Year After Colorado Legalizes, Advocates Say: It's All Good in Pot-land

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/07/year-after-colorado-legalizes-advocates-say-its-all-good-pot-land

Marking roughly one year since the first marijuana shop opened its doors in Colorado, advocates are declaring the country's first experiment in full legalization a success.

According to a study (pdf) released Tuesday by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), since legal marijuana sales began on January 1, 2014, the state has "benefited from a decrease in crime rates, a decrease in traffic fatalities, an increase in tax revenue and economic output from retail marijuana sales, and an increase in jobs."

In 2013, Coloradans over 21 were first permitted to possess an ounce of marijuana for private use. Beginning last year, residents were able to purchase the drug from state-regulated dispensaries.

According to statistics compiled by the DPA, in the first 11 months of 2014, the rate of violent crime fell 2.2 percent compared with the same period in 2013. In the same time frame, burglaries in Colorado's capital, Denver, decreased by 9.5 percent and overall property crime decreased by 8.9 percent.

[PoliticAverse]

1. So, the world didn't end? n/t

[B Calm]

2. I never could understand why some were worried about people driving high. With traffic fatalities

down, kinda blows up their argument don't it?

[MrMickeysMom]

3. I believe it's easy to get into an accident either way, but...

Alcohol decreases response while creating a false sense of confidence. In my younger days, I drove stoned after a joint and realized that I was just being stupid. There is no false confidence, but general paranoia.

So, after that, I saw no benefit driving under the influence. I've never liked drinking much, just my favorite beer, and then at home.

What I'm wondering about CO is if anyone has their choice of altered state BEHIND the wheel. Maybe while young, driving home in an otherwise monotnous "one or two joint ride"!

Message to you young DUers… Get home safely and imbibe or inhale at home, preferably listening to some excellent musical genre.

[B Calm]

4. I'm more concerned with the stone sober guy suffering with road rage

than some dude driving paranoid and doing the posted speed limit with both hands on the steering wheel.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. Hey, you know this guy, too?

(and "gal"?)

[hobbit709]

6. I remember sitting at a four-way stop with flashing red lights for 5 minutes

waiting for it to start flashing green so I could go. If I was drunk I probably would have sailed right on through that intersection.

[B Calm]

7. Now that's funny!

[eridani]

8. MJ distorts time sense and slows things down

The guy going 90 on the freeway is drunk. The guy going 45 is stoned--which is why stoners tend to compensate for this by staying off freeways.

[librechik]

9. the Repub Senate leader listed his priorities for this session--MJ not mentioned!

it's not that important, I guess thank goodness!