At eight o’clock this morning, Iraq War Veteran Sean Azzariti stepped up to the counter at 3D Cannabis Center in Denver and made the first ever legal marijuana purchase in the United States. He didn’t have to show a medical marijuana program card, proving he paid a fee and consulted a doctor, he simply flashed his driver’s license to confirm he was over 21 and bought his cannabis products. This is a first for Sean, who uses cannabis to treat his PTSD, as his ailment was not an authorized qualifying condition for the Colorado medical marijuana program.
The first purchase? 3.5 grams of Bubba Kush and a marijuana infused truffle. Total cost? 58.74 with tax included ($40 plus tax for the Kush and $9.28 plus tax for the truffle. You can view his receipt he tweeted out here.)
So far, the 34 stores that were open for business today are reporting massive lines, but no real problems. The sky has yet to fall, drivers aren’t crashing continuously into buildings, violence has not erupted in the streets. Maybe it is possible, after decades of scare mongering, that regulation just might be the better alternative after all? The program is still in it’s beginning stages, and will naturally need fine tuning along the way, but so far it is already looking like a widely better solution than prohibition ever was. Judging by the lines that extended far outside the door and around the building at all of the retail locations, Coloradans seem to be very eager to give regulation a chance. Let’s work together to ensure this program works and that it sets the shining example for all other states to follow in the coming years nationwide.
Congratulations to Colorado and all those who worked so hard to get us to this point. It is truly a historic day.
….Meanwhile 100% of law enforcement nationwide sweat bullets as their jobs become obsolete. I hope everyone in Colorado is aware of what today means, and acts accordingly. Happy New Year to all, and thanks to NORML for all the great work!
You say law enforcement will be out of work? Well that means they were only in business for busting marijuana users… Doesn’t sound like we even fucking needed them…
This is very exciting news indeed! However, I’m finding that the price point seems to be a bit of an issue here. $40 for 3.5 grams of Bubba? That’s nearly unheard of for a street deal where I come from, and sure I can’t attest to the price of an eighth ounce of street kush in Colorado as I do not reside there, I can’t see myself ever willingly paying that much for THAT little. I was hoping with legalization would come a return to the golden age where I could grab 3.5 of some quality stuff for between $20 and $25; I guess I thought wrong.
I belive beer sail will drop. Will date line do a show this fryday night on Green Wensday?
Cops wont have jobs???? really?! They will have plenty of work, and now they can Focus on all the REAL criminals like murderers and rapist and thieves!
I’m so happy. Even the picture of those people lining up to buy bud legally makes me happy.
@Collin, you obviously have good connections. That price doesn’t seem overly excessive to me. I’d like the price to be cheaper too, but at least it’s not the super-high prices, given the taxes, that some others were predicting.
But let’s wait and see. Meanwhile, please, everyone, let’s ENJOY this historic moment and historic freedom!
Those complaining about $40 for 3.5 being to much. $40 is more than fair for a public service. This isn’t a “street deal” the dispensaries in Michigan charge $50-60 for 3.5.
Just the tip of the iceberg of whats to come. Thank You to all those in Colorado who are making this a great day. And Thank You NORML and MPP. I wouldn’t worry about the prices too much. A bit of competition with time and things will find a good balance. After all, we all know that there has always been a good profit margin on cannabis. Also retailers will compete with personal growing. No matter how you slice it, this is a great day. Enjoy it Colorado.
The negative attitudes toward the price might come from the fact that recreational cannabis is taxed at 25%+.
It may take a lone courageous state to implement a liberalized version of cannabis regulation before the common folk realize that it’s completely unnecessary and expensive to track commercial marijuana “from seed to sale.”
Massive lines!
I’m paying $55-65 for 3.5 grams, so $40 sounds just fine to me.
The price is fair. I have heard of street dealers charging 75 for a full 3.5 20 for a .6 and there are dispensaries here in Cali that have 3.5 for 60. I guess without seeing the quality of the flower we will never know how fair the price is.
Here in Calgary Ab.$40.00 is too much for an eighth.
Kind of discouraging though that the lies from interests in the “war on drugs” are intensifying. There’s the lie about it being more available to youth and the one about “drugged driving”. There is really no comparison to drunk driving. The thing that makes alcohol so dangerous is the fact that it is a sedative. It slows reaction time and enough of it can cause a driver to see double. No comparison to someone who is a little high on marijuana.
Yeah, $40 isn’t bad at all. My question is- does your drivers license/ID need to be Colorado issued?
Nope. Though CO residents can buy up to 1 ounce at a time, out of staters can only buy up to 1/4 oz at a time.
Very nice points Evening Bud. #wellsaid
Im sure the Police have better things to do now that they no longer have to worry about the one drug people can do without harming themselves, what about the dozens of other drugs that are being sold on the streets? That people are dying everyday from….Heck I say if theyre that bored and without work to do, how about busting people for drinking and driving, there are more people dying every day from drunk drivers than there ever was from someone being high from marijuana….Just saying….
I can’t wait until the make it legal in Michigan. I really think that this is going to save the government a lot of money in the long run.
The $40 price point is because of taxes, its something like 25% tax
The going price here in Louisville, Ky… from street level dealer is around 50 to 75, and your going to get shaded.
I’ve found glass, lead pellets, sinkers, and worst of all, WET bud, cut down, bagged and sold.
stuff around here is lucky to see a dark room with a dehumidifier, let alone a jar for 6 to 8 weeks.
40 bucks for an eighth? around here, the dummies call it a half quarter because nobody knows fractions.
so, given the fact that a legitimate business owner will be making sure his product is of quality value, and enjoyable quality, I’m cool with 25% tax.
