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.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by 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 ****

Angry pothead is angry.


Hope I did that right...

[Donger]

Originally Posted by penguinz

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.

As if that's a good thing?

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Donger

As if that's a good thing?

Did not say it was. But you can not state with fact that since there are more gettign arrested for DUI that more people are using.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by scorpio

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.

Yeah, I don't understand why the manufacturers think it wouldn't be a problem to expect a consumer to break one cookie into 10 pieces. That's idiotic. I'm sure they'll have to raise prices if they make 10 cookies for 10 doses of course, but...sorry.

I'm as much a proponent of legalization for anyone, but I don't give a **** if you can't make money off of it.

[KC native]

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).

Of course, that perception could be all in your head. Have you been eating weed edibles today donger?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Donger

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

There really didn't used to be a way to give a DUI for weed other than field sobriety tests. They passed a blood stream limit for THC last year.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Donger

Angry pothead is angry.


Hope I did that right...

[Fish]

Increase in marijuana-related DUIs?



In unrelated news, after prohibition was ended, there was an increase in alcohol-related DUIs. Scientists are still working hard on these perplexing mysteries...

[Chief_For_Life58]

Originally Posted by Donger

Angry pothead is angry.


Hope I did that right...

I don't smoke. I don't like wasting time. I'd be all for ks legalizing weed though. tax those stoners dry

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by 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 ****

Nobody is "making a ton of cash off it" outside the dispensers. The state isn't making much (if any) off it. It's great we have Colorados actual tax receipts that prove this, rather than nutty uninformed rants

[Contrarian]

Originally Posted by Donger

I see. I suppose time will tell if the new tax revenue will cover the harm that the legalized use has brought and will bring.

Bullshit!

[Contrarian]

Originally Posted by Fish

Increase in marijuana-related DUIs?



In unrelated news, after prohibition was ended, there was an increase in alcohol-related DUIs. Scientists are still working hard on these perplexing mysteries...

But in the pot DUIs they were stopped for going under the speed limit by 20mph and eating fast food while driving. What a public menace.

[rambleonthruthefog]

Originally Posted by Donger

Am I disappointed that Colorado chose to legalize pot in some locations? Yes, I am. I voted against it.

I don't really see why that is funny or unfunny.

It's funny because your a hypocrite who chooses to expose his children to some dangerous drugs but denounces other legal drugs as very dangerous even though there is no proof of this danger.

[Contrarian]

Originally Posted by Donger

As if that's a good thing?

It is a good thing Bonger!

[Johnny Vegas]

since the funds used to help fight wildfires get used up so fast during the summer I don't understand why Colorado didn't channel any of the tax revenue to fund fighting wildfires. They just put more money into funding marijuana prevention programs.