Six Months After Legalizing Marijuana, Two Big Things Have Happened in Colorado

[mrjarrell]

I'm fine with the legalization of marijuana, but 6 months is a bit early to start crowing one way or the other.

But it's a good look that blood isn't running in the streets and the state out there is about to pull in a billion bucks, rather than spending millions kicking in peoples doors.

 

[ryancantshoot]

Well, violent crime is down now. So..

I had no idea who Rocky Mountain HIDTA was so I googled.

[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]"Mission Statement: The mission of the Rocky Mountain HIDTA is to facilitate cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local drug enforcement efforts to enhance combating the drug trafficking problem locally, regionally and nationally. This mission is accomplished through joint multi-agency collocated drug task forces sharing information and working cooperatively with other drug enforcement initiatives including interdiction."

Translation: Cops with liberal arts degree and no real skills who make comfortable six figure incomes as "task force specialists" via busting stoners think legalizing pot is a bad idea.

Just lol.

5.2% violent crime decrease in Denver since legalization per Denver Post.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

How can you expect the state to get out of it? They need revenue to enforce those normal capacity magazine bans and such.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

You guys are barking up the wrong tree. Violent crime is down because of those common sense gun measures they passed.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

As a direct result of " the law " not prosecuting those with weed related offenses .

BUT , as everybody and their brother knows , weed is a gateway drug and soon violent crime will be on the rise as those folks who chose to partake in that devil drug simply won't be able to get high anymore and have to move on to the harder drugs allowing their lives to spiral out of control .

Those folks will wake up some day in some back alley or in a van down by the river wondering what happened to their lives as the po po is arresting them for living a chaotic , murder and crime filled existence .

Just wait and see , it'll happen .

So, how much time has to pass with that not happening before you would admit you were wrong about that?

I wonder if anyone has checked to see if there's been a corresponding increase in pizza deliveries and Twinkie sales.

 

[MisterChester]

You guys are barking up the wrong tree. Violent crime is down because of those common sense gun measures they passed.

This guy gets it.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

This guy gets it.

Thanks lieutenant.

 

[MisterChester]

Thanks lieutenant.

 

[ModernGunner]

I'll wait and see, thanks. I don't think an article written by a pro-pot lefty loon is 'evidence' of anything EXCEPT that he's pro-pot, and a left loon.

 

[mrjarrell]

I'll wait and see, thanks. I don't think an article written by a pro-pot lefty loon is 'evidence' of anything EXCEPT that he's pro-pot, and a left loon.

Oh, you know the author? Tell us about him.

Edit ti add: I guess you didn't click on any of the supporting links? As usual?

 

[mrjarrell]

Yeah. His CV just screams pothead.

[h=2]Chris Miles[/h]Chris has worked for media outlets including the Associated Press and Stars and Stripes. He worked with the Clinton Foundation, the United Nations, and with the Kentucky state legislature. He holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Louisville, and a BA in journalism and political science from the University of Kentucky. He is originally from Lexington, Ky. Kentucky basketball occupies a majority of his free time.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Sounds like one o' them subversives.

 

[mrjarrell]

Sounds like every Poli. Sci major I've ever met. Probably a dem, but probably not a pothead. He's from KY. He's probably partial to bourbon.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Thanks for the report.

The importance of dope legalization is the bar it sets for gun legalization for the gun culture. E.g. re-legalization of suppressors at the state level and its impact on NFA reform at the federal level.

 

[JB357Mag]

As a direct result of " the law " not prosecuting those with weed related offenses .

BUT , as everybody and their brother knows , weed is a gateway drug and soon violent crime will be on the rise as those folks who chose to partake in that devil drug simply won't be able to get high anymore and have to move on to the harder drugs allowing their lives to spiral out of control .

Those folks will wake up some day in some back alley or in a van down by the river wondering what happened to their lives as the po po is arresting them for living a chaotic , murder and crime filled existence .

Just wait and see , it'll happen .

Thats pure bull ****!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Thats pure bull ****!!!!!!!!!!

Please try to keep up.

 

[mrjarrell]

Thanks for the report.

The importance of dope legalization is the bar it sets for gun legalization for the gun culture. E.g. re-legalization of suppressors at the state level and its impact on NFA reform at the federal level.

It's not a bad strategy to follow. The DEA is already caving in and is apparently looking for pot to be reclassified. That's a huge step. The gun community is already using the 14th to its advantage, this could well be another bullet in the mag.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

The DEA is already caving in and is apparently looking for pot to be reclassified.

Earthshaking!

If that happens I am making several personal calls to NRA-OGC and ILA about my NFA reforms and Gun Collector's License that I have been carping about for . . . *ahem* twenty years plus.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

But it's a good look that blood isn't running in the streets and the state out there is about to pull in a billion bucks, rather than spending millions kicking in peoples doors.

I'm not arguing that point. Like I said, I'm fine with legalization of marijuana. I just said that 6 months is too early to see the real results of this experiment. I hope it keeps going like it is, but we'll need more time to make that decision. Its still too early to see all the effects. As an example, I highly doubt the people who made their living selling illegal weed have all returned to college and trade schools. As those folks get more desperate, will there be a spike in property crimes (burglary, theft, etc?) What affect will we see as more states adopt legalization and the cartels south of the border? Reports say we're seeing more hard drugs from them as they branch out to keep their income stable. I would not be surprised if we see a spike in crime for a bit, and then it slacks back off over the long haul as the current generation of dealers gets taken off the streets or out of the market and no new set hits the streets as the market for illegal weed is gone.

I'm definitely of the opinion its an experiment worth having. I'm just cautioning against drawing any conclusions yet.

 

[Lex Concord]

Yeah I don't use purple much , I just figure most folks recognise sarcasm when they see it but I forget this is INGO.

Purple is like a federal entitlement around here...destroys people's natural abilities...sad really.