This is wonderful. And I lived to see it. Just can’t stop thinking about those Drug tests. Darn, its always something.
One of the articles I just read also mentioned that there have been no “incidents” on the first day of legal bud in CO, as yet. Aside from the obvious–crazed buyers scuffling with each other in order to satisfy their nefarious habits, this of course means that no Feds have swooped in to make arrests or close down the shops! Hell yeah!!!!
This is our new Mecca
> — )) >
We will see what the real prices will be after the first commercial level crop comes in the spring. Everything that is for sale now was grown by medical growers. Marijuana is a weed it can be produced very cheaply.
So are out of state visitors allowed to purchase concentrates?
[Editor’s note: Tourists to CO can purchase the same cannabis products as residents, only in smaller amounts.]
The problem with the price is that they have not left any room for federal taxes.
25 an 1/8,50 a quarter,65 to 80 a half,120 to 30 here in pa for bud.good job co be safe
Maybe the prices will become competitive.. Instead of standard.
Just a snide remark: I don’t think all cops will be out of work- but I believe some would reconsider their duties if they were on the frontlines of the actual drug war, rather than pulling dimes off traffic stops. I guess it depends on how they’re perceived in different states. In NY, cops are hard on pot, so people believe they’re hard on drugs. Far from true, but a heck of a lot of funding comes from that facade. Pot has been a blank check for patrol officers where I live, I hope to live to see the day they are able to take drugs off the streets too. Admittedly I’m skeptical.
We are paying 40 bucks for 3.5 of some so so bud . It is at least 50 maybe even 60 bucks for bubba kush. Prices seem fair and just being able to purchase it from a store with quality controls and things like that make it worth more. I hope we can get something like this in Miami, Fl.
History has been made, think of all those still in jail because of small amounts of pot? The lives runed because of that stupid law that required everyone by law had to go to jail, it was just a dumb law from the beginning, Hey police on this board chill out your jobs will be more important now we still need to be protected from all those out there who would try to hurt us, even if we are high on Marijuana. 😉
So once you pass the state line out of Colorado, now a cop can pull you over and charge you with Possession of Marijuana and intent to sell even thought it was bought legally in Co.? I live in Indiana so I’m betting by 2050 I might get to buy it legally there by then lol
[Editor’s note: Police outside of Colorado and Washington need to prove intent to sell or deliver contraband. Possession only does not constitute indication of felony criminal offenses. What helps ‘prove’ intent to sell? Amounts, packaging, branding, presence of large amounts of cash and guns; any captured communications or data indicating sales or trafficking.]
@bryan, you got it brother. What Colorado is saving by prioritizing murders over non violent use of marijuana is the answer to many state budget problems and so much more. Today I am proud of my country.
Haven’t smoked in a while due to work, but here in the DMV, and 1/8 of loud runs $50-$65. That price point is more than fair. Way to go, CO. Hopefully this BS war on weed we end nation wide.
Hey Colorado – Smoke responsibly…. They say be careful what you wish for ’cause you just might get it. Don’t get stoned and drive into a bus full of people. Don’t be all loud and in-your-face with your new liberty. Stay home, enjoy the thing you do in the safety and comfort of your home. Given the track record of a good portion of Americans and their complete lack of self-respect and self-discipline, I must say I don’t see legal marijuana ending up a real positive experience.
I don’t agree police officers wont have jobs. They dont go after alot of marijuana smokers they go after dealers. Rapist, murderers and so on. I would rather have someone on the street standing beside my child that smokes marijuana than a murderer. I also think that it will cut down some on violence.
Hello fellow tokers
I pay $160 for 1/2 oz,That would make an 8th $40. I am in Maryland we have a crazy Governor O’Malley. When he signed the bill to pass medical marijuana, it came with a condition; if it shows it is not working, or we all go into “Refer Madness” mode! He wants to be able to reverse the legalization of Medical Marijuana.
You guys be good up there because the whole world is watching. Show everyone that this can work. We’re counting on you. I live in the south and I’m getting old. I sure would like to smoke legally before my time is up. No more street dealers or worrying about going to jail. I’m happy for you guys.
They no longer will be allowed to collect and count the low hanging non-violent fruit within the community anymore. Now we get to find out if our tax money has ever really been used doing anything or not. I bet if we could have this legalization movement spread nationwide, the tax payer could see a savings of 30% or more through out all 50 states in every county. 30%
As a Wa state I502 producer/processor applicant in process there are significant upfront costs to meet the 43 pages of rules and regs. Such as 24/7/365 surveillance cameras, 8′ fences plus additional sight obscuring material even in the middle of nowhere. Rigid wall greenhouses, all organically grown and lab tested for every batch, $1 million in liability insurance coverage, traceability of each plant from seed to sale, massive amounts of record keeping, quarantine area prior to delivery and lots more.
All of these requirements add to the cost, plus the 75% that each Wa state end user will be absorbing.
We’re also only allowed limited/restricted amounts of our own grow, records keeping of disposal of every leaf, trim or bud.
The Liquor Control Board is paving the way to also control med Cannabis and what it looks like today will be vastly different than down the road.
Still isn’t paying $40/3 gr better than getting arrested, doing time or paying an attorney?
And we keep on waitinnnn, waiting, waiting on New York to changeee.
P.s. that receipt is gonna be worth something some day…lucky bastarddd
@Brad K: Yes, the lies are pathetic. I even heard the “marijuana is so much more available to youth now that it’s available for retail sale”….several months ago! My response: It’s not available for retail sale yet! That starts Jan 1, you contemptible LIAR! So more teens are admitting use–you do realize that studies based entirely on self-report are fundamentally flawed, and the only thing an increase in teen admission of MJ use shows is…an increase in teens willing to admit to using MJ.
