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Marijuana devastated Colorado, don’t legalize it nationally (OP-ED)

Grokmaster

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Hmmm...I don't live in Colorado...anyone else seeing similar negative impacts where you live, with legal rec pot?



Marijuana devastated Colorado, don’t legalize it nationally


Last week, Senator Cory Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act in an effort to legalize marijuana across the nation and penalize local communities that want nothing to do with this dangerous drug. This is the furthest reaching marijuana legalization effort to date and marks another sad moment in our nation’s embrace of a drug that will have generational consequences.

Our country is facing a drug epidemic. Legalizing recreational marijuana will do nothing that Senator Booker expects. We heard many of these same promises in 2012 when Colorado legalized recreational marijuana.

In the years since, Colorado has seen an increase in marijuana related traffic deaths, poison control calls, and emergency room visits. The marijuana black market has increased in Colorado, not decreased. And, numerous Colorado marijuana regulators have been indicted for corruption.

In 2012, we were promised funds from marijuana taxes would benefit our communities, particularly schools. Dr. Harry Bull, the Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, one of the largest school districts in the state, said, "So far, the only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...KlAeV139csXX_uo74COEU-L7ACRlWXUtJsTZiE0E0FHPg
 
I find this topic interesting. It's like essentially, the government becomes your dealer.
 
I find this topic interesting. It's like essentially, the government becomes your dealer.

Great take. If what the OP link claims is true ( I edited some of it in, after hitting the post button prematurely), it bears looking into.
 
Legalize it and impose very harsh penalties for anyone giving it to minors or driving under the influence. When compared to alcohol there is zero 0 zilch nada reason why marijuana should be recreationally illegal.
 
I see a lot of un-cited statistics and correlation does not necessarily equal causation. And if this the argument you use to keep marijuana illegal why should alcohol be any different?
 
I find this topic interesting. It's like essentially, the government becomes your dealer.

much like a state operated ABC store, to control the traffic of alcohol
seems to work well
 
Legalize it and impose very harsh penalties for anyone giving it to minors or driving under the influence. When compared to alcohol there is zero 0 zilch nada reason why marijuana should be recreationally illegal.

As a libertarian...sure. Pick your poison.
 
much like a state operated ABC store, to control the traffic of alcohol
seems to work well

Except that the black market did not disappear...
 
I see a lot of un-cited statistics and correlation does not necessarily equal causation. And if this the argument you use to keep marijuana illegal why should alcohol be any different?

Are you saying that the increases in pot--related car wrecks and arrests didn't happen, or are just "coincidental"?

Do you have legal rec pot where you live?
 
Are you saying that the increases in pot--related car wrecks and arrests didn't happen, or are just "coincidental"?

Do you have legal rec pot where you live?

There is no proof that the weed they were using was purchased legally and it would not happen if weed is illegal. I also have no idea why that would be a case to keep marijuana illegal. It has been legal in all of Canada for half a month now and there is no apocalypse of traffic accidents that you seem to seek.
 
I see a lot of un-cited statistics and correlation does not necessarily equal causation. And if this the argument you use to keep marijuana illegal why should alcohol be any different?

Alcohol was already legal.
 
Hmmm...I don't live in Colorado...anyone else seeing similar negative impacts where you live, with legal rec pot?



Marijuana devastated Colorado, don’t legalize it nationally


Last week, Senator Cory Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act in an effort to legalize marijuana across the nation and penalize local communities that want nothing to do with this dangerous drug. This is the furthest reaching marijuana legalization effort to date and marks another sad moment in our nation’s embrace of a drug that will have generational consequences.

Our country is facing a drug epidemic. Legalizing recreational marijuana will do nothing that Senator Booker expects. We heard many of these same promises in 2012 when Colorado legalized recreational marijuana.

In the years since, Colorado has seen an increase in marijuana related traffic deaths, poison control calls, and emergency room visits. The marijuana black market has increased in Colorado, not decreased. And, numerous Colorado marijuana regulators have been indicted for corruption.

In 2012, we were promised funds from marijuana taxes would benefit our communities, particularly schools. Dr. Harry Bull, the Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, one of the largest school districts in the state, said, "So far, the only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...KlAeV139csXX_uo74COEU-L7ACRlWXUtJsTZiE0E0FHPg

Not everyone agrees with your article.

https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2017-12-19/marijuana-legalization-doomsday-didnt-come-to-colorado
 
Legalize it and impose very harsh penalties for anyone giving it to minors or driving under the influence. When compared to alcohol there is zero 0 zilch nada reason why marijuana should be recreationally illegal.

Except that legalizing it made things worse. So, your pontification versus real world results.

I KNOW I KNOW, this time "we'll get it right"... it's always "this time"...And it always fails.
 
Except that legalizing it made things worse. So, your pontification versus real world results.

I KNOW I KNOW, this time "we'll get it right"... it's always "this time"...And it always fails.

So you support making alcohol illegal then?
 
Christians against weed - who da thunk it?
 
There's a black market for alcohol?

Actually yes...but not nearly as extensive as that for pot.

Another aspect I saw in a report about California pot farmers. Huge tracts of land are being leased/bought by drug cartels to legally grow the pot they sell us here.

Kinda pisses me off.
 
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Except that the black market did not disappear...

It could be that the black market survived because of the taxes on the legal marijuana. Hopefully it will eventually dwindle. I'm willing to bet that the black market sellers aren't getting many new customers.
 
Hmmm...I don't live in Colorado...anyone else seeing similar negative impacts where you live, with legal rec pot?



Marijuana devastated Colorado, don’t legalize it nationally


Last week, Senator Cory Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act in an effort to legalize marijuana across the nation and penalize local communities that want nothing to do with this dangerous drug. This is the furthest reaching marijuana legalization effort to date and marks another sad moment in our nation’s embrace of a drug that will have generational consequences.

Our country is facing a drug epidemic. Legalizing recreational marijuana will do nothing that Senator Booker expects. We heard many of these same promises in 2012 when Colorado legalized recreational marijuana.

In the years since, Colorado has seen an increase in marijuana related traffic deaths, poison control calls, and emergency room visits. The marijuana black market has increased in Colorado, not decreased. And, numerous Colorado marijuana regulators have been indicted for corruption.

In 2012, we were promised funds from marijuana taxes would benefit our communities, particularly schools. Dr. Harry Bull, the Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools, one of the largest school districts in the state, said, "So far, the only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...KlAeV139csXX_uo74COEU-L7ACRlWXUtJsTZiE0E0FHPg

The lotteries were sold that way too way back when but the money never showed up like they said it would after a few years, and was rarely/never used like the promises said, so those who bought that argument with weed were chumps. The reason to legalize it is not for the money, it is to keep people docile and out of the so-called justice system as America declines, it is a riot prevention tool.

If we want to get the government out of the pimping for sin business end the lotteries first.
 
It could be that the black market survived because of the taxes on the legal marijuana. Hopefully it will eventually dwindle. I'm willing to bet that the black market sellers aren't getting many new customers.

Certainly. Taxation is always behind the black market. I don't know if it will dwindle or not, unless legal pot prices are more reasonable.
 
The lotteries were sold that way too way back when but the money never showed up like they said it would after a few years, and was rarely/never used like the promises said, so those who bought that argument with weed were chumps. The reason to legalize it is not for the money, it is to keep people docile and out of the so-called justice system as America declines, it is a riot prevention tool.

If we want to get the government out of the pimping for sin business end the lotteries first.


People like to gamble, and get high.
 
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