After 6 months, legal pot in Colorado a mix of highs, lows

[Donger]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...ing-up06262014



DENVER - Nearly six months after Colorado became the first in the world to sell legal recreational marijuana, industry advocates are playing up the high points -- specifically an economic boom and crime in Denver actually declining.

"I think a lot of people are looking at Colorado, and when you see crime going down, that’s a huge sign of success," said Michael Elliot, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group. "I think so many things people were scared about have been shown to be nonsense."

The first four months of recreational pot sales has brought in nearly $11 million in tax revenue, demand for real estate has gone up, and the marijuana industry estimates there are currently 10,000 people working in the business.

On Thursday, the state announced that during 20 undercover operations to test if pot shops would sell to minors, not a single store sold to a child.

"The Division prides itself on ensuring public safety; we are pleased with the results and will continue to monitor the businesses to ensure that the compliance efforts are maintained," said Lewis Koski, Director of the Marijuana Enforcement Division.

But while the state hasn't gone up in smoke, not everyone agrees Colorado is better off and safer.

The state's largest provider of community detox centers, Arapahoe House, reported this week that DUI admissions involving marijuana have nearly doubled since legalization.

In 2013, 8 percent of admissions were accused of driving under the influence of marijuana, and now that's up to 15 percent.

"We're only seeing recreational legalization in it's infancy, but it's already having an impact on public safety," said Araphoe House spokeswoman Kate Edmundson.

7NEWS found small children continue to get their hands on marijuana, particularly edibles.

The Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center said, so far this year it's had 19 calls from people reporting pot ingestion by children younger than 5 years old.

Children's Hospital Colorado said it's treated 11 kids who've ingested edibles marijuana, six of whom have become critically ill.

[TribalElder]

Seriously, pot should be legal who cares

The only reason it's a big deal is because closed minded opposers make it a big deal. That is what drives curiousity in the younger generation. You don't see German kids go binge drinking because underage drinking isn't a big deal in that culture. Time for people to grow the **** up and get out of the way. Opposers cause the problem and I could give a **** less about pot personally

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Donger

Pretty much the same way that legal alcohol (or any other drug for that matter) affects me.

I do hate that my state now has become rather synonymous with pot. We have fantastic weather, beautiful scenery (see mountains and Katipan). We really didn't need anything else. Kansas or Misery? Sure, legalized pot would have made them much more attractive.

Snub you nose at other states much? Colorado is beautiful when it is not in blizzard conditions or freezing cold. It is very expensive plus you have a ghey football team- so there is that. Go smoke a "legal" joint and quit being so high and mighty. Missouri has a lot of beautiful Federal and State parks, nature preserves, river trails and scenic towns. Maybe you should visit sometime.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Donger

No, truth. I had heard the name before, but didn't know that it was Atkinson. I've never seen it before.

I picture you as a Mr Bean clone. Seems fitting.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Snub you nose at other states much? Colorado is beautiful when it is not in blizzard conditions or freezing cold. It is very expensive plus you have a ghey football team- so there is that. Go smoke a "legal" joint and quit being so high and mighty. Missouri has a lot of beautiful Federal and State parks, nature preserves, river trails and scenic towns. Maybe you should visit sometime.

Missouri is the holy land

- Mormons

[KC native]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Missouri is the holy land

- Mormons

Until they kicked us out. Now it's Utah - the same Mormons.

[TribalElder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZLX-xmNs4g

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Snub you nose at other states much? Colorado is beautiful when it is not in blizzard conditions or freezing cold. It is very expensive plus you have a ghey football team- so there is that. Go smoke a "legal" joint and quit being so high and mighty. Missouri has a lot of beautiful Federal and State parks, nature preserves, river trails and scenic towns. Maybe you should visit sometime.

Considering that I was raised in Kansas City, I assure you I am familiar with the splendor of each states' natural beauty.

[scorpio]

I live in Fort Collins and I have noticed literally nothing different since it was decriminalized. The people who wanted it could already get it with no trouble. At least the state gets a slice of the pie now.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Donger

The state's largest provider of community detox centers, Arapahoe House, reported this week that DUI admissions involving marijuana have nearly doubled since legalization.

In 2013, 8 percent of admissions were accused of driving under the influence of marijuana, and now that's up to 15 percent.

"We're only seeing recreational legalization in it's infancy, but it's already having an impact on public safety," said Araphoe House spokeswoman Kate Edmundson.

7NEWS found small children continue to get their hands on marijuana, particularly edibles.

The Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center said, so far this year it's had 19 calls from people reporting pot ingestion by children younger than 5 years old.

Children's Hospital Colorado said it's treated 11 kids who've ingested edibles marijuana, six of whom have become critically ill.

There are nuances on the pro-weed side as well (most notably that there's no way you can identify a causal relationship in crime rates after 6 months), but the DUI stuff is weird to me. When the state makes a focused effort to step up enforcement of weed DUIs, why would it be in any way surprising that the number of people admitted to a detox center for weed DUI is going up? Not only that, but most would agree that a weed DUI isn't as dangerous as an alcohol DUI (not saying it's not dangerous at all), so if you can change drunk drivers into stoned drivers, you're actually helping safety marginally.

The edibles thing is problematic for sure, though. It sounds like the state is working on much more strict restrictions on edibles, so hopefully that gets taken care of soon.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by KC native

I bet you're a huge Mr Bean fan.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Simply Red

That dude lives in Mission Viejo Ca. and posts nowhere - as he owns no PC.

only chips and pot and pop.

I don't believe that. He's among us and loves the food threads.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaFace

There are nuances on the pro-weed side as well (most notably that there's no way you can identify a causal relationship in crime rates after 6 months), but the DUI stuff is weird to me. When the state makes a focused effort to step up enforcement of weed DUIs, why would it be in any way surprising that the number of people admitted to a detox center for weed DUI is going up? Not only that, but most would agree that a weed DUI isn't as dangerous as an alcohol DUI (not saying it's not dangerous at all), so if you can change drunk drivers into stoned drivers, you're actually helping safety marginally.

The edibles thing is problematic for sure, though. It sounds like the state is working on much more strict restrictions on edibles, so hopefully that gets taken care of soon.

I'm not sure what steps have been taken to step up weed DUIs.

Of course, it could be that more people are now actually using pot now that it's legal. Something I was told wouldn't happen (looking at you, kcnative).

[Chief_For_Life58]

Colorado has always been synonymous with weed. skiing, hippy liberals, and marijuana are what come to mind when anyone thinks of Colorado. get over it. you'r making a ton of cash off it.deal with it you old ****

[scorpio]

Originally Posted by DaFace

The edibles thing is problematic for sure, though. It sounds like the state is working on much more strict restrictions on edibles, so hopefully that gets taken care of soon.

There's actually a ban on selling recreational edibles in Larimer County. I think the issue is that a single brownie can be up to like 10 doses and inexperienced people are snarfing down the whole thing at once. Marijuana definitely has psychedelic properties in large enough doses.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Donger

I'm not sure what steps have been taken to step up weed DUIs.

Of course, it could be that more people are now actually using pot now that it's legal. Something I was told wouldn't happen (looking at you, kcnative).

I don't think more have started using. I think they just don;t feel like they have to hide at home after toking up now.