I mean, there’s an article from the National Workrights Institute, that’s fairly recent (post-2000), detailing a study where they examined the claims that “companies that drug test have fewer employees who use drugs”, pointing out that it was based on self-report, and then doing the same kind of study but backed up with several kinds of drug tests on the respondents. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 50% of respondents who said they didn’t use were LYING!
But really, their lies are getting more absurd and more desperate. That’s because private prisons are going to lose jobs, and so will the drug testing industry before long, plus the cops will have to actually do real work for their paycheck instead of busting harmless marijuana users. Think about it: they get more money the more arrests they get, and marijuana users are the safest bust. They get the arrests, they get the money, get to be touted as heroes who “put themselves on the line for YOUR safety!”, without ever really having to put themselves on the line for anything at all, being able to have the mantle of “HERO” while avoiding having to deal with actual dangerous criminals as much as possible. That cushy life will be over for them.
Or at least, for some. There is LEAP, after all, and when I found out about LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), it was the first time in my life I felt actual respect for cops! There are some cops who I think might actually like to earn that mantle of hero, might really want to put themselves on the line to keep us safe, who are frustrated by this BS where drug busts, esp. MJ busts, take priority over busting real criminals and where the jagoff who had a ton of MJ arrests probably gets the raises and promotions while the good cop who brought in a murderer or armed robber at real danger to himself (while busting someone who was of real danger to the rest of us) gets the shaft. Prohibition even screws good cops, I suspect.
But the more they flail and the more they whine and the more they lie, the more I laugh. They are trying desperately to invent some new talking points, because the majority has rejected all their lies that have gone unchallenged for forty years.
I mean, how pathetic is that, to claim that a law permitting retail sales of MJ, that hadn’t even gone into effect yet and wouldn’t for several months, was somehow making MJ more available to teenagers? Their last stand is going to be what they did in Maine, to prohibit the issue from ever reaching the voting public, and even that will only work for a short while. Maybe not even that, since once this CO thing has gone into effect full-swing and we see the benefits–and when WA joins in the fun–it’s going to be hard to convince a vast majority of the public that you’re doing the “right thing” and “standing on principle” by keeping it illegal, and continued efforts to isolate the voting public from the issue will result in some nasty stuff. Hopefully, revolution.
And most of the people in the ever-shrinking minority of average Joe and Jane prohibitionists are dying from extreme old age ever day–and their lies have produced fewer and fewer new crops of useful idiots with ever generation. Their days are numbered, and I look forward to dancing on their grave.
http://workrights.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/NewInformationDrugTesting.pdf
The study from the National Work Rights Institute.
Prices will go down…..competition will help that.
Kyle, as a resident you can purchase 1 oz day. As a non-resident you can only purchase 1/4 oz a day.
Victims of real crime will be safer now that the police have more time for them.
$40 an ounce?? just remember the simple rule of economics, “SUPLLY ANS DEMAND” Demand is high and supply is low, as more retailers open up and more suppliers come, the $40 an ounce will be around 20-25 for some Bubba Kush
I hearby declare The State of Colorado to be the best State in the Union.
Heard it from an insider….If you get popped for anything, dui, etc. and they blood test you and you come up positive for weed, it’s a year probation. Second offense is a felony. If you have a red card anyway, was told it would help in a situation where you get pulled over. They are not going to bust you, they will just get their money charging you with DUI. Be careful out there. I love Colorado.
Thank you to the good people of Colorado.
You are proving that there never was a reason for police state, military reprisals against cannabis consumers.
If that had not been proven already by 20+ yrs of decriminalization and medical marijuana in the US and around the world.
Mr. Obama.
Tear down this Wall.
Cnngratulations guys. Way to go!
Beware, some old farts just don’t get it yet.
For example, my grumpy grandpa:
“All those kids with their marijuana, Bah! I’ve seen them singing,
smiling, smoking, and standing around in line all day. They should
get a job! They think they are making some kind of a statement by
smoking marijuana. They should be out there fighting to defend our
Constitution. I hope they all get caught!”
and,
“They better KEEP OFF MY LAWN! Damn stupid stoners.”
I want to get paid to lobby for legalization of marijuana in my state. Who should I talk to?
Evergreen Apothecary (the dispensary in the picture) is where my friend & I went today to purchase our weed! We were 57th and 58th in line and had to wait about an hour and a half until our numbers were called to enter the store. I paid $80 for a quarter-ounce and $10 each for two Cheeba Chew (tootsie-roll like candies), with $21 in taxes. Definitely more expensive than “the black market” but was great to be able to say I was one of the first to purchase on the first day. They were handing out certificates and commemorative T-shirts. After checkout, my purchases were heat-sealed into a black plastic bag.
Love it!! Damn I’m mad I moved from Cheyenne Wy now! I coulda drove to ft Collins and got dank cheaper than what people slang it for on the streets! May be job hunting in Colorado
All you people bitching about the price. Well here’s one for ya, where I’m from that’s mad cheap. Here in upstate N.Y. It’s 20$ a gram. 50-60 for a Slice which is 3.5 grams conceder that cheap.
Here in Colorado street value is between 30 and 40 for 3.5 depending on quality and buyer/seller relationship. Hearing about all the steep taxation leading up to this monumental event I am quite supprised that with tax included the bag was under 50. I continue to embrace the legalized possession and personal cultivation(still blowes my mind) and believe recreational sales will be great for Colorado…let’s not f#*k this up!
State police will now have the resources to prioritize murders, rapes and theft over enforcement of nonviolent marijuana posession. Other states in serious budget crisis like Arizona are likely to follow after crackdowns on immigrant incarceration failed to cover their budget deficit.
