Prop 64 passes Colorado election

[NUG]

Basically what we have now are dispensaries around town for medical MJ, for people who have their card. They are only in certain cities in the metro area, Denver, and a few surrounding cities. They are watched carefully, the growers take pride in their crop (funny to say) and as long as they're doing everything to the book, they and their patients are left alone. These are the tax dollars I'm talking about

The proposal will allow MJ stores to open and sell to the public once everything is ironed out - if it is, like a liquor store.

The dispensaries now, don't really support the law, as it will open the door to less quality MJ, they're unsure about how they'll fit in in the end. They say there should still be a market for tested medicinal grade MJ, but that a convenience store situation would provide something unknown.

[buzzenator]

Marijuana will be legal in Colorado sometime in the next year, for citizens over 21. What are your thoughts? I love living here, we are a very unique state to say the least.

Just because you are there makes it an interesting state NUG...

Others touched on this, but what I see as the toughest hurdle for MJ to be used on a regular basis is people's job status. Based on my background in construction and workers' compensation, the issue is safety. Whenever government wants to turn down changes the catch-all phrase is 'public safety'.

Employers in order to control insurance costs, specifically workers' compensation, are wanting to do pre-employment drug tests, especially in industries with severe risk of injury (like construction). This practice does vary by state, but it has a huge backing by safety experts within government regulatory circles. If you are high at work, and MJ's problem of testing positive for an extended period, you risk injury to yourself and others. Employers just won't hire you if you test positive, even if you are not high at the time, because it affects their bottom line.

Therefore, I have a new theory for Colorado NUG...with increased marijuana use there will be more unemployed pot-heads (not that there is anything wrong with being a pot-head and no disrespect is meant by the term) who will be at times "mellow and happy". However, when the car is reposed and they are evicted from their apartment, they may take matters into their own hands and pick up an automatic weapon...Colorado may reinforce it's image as the home of the "random shooter".

Which gives new meaning to the phrase "Colorful Colorado"

[Tusk]

Buzz,
While I agree about the safety and employment testing issues related to this, I'm not sure of your last paragraph.

Not every one who enjoys alcohol is an alcoholic....and not everyone who enjoys MJ is a pot head. Those generalizations you attach to 'pot heads' can be applied to alcohol, yet you don't see an over abundance everyone driving reckless causing accidents and killing people because alcohol is legal. Most people who enjoy alcohol, enjoy it responsibly and don't suddenly go into crime spree mode.

There are many examples of people losing their jobs and families, getting their cars repossesed and going on 'nothing to lose' shooting sprees on alcohol.... Just because it happens with alcohol does not automatically imply that the same will happen to someone that uses MJ. They do not affect people the same way. You will rarely encounter an aggressive stoner, but there are pleny of aggressive alcoholics.

The fact that legalization of MJ was approved by a significant amount (beaten by 10%, here in Washington State) shows that there are actually people who enjoy pot and still maintain a job, raise families and have a happy successful life...unless your premiss is only the crazy gun toting potheads were the only one's voting for it's legaliaztion and all the non potheads decided not to vote, or didn't even care to vote ... .

These mythologies about how MJ affect people are sustained by the FACT that the govt refuses to lift the ban from the study of pot and would prefer to use myths and scare tactics to justify their ban. Like I said earlier, this is a natural growing plant, not manufactured by big Pharmaceuticals and yet is the least studied. All we get is exagerrated claims and scare tactics.

It is not out of the realm of possibility, the 'hold up' is that the big money interests don't like that,

-pot is not habit forming (like alcohol or tobacco or many of the opiate derived medicines in your cabinet)
-does not cause extreme withdrawal symptoms when you try to come clean, like the listed above
-and can be grown in your back yard. Far harder to do that with alcohol, tobacco or their pharmaceutical equivalents (so you have to pay their prices to get it)

I challenge you to find a connection between someone OD'ing on Pot and going on a shooting rampage...there are plenty examples of that with people drunk on alcohol. Even Ambien...a 'sleep aid' has been tied to suicide, depression, sleep walking, and violent black out episodes....and that's just so you can get to sleep!!

The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world."

- Carl Sagan

"The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this."

- Albert Einstein quote on Hemp

"Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could."

- William F. Buckley Jr. quote on Marijuana

Lastly, think of all the money that's been wasted the last 3 to 4 decades on this...and all the jail cells filled with minor pot possession, while many repeat rapists and murderers are released because of no room in the jails...
The war on pot has been only impactful in the huge amount of money and resources wasted that could have been applied on more significantly dangerous things, and how far have they gotten on this 'war' since it started? You're basically about the same as far as stamping it out, in fact now majorities of populations are finally awakening to the waste and refuting it ......

[Babbs234]

Well, I guess there will be a lot more mellow, happy people out there...
found this funny snippet from Two and a Half Men. Smoking pot does not cause hallucinations but watch this. ... it's funny

Two And A Half Men Charlie smoking weed with Berta

[Tusk]

Actually Babbs, depending on your tollerance, the MJ's potency and how much you use, some do hallucenate on it...not all the time, but it can happen.

[Babbs234]

Actually Babbs, depending on your tollerance, the MJ's potency and how much you use, some do hallucenate on it...not all the time, but it can happen.

I understand. but in this video I posted, they exaggerate it to the max... but it's a TV show.

