and enroll in the medical marijuana program will be exempted from paying sales taxes, but they will still see a 25% increase.

Gordon, who is between jobs, said the increase will hurt him and other patients who use the drug for medical purposes.

“I don’t mind paying the extra money if the money is actually being used for good,” said Gordon, who uses cannabis to ease his sciatica pain.

At a nearby marijuana shop, a bud tender said that patients have expressed shock and anger at the increased cost.
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Recreational pot sales roll out in California, with celebratory 'blunts' and big crowds - LA Times
 
Auto collisions up 3% in states with legalized marijuana:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...to-car-accident-rates/?utm_term=.98b1a6b7e9dd

With the huge number of people who drive in California, a 3% increase in automobile collisions as a result of pot intoxication is a huge number.

My wife had a minor accident with her car last year & I had one this year. Our insurance (home & 2 cars) went up $21/month as a result. If the stoners are bitching about the price of pot now, wait till they have to dig deep to pay the increase in their auto insurance.

The first time I got really stoned was on Mexican ditch weed back in the 70s. I remember vividly telling my wife at the time as we were heading upstairs to the bedroom, 'No one stoned should be allowed to drive a car this way.' The stuff they're selling now is many, many times more potent.

Caveat emptor.
 
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ttwtt78640 said:
CA is expecting to net $1B/year (in new tax revenue) by overseeing this new recreational drug trade and to flip the bird to the feds in the process. IMHO, its time for the feds to wake up and demand their cut as they do with booze.
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Expecting and getting are too different things, here almost no thought was given to keeping prices reasonable, so maybe people dont pay it. I am hoping that in future days we get some more specific prices, I am getting in WA mid quality ounces $70-$80 on sale, I saw a piece a couple of weeks ago that speculated that this would be above $200 in the CA scheme. ...maybe Cali Folks decide that the black market is a better option.
 
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ttwtt78640 said:
CA is expecting to net $1B/year (in new tax revenue) by overseeing this new recreational drug trade and to flip the bird to the feds in the process. IMHO, its time for the feds to wake up and demand their cut as they do with booze.
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At this point it is really embarrassing that the federal government doesn't just decriminalize it or at the very least let it be a state decision. There is absolutely no reason the feds need to be involved in the decision to make it legal or illegal.
 
Hawkeye10 said:
Expecting and getting are too different things, here almost no thought was given to keeping prices reasonable, so maybe people dont pay it. I am hoping that in future days we get some more specific prices, I am getting in WA mid quality ounces $70-$80 on sale, I saw a piece a couple of weeks ago that speculated that this would be above $200 in the CA scheme. ...maybe Cali Folks decide that the black market is a better option.
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As more states join the legal weed zones then market prices will stabilize or a black market will force those high tax state's hands. The tax alone on a pack of cigarettes in NY is more than their total cost in many states. Since the product has no serial numbers how hard would it be to buy out of state and simply transfer the product to refill a package bearing the state's tax stamp?
 
Praxas said:
At this point it is really embarrassing that the federal government doesn't just decriminalize it or at the very least let it be a state decision. There is absolutely no reason the feds need to be involved in the decision to make it legal or illegal.
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This is something that could go in the administrations favor. Legalize it already and stop wasting money fighting windmills.
 
Lovebug said:
This is something that could go in the administrations favor. Legalize it already and stop wasting money fighting windmills.
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Read Post #11 article. The Puritans that run this country are still aboard the Mayflower.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
As more states join the legal weed zones then market prices will stabilize or a black market will force those high tax state's hands. The tax alone on a pack of cigarettes in NY is more than their total cost in many states. Since the product has no serial numbers how hard would it be to buy out of state and simply transfer the product to refill a package bearing the state's tax stamp?
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Actually, they do have serial numbers in WA state.

Each plant is tracked from seed to smoke. Diversion would be illegal.
 
Praxas said:
At this point it is really embarrassing that the federal government doesn't just decriminalize it or at the very least let it be a state decision. There is absolutely no reason the feds need to be involved in the decision to make it legal or illegal.
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Once the federal government gives itself a power it is unlikely to ever release it. The best that we could hope for is for the feds to add their own tax (and regulation) on it.
 
Lovebug said:
This is something that could go in the administrations favor. Legalize it already and stop wasting money fighting windmills.
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It could, but it won't. Sessions is determined to shut down the industry and enforce current federal laws against state's wishes.
 
Threegoofs said:
Actually, they do have serial numbers in WA state.

Each plant is tracked from seed to smoke. Diversion would be illegal.
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What do they use? A QR code or a UPC on each tiny bit or bud?
 
Praxas said:
It could, but it won't. Sessions is determined to shut down the industry and enforce current federal laws against state's wishes.
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There's a lot of money (= political clout) behind the growing pot industry. It might get messy as the DOJ/DEA Storm Troopers ravage the legitimate outlets & grow rooms, but I feel confident that they will find a middle ground somewhere. It's hard for a politician to argue when there is big money involved.
 
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ttwtt78640 said:
Once the federal government gives itself a power it is unlikely to ever release it. The best that we could hope for is for the feds to add their own tax (and regulation) on it.
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If Trump were smart, he would push to have it decriminalized and use the fact that it would put a choke on dangerous drug cartels since marijuana is still a major source of funds for them.
 
JacksinPA said:
There's a lot of money (= political clout) behind the growing pot industry.
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There is, but if Colorado is a good indicator there is far more money to decriminalize it than there is to keep it illegal.
 
beefheart said:
And, once again...no one has ever died of an overdose of marijuana.

Alcohol? Yeah, every day.
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The possession limits have nothing to do with safety they are simply to try to limit resale.
 
Praxas said:
It could, but it won't. Sessions is determined to shut down the industry and enforce current federal laws against state's wishes.
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It depends. If the Trump administration wants to garner a few political points with the right people, they would score big. This is a difficult topic to present to the citizens, esp the older and more conservative crowd, but it could work. Sessions is a dinosaur and will be obsolete soon.
 
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