And as for the Feds? The white house will keep writing memos ahead of November elections. Comparing “Big marijuana” to Big tobacco whether by addiction or corporate profiteering is laughable even to the most ignorant voters in some backwater town in Florida. I still cant believe the white house spokesman said “the only way to make a profit from marijuana is by making it addictive.” Those words reveal what kind of deceptive policies the white house is used to negotiating with. It makes you wonder how Altria (Philip Morris) and the drug testing industry pitches their lobbying against marijuana legalization, and if that thoughtless quote from the white house staff wasn’t regurgitated from some campaigning smoke break with ALEC and the State Policy Network that is funded by Altria.
In other words, its apparent who is getting kicked the hardest here today is Big tobacco. Altria not only owns half of the domestic cigarette manufacturing in the U.S., but they also own synthetic food giant Kraft, including Starbucks and Capri-Sun… Pretty much everything legally addictive That stands to lose a LOT against an herbal, wholistic marijuana market. Remember the first legal marijuana purchase by our war vet with PTSD? A mj truffle to go along with my bag of bud?
Think about the patents and billion-dollar brand names at stake here. Why didnt Starbucks, that would appear to stand to gain everything by selling cannibutter cookies with your mocha-mari-java ™ NOT have joined the legalization bandwagon yet? Because they’re owned by Big tobacco and synthetic Kraft, that have everything to LOSE with legalization. I’m no perfect boycotter. I just walked in to a Starbucks and had a cappuccino today. (And later regretted it… I keep forgetting I dont need caffeine at night. So here I am writing this little column at 1am… +%*$!) But if we had the choice, most of us would walk right into a marijuana cafe instead. I suspect these plans will more likely take fruit when Washington state rolls out their licensing (and Washington DC rolls out their memos) later this summer. Colorado is too scared to screw up their model regulation to let cafe counterculture take over… Yet… While Seattle is just too liberal and open minded to give a damn either way. (They do love their cafes). Besides, correct me if I’m wrong Paul, but I think I read an article here about former Presidente Fox of Mexico teaming up with a former Microsoft exec to make the “starbucks of marijuana” based in Seattle… (Coincidentally that’s where the coffee chain Starbucks began). The only thing standing in their way by summer time are some federal banking regulation memos from the white house to the DOJ… And perhaps some indescribable marijuana brands that would give Frasier a run for his money… How about a Grande-lemon-diesel-Máte-no-foam-hold-the-cream-with-a-drop-of-Seattle-hash-oil? ™
Order up.
History making release of a banned substance on a small limited scale, hundreds in the line, no violence or killings on the news.
I think it is awesome the price well, the government still has to get it’s share. Newer tougher laws, for the folks in CO. Maybe now more states will follow CO lead an make it legal. If u live in CO that is great. BUT YOU CAN NOT TAKE TO OTHER STATES, big tickets an bye bye weed. Thats the catch.
Not sure that price of $40 will last (even with taxes at the current rates). Once production really gets going and retail outlets produce their own to cut costs – I think prices will fall. Remember Uruguay is setting the price at $28 an ounce !
this is AWESOME folks….lucky CO. PLEASE,PLEASE take good care of your new laws cannabis consumers! so the rest of us may indulge legally! life is good with cannabis! signed,hair tested and bummed in florida…..
I see complaints about price and restrictions here and there, but I’d rather pay a little more for legal weed and not have to risk fines, lawyers fees, jail time and getting my drivers license suspended like in other nearby states (Texas and Oklahoma). This is the beginning of the end of an 80 year prohibition that has cost many lives, billions of dollars, and caused untold misery for many. It may take decades, but other states will follow, and the Federal government will as well.
Uberhigh (LOL!) prices and people willing to pay them will bring in more growers looking to cash in. Then we’ll see if the supply of weed can outstrip demand to the point the price drops below black market value.
Then we’ll have a race to see who can be the biggest MJ discount store and life will be good!
Hey Colorado & Washington State – The world is watching. Don’t screw this up for the rest of us still faithfully waiting for our unenlightened representatives to make weed (and even hemp) legal for responsible adults.
In my state, your second offense for possession of any amount is a FELONY.
Show these lawmakers that we ARE responsible and intelligent enough to make these decisions. I admit, I am VERY apprehensive about that happening though. Lets face it – the ‘status quo’ American citizen is NOT the brightest bulb in the lamp. Prove me wrong, please!
MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW!
2014 VOTE for CRIS ERICSON for U.S. CONGRESS
in the State of Vermont.
http://indyvt.com
Find me on Facebook, search Indy VT
2014 THE YEAR FOR MARIJUANA TO BE LEGAL IN OREGON TOO. THANKS WASHINGTON AND COLORADO LETS SEE IT GO NATION WIDE THIS YEAR.
While I appreciate the news, the lead line is inaccurate.
This was not the first legal purchase. Prior to prohibition free people could purchase cannabis without “permission” from the nanny state.
It is important to understand that regulation of pot is not freedom, it still allows some people to control others. That’s not freedom, it’s control.
Maybe someday we will all be allowed to make our decisions as if we had minds of our own. I will vote for anyone in the state of Ga. who endorses weed.
Looking forward to the revenue numbers. Nothing speaks louder to government than cash. To see how much prohibition has raped local economies of cash will really set fire to the feet of our elected officials. Thank you NORML, MPP, and everyone involved for bringing this about.
