Washington & Colorado legalize recreational use !

[Willjay]

Presctiptions in my state are not taxed. The tax rate is going to be close to 25% in CO that could be a signefient savings for the patient over a recreational user. When I visit CO, I'll pay the tax because I can

[Uncle Ron]

Wait, so if they make it retail does this mean that genuine medical patients wont be able to buy their medicine there?

I think the point is that as at present, do correct me if i'm wrong, that dispensaries have to run on a non profit basis meaning that it's all about customer satisfaction for the people who actually need medical weed. Turning these existing establishments into retail businesses takes away that duty of care replacing it with the need to turn a profit.

I imagine most regular smokers will grow their own anyway so I dont see this having a massive effect on the medical scene. There will still be collectives of medical growers helping each other out as I believe they're is now.

This is a great start to legalization. Im not from the U.S. but lets hope for a knock on effect elsewhere! The chances are slim here but I'll keep dreaming

Yeah that would be harsh for real patients, but maybe they will have a special rate for medical users. Even if it's not the case, everybody will be able to grow without a risk, so the price of the weed is gonna drop a lot I think.

One would think the price of weed would drop once legal, but then again look at the alcohol industry (weak comparison, but that's all I got at the moment - too stoned to research)...
Most Americans, if the choose, can make beer and wine. However, most choose to buy from the store.
Seen the price of a 6 pack lately? I remember when a case of beer cost less than $20. The price of (average) wine can reach the ridiculous as well.
I don't see the average smoker growing their own, it's too inconvenient, too time consuming, costly, etc...
The average smoker will chose buying from a retail outlet over someone down the block mainly because...
1. quality
2. price
3. variety
4. convenience (stores don't close so all the employees can go on holiday/if someone is ill/etc...)

I still don't think dispensaries should be folded up into the legal side.
Like church and state, they should be kept separate.
Some need to be very careful about muddying the waters between medicinal use and recreational use... think about it for more than a second...

Most seem to be on the same side, but it seems to me that more hairs are beginning to be split...
...

[Stanky Danky]

Presctiptions in my state are not taxed. The tax rate is going to be close to 25% in CO that could be a signefient savings for the patient over a recreational user. When I visit CO, I'll pay the tax because I can

I've read a couple of articles that say it will be taxed at a rate of 25%, but this number is misleading. They are adding in the taxes the producer and retailer will pay in with the sales tax the consumer will pay. This is a rundown of what the tax structure will actually look like.

Description of Amendment 64
Amendment 64 proposes to treat marijuana similarly to alcohol — adults 21 and older would be able to
consume, possess and purchase marijuana from legitimate, taxpaying businesses. Like alcohol, driving
under the influence of marijuana will remain illegal as would the transferring of marijuana to individuals
under the age of 21. Also known as the Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Act, the proposal bill would
provide a system to regulate and tax marijuana’s production and distribution with both an excise and a
sales tax. The excise tax of no more than 15 percent will be levied upon the marijuana produced by a
cultivation facility prior to 2017, after which the rate would be permitted to rise. The first $40 million in
excise tax revenue raised annually is credited to the Public School Capital Construction Assistance
Fund, a program that provides funding for the nearly $18 billion dollars in unmet school construction
needs across Colorado.2 A state sales tax (2.9 percent) and a local sales tax (rate varying depending on
the local jurisdiction) will also be levied upon marijuana purchases. In addition, A64 requires the
general assembly to enact legislation concerning the cultivation and sale of industrial hemp.

[Panog]

Yeah but I'm sure it's pretty difficult to make better whiskies yourself than the ones they sell in stores (I mean don't they age it for years ?) but as you're a grower like me Ron you know that it's pretty easy to grow better weed than what they sell in Ams CS

[spidergawd]

/\/\ And if you can buy it when you want then the urgency and the need to guard against dry times isn't there as an incentive. I guess a lot of those already growing will continue because it's what we enjoy doing, and of course the economics are important but as you see in Holland in local shops there is always a stream of buy and fly locals, it's convenient like picking up a particular bottle of wine that takes your fancy. .

