Jackson Jambalaya

If/when the politicos determine how they will be self enriched as a result of legalizing weed, it will be a done deal.

I've always been of the opinion that you legalize it and tax the hell out of it, while at the same time making the penalties for possession/dealing of any other drug much tougher. Will create additional revenue and save a ton of gvt spending in the war on drugs as they will not have to target marijuana dealers/users anymore, other than those on the black market. Actually helps our law enforcement community.

tax the hell out of it = black market thrives

The "war on drugs" has failed and will continue to fail. THe high cost of prohibition (cop time, court time, and prison time) makes weed decrim/legalization a no-brainer. It is already everywhere anyway, our policy/laws need to reflect that reality.

I love listening to naïve opine about how legalizing pot will alleviate all the ills that come from it being illegal.

@12:07 and 11:14

Noone says it will alleviate all of the problems associated with it being illegal. BUT there are plenty of people wiling to pay more to obtain it to be legally. To tell me that legalizing a product that is only available on the black market, will not help put a dent in the black market, is just plain stupid.

***taking another toke as I finish up another tax return***

Colorado had $5M in sales their first week. They have about a 30% overall rate on the stuff, meaning the state got about $1.5M in a week for something people would have been buying anyway.

could be any worse that what we have?

***taking another toke as I finish up another tax return***

Please back slowly away from the tax return.

1) "***taking another toke as I finish up another tax return*** "

Why don't you do us all a favor and post your name and employer so we can avoid trusting someone who is stoned from handling our tax returns?

2) There was an interesting TV or radio news report this weekend about collisions of stoned drivers and police cars in Colorado since the first. I think about five of these accidnets have happened. Unlike blood alcohol levels, there are no tests to definitely declare somewhere impaired.

3) There was a major newspaper story this weekend about how the Mexican cartels are changing their Colorado business model. It seems that since marijuana is still illegal under federal law, that no banks are willing to risk federal hassles by handlind the pot shops' money. They are all cash-only businesses, with large amounts of cash on hand at the end of the day. Illegal sales are dropping as well, further aggravating the cartels. They are worried about there that a) the cartels will just start robbing the businesses or homes of the pot shop owners, taking the cash, and b) the cartels will try to enter the wholesale business, forcing the pot shops to buy from the cartels. They will continue selling illegally, just as state lotteries have not stopped people from playing the numbers.

There are lots of unintended consequences we're going to see out there.

Will someone please explain to me how growing a plant in my backyard has negative consequences? And not much high grade dope comes from the cartels. The good stuff comes from Cali Colorado or Canada.

Also, this bit about cartels getting involved in the wholesale business is bullshit. Ever since all of the new prescription and over the counter drug laws, that have coincided with more lax state laws on marijuana, meth has become the main source of revenue for the cartels.

4:20, (how appropriate) 1) an uncomfortable fact for some people, is that THC improves cognition in some people.
2) there clearly are tests admissible in court to determine if a person is impaired. 3) that news story, cited as much evidence of this idea as your post does. Pure propaganda.

Now, I'll agree that there will be consequences, but I am willing to bet they are less severe than those resulting from prohibition.

All of this is moot while granny who pays for reelection of their local state rep is an outspoken enemy of this. she will raise hades at the first baptomethodopresbypalian church...

The Denver Post has a blogger covering the legalization and the capitalization of weed in the Mile High state.
Read it.
http://www.thecannabist.co/category/news/colorado-news/

As a doctor who has realized that more than half his patients smoke pot at least occasionally for recreation, I think it should be legal. Pot is no worse than booze and has been demonized by the evangelical crowd for far too long. Until employment or professional licensure is eased up for the presence of pot on a drug screen, it's legalization isnt going to change society much. Legal pot will get rid of all the silly drug arrests and provide tax revenues. We are already doing it illegally as a culture like it or not.