The sky has yet to fall, drivers aren’t crashing continuously into buildings, violence has not erupted in the streets. Maybe it is possible, after decades of scare mongering, that regulation just might be the better alternative after all? – See more at: http://blog.norml.org/2014/01/01/new-year-new-world-legal-marijuana-sales-begin-in-colorado/#sthash.8ZQ9nvov.dpuf
Exactly what I’ve been saying for years now, and we’ve already seen this unforeseen phenomena in those states that have legalized medical mj; that cars aren’t crashing into buildings, uzi-toting maniacs aren’t mowing down legal establishments (any more than bootleggers are shooting up licensed liquor stores lately) and people aren’t wandering like zombies out for the next munchies. I’m looking forward to seeing improvements in the health and quality of life of coloradans and hopefully this will be a harbinger of good changes to come!
Congratulations patriotic Coloradans and to NORML.
I don’t have very “high” hopes of Tennessee getting legalized pot but I assure you I’ll vote for anyone supporting it!
^Amen!
The good: The long lines were good, and prove the popularity of marijuana to the naysayers who think marijuana is used mostly by a small group of unpatriotic radicals. The bad: High prices, I myself would be happy to come to Colorado and undercut legal prices with pretty darn good black market marijuana from a indoor grow at 140 to 120 dollars an ounce. Hell I don’t even own a scale. I just make up the bags so they look right and ask for what I think its worth. My customers are happy and I even get a hug sometimes for my efforts. The you know who: A recent news report here in southeast Idaho goes for the scrambled eggs; the little miss, that’s inappropriate! PTA social services prude lady clams that marijuana use is a problem in public schools with kids coming to class high. A couple of high school boys who were interviewed confirmed this. The news report went on to claim that about 230 high school kids were expelled last year in Colorado. Then reported that marijuana use among teenagers resulted in a 6 to 8 percent loss in adult IQ and permanent brain damage. “That’s right folks kick the kids out of school then claim brain damage.”
$40 for 3.5 grams (140 single tokes in a 25-mg-serving-size long-drawtube one-hitter) is under 29 cents a toke.
Make your own utensil: wikiHow.com article: “12 Ways to Make Pipes from Everyday Objects”, sign in, edit, revise, improve, add better pictures!
Eliminating 500-mg H-ot B-urning O-verdose M-onoxide joint will prevent “screwing it up” and make Colorado look good post-legalization.
If you’re disappointed to have missed getting a license to sell actual weed, consider opening a One-Hit Head Shop.
Rastafari live
Sorry but a good teng yes I
Rastarari live itinually
I salute the wise people of CO for this legislation!
We the people of this great country need to stop voting for anyone who wants to continue the idiotic prohibition of cannabis. I will vote for anyone running for office if they are pro-legalization no matter whatever else is on their agenda.
Hey all you fellow tokers
Happy New Year to you all!
I am so happy for the people of Colorado, “Free at Last Thank God! free at last! by Martin Luther King.
Thank you NORML, this could not of happened without you!
I am so tired of feeling like a criminal, just because I smoke pot. I am a grandma, and I have several health problems that Cannabis helps me with. Actually,smoking pot is so effective for my health problems it helps me more than the prescription
drugs my doctor gives me. One of my scripts is for the side effects of another script. Crazy right! I have glaucoma and I suffer from depression and anxiety.If I just smoke a little pot it relieves the pressure on my eyes. Also, if I feel depressed or anxious it relaxes me, and I am not depressed or anxious anymore. It is by far more helpful than the drugs my doctor gives me. I go to Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Wilmer Eye Clinic in Baltimore.The best hospital in the world to go to. I have a big-shot doctor there. He said he would never give me a script for Cannabis. He then said if I want to use it eat it. So it won’t hurt my lungs.It does not hurt my lungs. I have clear xrays of my lungs.
Who is helping to make Pot illegal. check out these links.
http://www.trutv.com/conspiracy/in-the-shadows/pot-illegal/big-pharma-government.html
http://www.republicreport.org/2012/marijuana-lobby-illegal/
The world didn’t end. Imagine that.
It was more dangerous on line at Wal-Mart this Christmas than at a Colorado weed store this New Year.
As the mother of two special needs kids I would like to see this catch on in texas so please set a good example do we can eventually share in your good fortune.patient waiting in texas
As the mother of two special needs kids I would like to see this catch on in texas so please set a good example so we can eventually share in your good fortune.patiently waiting in texas
It’s almost surreal that this is finally happening!
Years from now my grand kids will ask me, what was Prohibition like? As I slowly pull out my pipe and fire it up I will look them in the eyes and say to them, People were killing each other, Police were taking kids from their parents, cartels controled the borders, and prison was the place the government wanted to put us.
A few months ago my son decided to go to College (he graduated last year). We sat down together and he said to look up schools in CO…
Now I know why… This is a positive result in our lives from the new law and I’m all for it.
I’ll support anyone in Texas!
how will drug testing work now that herb is legal in CO.? how do they test if your stopped and cannabis is not active in your system(maybe a day or so since you have indulged). how are employers reacting concerning randoms?
[Editor’s note: Amendment 64 did not address drug testing. Same too in Washington state. Government and private employers can still drug test and terminate employment. Unfortunately the legal status of a drug does not insure that employers can’t test and terminate as more and more employers are doing the same today for tobacco.
Court challenges are assured from employees who get terminated for off the job cannabis use. The hope for reformers is that in time, as cannabis legalization becomes more prevalent, then the rules regarding alcohol and cannabis will look more similar, where off the job alcohol use is of no great concern for most employers.]