[Tusk]

Actually Babbs, depending on your tollerance, the MJ's potency and how much you use, some do hallucenate on it...not all the time, but it can happen.

I understand. but in this video I posted, they exaggerate it to the max... but it's a TV show.

It's pretty funny
but even this over exaggeration of it's effects help the anti-crowd build their tower of lies even higher to justify the prohibition....

(PS I apologise for the longish essay above, I can't control when my 'overthinking' kicks in, it just does LOL )

This article in the Seattle Times clears up some of the points of the new law. As of Dec 6th of this year, it's legal to have up to an ounce of pot, BUT it will be a year, at least, until you can legally buy it from a dispensary (It'll take that long to work out the legal and tax ramification as well as issuing of licenses to sell...and that doesn't include the fight with the feds that is sure to come.)

So if youwant it, you still have to get it illegally, until the stores are put up. (Sounds like the set up in Colorado as NUG describes it, is more efficient...but we in Washington State, politically, have always had a penchant of doing things the hardest most inefficient way ). There have even been reports of people showing up at the medicinal MJ dispensaries thinking they can buy now...which they can't

I have a feeling there will be many arrests in the coming year from this misconception that you can just smoke a joint in the street (like you can't drink in public, the same goes for MJ)

a summary

Legalizing pot

Key provisions of Initiative 502:

Possession: Strips state criminal penalties, starting Dec. 6, for small possession (1 ounce dried form, 72 ounces liquid, 1 pound solid form) for people 21 and older. Public use becomes an infraction. Until Dec. 6, marijuana possession remains a crime.

Sales: By December 2013, state to issue licenses for cannabis retailers, growers and food processors; imposes 25 percent excise tax at each level, funding research, prevention and health care.

Medical marijuana: Does not change state medical-marijuana law; no home grows except for patients.

DUI: Adds new limit for marijuana impairment.

[NUG]

Buzz You're such a sweetie! My DH is in construction, he's a commercial electrician. It's been hard to find/keep a job in that line of work here because of the economy. Seems like the better jobs do test, but many don't. I would say that getting hurt on the job and possibly being drug tested is his only reason for NOT smoking MJ. :cool: My job doesn't test, and doesn't mention testing in the handbook either. I know quite a few of the people I work with directly either do smoke, or don't have a problem with people who do. My job requires a sparkling clean background, bonding, we deal with peoples most private information and literally millions of dollars in receipts and disbursements daily. You'd think they'd test, huh? I don't think I've ever mentioned...did I ever tell you I'm a cancer survivor? :D I've also won awards almost every year for outstanding performance in my job position.

Tusk I agree it's sickening the amount of money wasted on people posessing small amounts of MJ. Also, I don't mind your long posts, they're very interesting :D I also think the prospect of being tested positive for MJ in a traffic stop when you aren't actually "high" is a big concern.

Babbs Funny video!! I never watch that show, it was so popular though. You'd need time, and not be easily offended with a twisted sense of humor ( I guess that's my version of a warning), but here's an interesting MMJ episode from a couple of Colorado Boys. :cool:

South Park - Medicinal Fried Chicken

[Babbs234]

Nug, Love the South Park Episode! My son's always watching South Park!

As far as drug testing goes,that will be a hard one. If marijuana is legal, you can smoke it in your home. But if you are tested at work, there is no way to prove you haven't smoked it for 3 weeks if it shows up in the bloodtest. That is a catch 22.

How will they test for marijuana impairment in a DUI??? See if the person is laughing a lot, talking slowly, or looking for munchies?? Haha

Im glad i dont have to make the rules.

[buzzenator]

How come I can't do BOLD anymore? Am I being paranoid...or did Miguel take away my BOLD privileges?

NUG...I knew you were an award winner! Just the fact that you love all things Haley makes you one! As far as the DH goes. There is a boom town hysteria going on right now in the oil field areas of North Dakota, where they cannot find enough workers. I read an ad for commercial electricians wanted...they were paying high 20s per hour + $110/day in living costs, and that's probably the low end. I've been reading articles about all the jobs and what they are paying. One young 22 year old from Minnesota has been working there for 2-3 years and is now operating some heavy equipment, with no previous experience, and will make over 100k this year. I've been trying to encourage my nephews to go there and work for 3-5 years, just so they can build up a nice bank roll to start off in life.

At least you understood my last paragraph in my previous post was an attempt at a little Colorado humor. After the movie 'Fargo' most people thought that is the way Minnesotans talked...we've all gone to speech therapy since then.

TUSK, TUSK, TUSK...you've got to stop smokin man...you're getting a tad bit paranoid these days. Employers don't test for paranoia, they just observe it. It doesn't matter whether it is marijuana, alcohol, opiate based drugs, whatever...if you are high at work it is a safety concern. Most employers will do post accident drug testing, and if testing positive for substances that can impair motor skills, will use this to deny coverage for work comp. NUG's husband understands the implications, especially working in the high risk electrical field.

My last paragraph you referred to...I've got to start working on improving my humor (or is that 'humour' on the other side of the pond) . From a British perspective it was a bit of a piffle.

BABBS..."How will they test for marijuana impairment in a DUI??? See if the person is laughing a lot, talking slowly, or looking for munchies?? Haha"

Now that's funny...I know funny when I hear or read it, and that's funny.

So here's the problem with MJ...if you are not funny to begin with, smokin MJ will not improve your humor, but you will think you're funnier.