Chris Hayes had Ethan Nadelmann (and a woman from the ACLU) on his show Up yesterday evening, Thursday, January 3, 2014, and what basically came out of their analysis that I took away from it was that the California, Oregon, Alaska and a slew of states that have the ballot initiative will be the first to follow suit and legalize recreational marijuana. Then once the dumbass politicians in states, primarily in the East, see what a boon it is they’ll jump on the cannabis money train. Ethan (he’s so hot!) mentioned the Northeast the first region without the ballot initiative to legalize. I’m thinking Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
It’d be a tailwind if Mayor DeBlasio would simply stop enforcing cannabis prohibition laws in NYC and allow things to gain a foothold in The Big Apple. The City needs that money for its operations and pension liabilities in the future unless NYC wants to make sure it winds up like Detroit. The sooner NYC goes the color of cannabis the sooner prohibition will be over nationwide. I mean, is NYC really going to let Boston be the East Coast first to end prohibition?
I only want a quarter ounce at a time. I’m nextdoor and mobility impaired. May I please have it delivered?
I meant Jan. 2 on my previous post.
Just read on Huffington Post about the dumbass comment Joe Scarborough made this morning that pot makes you dumb. What an ass!
Joe, you’re show wouldn’t have the ratings it has if it weren’t for that eye candy Mika. It’s dumbshit remarks like that one, amongst others you’ve made, that keep you off prime time. Maybe Mika will one day shed you and have her own show prime time with bigger bucks than she’s making now, although this schedule is better for the family as she can return to Bent Creek very easily by evening, you know, with the show in morning–wouldn’t be able to do that if it were an evening show, barring earlier recording than air time, of course.
Hey Joe, now that you’re single again, why don’t you stop putting your foot in your mouth, and make sure you’re not hitting on Mika. She’s far too good for you and clashes with your myopic viewpoints.
@lockedoutofmyshed, so do you think in due time we should treat marijuana like alcohol? In other words, just don’t do it at work, then there’s no point for a drug test no?
To all those stores that raised prices: Do you really want to be remembered this way? Like the oil companies? Like the pharmacutical companies? Like our own Government? Of all the the things that went right these past couple of days, do you really want to be standing on the wrong side with the ones that actually started this entire 70 year mess? Don’t behave like them. Please reconsider your actions in the future. You are one of our important allies. I ask you stay beside us.
thank you
@ grandma3d,
Right back at you! Hope you have a great 2014! I am ecstatic with joy about Colorado’s successful first day of legalization. Hope Maryland and my own state, NM, will join that happy list!
dennystrausserjr@gmail.com
Well, this looks as though it is going well, as day four approaches.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/02/22149509-high-demand-price-of-legal-marijuana-soars-in-colorado?threadId=3908573&commentId=81410100#c81410100
No sudden rise in crime, just lots of people wanting to but weed, cause they can now but it legally. This is good, also, cause it’ll show the rest of America, that it’s not a bad idea. Once a good example can be set, possibly even Conservatives here in PA will sign onto this idea, and enact weaker laws on Marijuana. Also, once they see the tax money which could be made by legalizing, they may just push toward that direction. I figure even some Republicans might think in terms of reform, once they see just how well it works.
Way To Go Colorado! 😀
No sudden rise in crime, just lots of people wanting to buy weed, cause they can now buy it legally.
So does this mean all the people locked up for Possession of Marijuana will be released as well?
[Editor’s note: Because CO has been a decrim state since the late 1970s no one is in prison for possession. However, there are a few hundred prisoners serving time for once illegal sales and cultivation. Now that cannabis is being sold at retail and taxed by the state, CO NORML, CO Civil Liberties Union and other groups turn attention now to these prisoners to seek their earliest possible release.]
Well, I don’t believe that drug testing is going to last, if MJ keeps going. The fact is, 98% of all positives are for MJ, which means the industry loses 98% of its illusion of efficacy.
I do think that once MJ is legalized, the “right” of employers to test people physically for anything they want to even if it’s legal is going to die as well. At some point, the lawsuits are going to stop being worth the effort, especially when the Drug War ends and the government payouts for drug testing dry up. We can help this along by making a special effort to avoid giving business to companies that drug test, and by making it clear to American companies (perhaps with a letter-writing campaign or petition) where we, the majority, stand on this issue and that companies that stop drug testing will be making better profits.
After all, there is this thing called the “Employee Polygraph Protection Act”, which prohibits employers from imposing a lie detector test as a requirement for employment or continued employment. This is presumably because of the inherent inaccuracy and unreliability of the technology, something lie detectors share with drug testing, so as the public discourse on this issue spreads as MJ becomes legal, the facts about the drug testing industry and its many frauds will become more well-known. I look forward to the day when our rights will be further protected from unscrupulous authoritarian employers by the “Employee Drug Testing Protection Act”.
And yes, I do believe this is going to happen, especially if all of us make sure to educate ourselves on the facts about drug testing, spread awareness of these facts to people who don’t know these facts, and eventually make the lies and frauds and injustices of the drug testing industry so well-known that we can make this demand.
As for the cigarette thing, that is such BS that they can do that, and I’m not a smoker and I don’t approve of smoking. But that is no reason they should be subject to search and seizure. And just look at how drug testing has progressed: First, it was “just for safety-sensitive positions”, as a wedge strategy. Then they start spreading it to other industries and job descriptions based on the idea that the Drug War could be won by making drug-users unemployable. And it continued using the justification that “well, a drug user is breaking the law and an employer has the right to know that” (then why don’t we give them access to our bank accounts, emails, etc. based on that reasoning?). And now we’ve expanded that violation to cigarette smokers by extending that spurious pro-tyranny reasoning to say “well, an employer has the right to know, by any means, whether you are doing something legal that they don’t want you to do on your own time”. Which is also why employers are increasingly requiring your private email and social network accounts so you can be constantly monitored and controlled off-the-clock. Which is also why certain companies want to be able to prevent their female employees from buying birth control. Which is why some companies, such as GameStop, pay you with a card that’s only useable in certain corporate-approved stores. If they could make it so you had to get their personal approval for every purchase you make, they’d do it. Even better, they could make sure you couldn’t use “their” money to, say, make donations to the DNC or to NORML or the DPA, or any other political/social group they consider “inappropriate” and against their corporate “policy”.
But in terms of drug testing on its own, I do think that the drug testing industry knew this was coming years ago and decided to start creating a legal precedent for employers to test employees for legal substances, so they could protect their industry when MJ inevitably became legal. I don’t believe it will work, though, for two reasons: First, some of their biggest supporters are the tobacco and alcohol industries, and they are alienating half their allies by including cigarettes. Second, by including the customers of one of their allies in their net, they are also alienating a large group of useful idiots (you know, smokers who support drug testing and the Drug War because it targets those “other” drug users and allows them to pretend they are somehow different), thus incentivizing even more people to become educated about the fraud that is drug testing, thus ensuring a greater number of people who will object to being forced to submit to this unreliable pseudo-science, and having their employment dependent on such pseudo-science.
And, remember, 64% of Americans say it’s unacceptable for employers to fire employees for off-the-job MJ use. (http://blog.norml.org/2013/11/13/survey-most-americans-say-it-is-unacceptable-for-an-employee-to-be-fired-for-their-off-the-job-marijuana-use/). So this “employers can test for legal substances” is not going to last either.
Or perhaps it could, if we don’t take a strong stand against drug testing. In the long run, if we don’t fight drug testing, we might as well kiss our freedom goodbye.
Still police state:
If you are driving and get tested by a cop for marijuana you can be arrested for DWI/DUI even though you are driving fine and not intoxicated. That is police state in my book.
Until The Fed addresses the Schedule 1 status of a medicine they own 2003 patents on, there is always police state.
Submit!
How does the state distribute the revenue collected on retail (recreational)cannabis?
I was reading Cannabis Culture’s article “Colorado Pot Shops Rake in More Than $1M Statewide” and the comments people left under it.
If communities that don’t want retail in their jurisdictions, their politicians can still get cannabis money, they can’t want the money and then not vote for legalization, in Colorado or in states that are looking to jump on the cannabis money train. Prohibitionist politicians could vote for it at the state level under the NIMBY principal (Not In My Back Yard) and still get hopefully only a limited amount or percentage. They can have their cake and eat it too.
Or in other states would voters be more likely to legalize if they want the money from cannabis regulation and can only get it if they, at least on paper, do not exclude having retail cannabis. If they have to have retail cannabis in the jurisdiction in order to get any of that money?
So Denver and other places are collecting state and local taxes, so then does that mean that the jurisdictions that do have or even don’t want to have retail sales still can apply to the state for monies from cannabis? Is the money kept separate from the general fund to be distributed only in jurisdictions from which taxes are collected?
Can the distribution back to the jurisdiction be more than what was collected, or can some Podunk town get more than it collected in taxes with some money Denver collected for some big project, such as building a school?
Dangle that money out there.
Can’t take the money and then throw people in jail. Can’t take the eggs and kill the golden goose.
Nice tropical Mexican sativa varieties, high quality, will be nice to see in US shops. Nice to see decent jobs created for Americans, Mexican, Canadian links etc. currently in the cannabis network.
Taxes on a million dollars in sales per day multiplied by the number of days a year they’re open for business. That’s one hell of a cash flow into public coffers.
Details, please, on how much that is, who gets it, and how applicants go about getting it from local and state funds, and what it’s being used to fund.
I’m trying to figure out how this all would work in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth is more closely structured to Washington state in terms of having state-run liquor distribution stores. There is no ballot initiative. James Carville’s saying about the state being Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between. Maybe it DeBlasio with make NYC cannabis retail friendly. Cuomo would have to disallow state interference, keep his dawgz on a leash. Massachussetts, I don’t know, I don’t see anything happening in the East yet.
If anyone tries to sell you $500 dollar an ounce marijuana tell them to go walk off a 500 foot high cliff.
@Hey Evening Bud
I am already planning my summer vacation to the most Beautiful, Progressive State in Our Country, Colorado. I only wish I could shake hands with, The Honorable Jarid Polis!
check out the link below of Mr. Polis grilling Michelle Leonhart head honjo of the DEA. This is EPIC, This is going to be a Historic event written in future History books. He showed the country the kind of leadership, liken to one of the greatest President of our time John F Kennedy. I was a young girl when JFK was assassinated, the world’s heart was Broken, and mourner’s flocked to their TV’s, to watch the funeral, with great heaviness in their hearts. Thank you Mr. Polis, You are a without a doubt the bravest and most effective leader of the great state of Colorado,as well as the rest of the entire United States. If you ever run for President, I will be behind you 200 percent. Also, I will volunteer for your campaign. Check it out on You Tube. click on the link below, and enjoy. Happy New Year
I was in Colorado for the first ever legal sales, and for the first time in 40+ years I’m not a felon!!!! People were in line for hours but the line was festive and all enjoyed a non punishable purchase! Love it Love it love it!!!!!About damn time.
Question: if growing 6 plants for yourself is going to be legal in Colorado will there be grow shops with equipment, and seeds available?
@ grandma3d,
Boy, Polis really had her squirming. She couldn’t give him a straight answer. I agree with you, Polis is the Man!!
Thank you editor for replying to my comment.i am blown away that, drug testing by employers was NOT addressed by this amendment. all those who stood in line to get their legal cannabis, how many were being drug tested ? how many stand the chance of being fired now? that seemed INCREDIBLY irresponsible that nothing was included. i guess i should ask how involved generally, are drug testing employers in CO.seeing that it is a decrim. state?
[Editor’s note: 1) Those responsible for funding and running the successful CO initiative surveyed voters in advance and if drug testing was banned, support dropped insufficiently for passage. 2) Apparently voters in CO wanted to legalize cannabis more than ban a consequence of prohibition…drug testing.
Those who care about this as a political issue in CO, rather than have to lobby to make cannabis legal, can now devote their energy for making the law better.
CO NORML is working on these matters and is holding a symposium on the subject matter in the coming weeks.]
@anony, it seems to me that their will always be some sort of testing wether for work or driving as far as a safety factor is concerned.i get that! what im feeling is that their be a mode of testing found that will allow the tester to determine a pre desposed time of last use that is safe for an individual to work or drive where cannabis is concerned. (i personally do not believe that other drugs should be legalized at all). consider saliva testing.only problen with that form is it cannot be reliable(so far).i feel that their should be a way to keep folks from driving or working while under the influence of anything because those two things involve other,innocent people.their will always be stupid people. where i work they breath test for alcohol as well as hair test for drugs. i would much rather consume cannabis than alcohol anyway for obivious reasons. cannabis being illegal is senseless to me .i am a seasoned veteran of both and would choose cannabis over alcohol in a new york second!i would have a happy on right now if not for the friggen test to keep a decent job.altho i have rambled, i hope i have answered your question…have a great day my friend!
@lockedoutofmyshed
I think that testing as a conditional fail/pass for employment or as a stand alone reason for firing someone is wrong also(and especially in a legalized state). I also agree with the editor, its a good thing to choose your battles carefully.
please allow me to clear something up…i do NOT support drug testing. but i feel that it will be around now and will not go away…that is why i bring it up. we all know how ins. companies are involved in this friggen mess as i believe it was a big money savings oppertunity for my employer and, is probably a big reason testing is here. i am just hoping for a happy medium so i can enjoy legally and responsibly!a great day to you all!
Dear Colorado.
You got pot legalized please be responsible with it or you will screw it up for the rest of us trying to legalize.
Good Evening Everyone
I was searching the internet last night and I came across an article whose title on You-Tube is,”Cancer Cure using Cannabis- Dr Burzynski stand up to FDA.” I watched the video and I was shocked to find out how the FDA is being run by Pharmaceutical companies, and they do not want to find a cure for cancer in fact, Dr.Burzynski who discovered a cure for some of the worst types of cancer, one of which is cancer of the brain. Please see this unbelievable story of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski’s who cures cancer. All the while the FDA’s discredits it and launches a relentless vendetta and unprecedented campaign of persecution and destruction of his research and successful practice of curing cancer. I sent this to Oprah Winfrey asking her to expose the truth. Please click on the link below,be prepared to witness this shocking video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGwkt1CWhhw
Who Is Secretly Working to Keep Pot Illegal?
http://www.trutv.com/conspiracy/in-the-shadows/pot-illegal/big-pharma-government.html
R.I.P Raven 1975-2014 So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.” – Princess Leia
The Raven Act of Alaska, which should be the model of liberty for American privacy will soon parish. Alaskans had it
right and will soon forfeit privacy for intrusion, taxation and crimes for Federal Laws. Billions of rounds of HP Ammo with the new tanks in our cities are for upholding law. Pot smokers and gun owners according to Federal Law can’t mix. Alcohol is legal, but if you make it you go to prison. Don’t we have enough people in prison, or are these the new jobs in America? So go ahead Colorado and Washington give the trail from the Pot Store’s to your home. Even if cash is used, remember the face recognition technologies?
Raven keeps government out of our homes and lets us possess up to 4oz and grow what is given by GOD. Vote no, this year for the legalization of marijuana. Raven protect us.
I’ve heard and read it said that Obama is the World’s biggest drug dealer. He lies to get into office by saying he is not going to send
the D.E.A. to CA anymore to harass the sick.
Then, when elected, he does the exact opposite. Now, Eric Holder / Obama said they would not interfere with Colorado / Washington State to legalize it. Now, he is raiding the Medical Co-Ops. When will you bring legal action? I need a new liver. I can’t take any narcotics from a Dr. Cannabis works just fine for me. For pain, sleeping problems and as an anti-depressant. Stanford Hospital demanded I take their drugs. Knowing
they would make me end up on a transplant table inside of 2 weeks. When my Dr. told me that choosing pot over narcotics was the best decision I could have made. He went on to say it was Stanford Hospital’s policy and many other hospitals to kill what was left of my liver, to move me to the top of the list, where I would die or get a transplant. If the latter, Stanford would get $350,000.00 from Medi-Cal and Medicae or some other Insurance entity. Profit first. Helping the sick does not matter. I was also told that by U.N.O.S. a company, employed by the Fed Gov. that I would not receive a transplant, even though I smoked pot legally in CA. I changed to eating it. They said it does not matter. They had yet another excuse to refuse
me a transplant. Steve Jobs got an illegal transplant because he donated $5m to a hospital in Tennessee. Strictly forbidden for a CA resident to approach other areas for
a new liver. Or, any other organ. It is my opinion and strong belief that U.N.O.S. IS ON THE TAKE. Or, maybe I should have done without sleeping for these last 12 years. And suffered with pain, with no remedy. ???
I would like to see legal action taken against Obama for selling the product that very sick people work so hard to produce. I believe strongly that he is pocketing funds, illegally. He says one thing and does another. I’d like to see U.N.O.S. to be held accountable or to be removed. Thanks for listening / reading.