I'm so pleased you guys have gone for and carried the Legalization/Recreational vote because going down the MMJ route very soon Big Pharma will say "You dont need to let these MMJ users have the actual herb to get stoned and enjoy taking their meds. We've been through the genetics done the extraction and here's the pills. Simples!!!"

[Uncle Ron]

Yeah but I'm sure it's pretty difficult to make better whiskies yourself than the ones they sell in stores (I mean don't they age it for years ?) but as you're a grower like me Ron you know that it's pretty easy to grow better weed than what they sell in Ams CS

Damn, you went right for the jugular - whiskey.
True, the process of making whiskey is a special craft, the same can be said of most alcohol products as well. Billy Beer anyone?
My point I think stays true, not many will make the effort to grow their own. I think some will of course, but on the whole, probably less than 10% of smokers will grow.

I'm so effing happy that I was able to see this in my lifetime...
... makes me think of all those who are no longer among us who would have been just as happy, if not more so. Sigh...
Plant the seed for peace and prosperity among all peoples...
...

[cantona7]

law goes into effect here (washington) 12/6. state will have a year to set up retail. shops wont be able to advertise or be within a certain distance from a school. apparently from what i have heard the state is ready to fight the feds. 502 had some pretty big backing so should be interesting. hopefully will bring in some extra tourism.

[matty223]

starting to look at a seattle/sanfran vacation for 2013

[Uncle Ron]

starting to look at a seattle/sanfran vacation for 2013

Sounds like a nice trip...
If I may, how about throwing in a layover in Denver? Hmm, "LEGAL" Rocky Mountain High...
...
"Everybody Must Get Stoned" World Tour 2013
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Denver, Seattle, and points in between...

[winnie]

starting to look at a seattle/sanfran vacation for 2013

I would love to fly to Cali and leave from Vancouver and spend a few weeks checking out everything in between

[Stanky Danky]

starting to look at a seattle/sanfran vacation for 2013

I would love to fly to Cali and leave from Vancouver and spend a few weeks checking out everything in between

The Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive, northern California is very scenic. Driving through the redwoods is pretty cool, the road becomes very windy and these giant trees are about five feet off the road. There are lots of things to see and do in Seattle as well, and if you wait a year or so lots of things to smoke.

[cantona7]

starting to look at a seattle/sanfran vacation for 2013

I would love to fly to Cali and leave from Vancouver and spend a few weeks checking out everything in between

pm if ya decide to. would be glad to show you or anyone around the city.

stanky is right. the drive from sf to Seattle/Vancouver is awesome. either highway 1 or 101 are nice. i-5 is the fastest but boring. huge redwood trees, a lot of good food and friendly people as well as some sleepy towns. bodega bay is cool. the birds was also filmed there. once ya hit Oregon you have the Oregon coast. cannon beach is always fun then ya hit Washington..Olympic mountains,hurricane ridge and temperate rainforests on the pan handle. and of course mt Rainer once ya hit the Seattle area. and Vancouver....great city. whistler is nice too if ya can make it north. best way to make the trip is to get a few friends and rent an rv in my opinion.

[milehigh]

I see you've all realized that on December 6th it will be legal to possess an OZ of WEED in Colorado. I will not be allowed to sell to you, but I can give you some when you go on a Ganja Tour. Hope to see you soon.

milehigh in Denver.

[spidergawd]

/\/\ Amsterdam! Eat your heart out.

My newspapers have recently been carrying full colour pull out supplements extolling the beauties and wonders of the USA. I've been lucky enough to visit the states many times over the years, but just around the coastal ports and cities being a marine animal at the time.

I have a feeling that something I've dreamed of for a long time, a 1 month Amtrak railpass, is beginning to emerge from the back of the mind and take on an air of reality. I reckon I could get a good way round the country in a month and for me the journey is the thing so trains are the way to do it.

Happy trails.

California Zephyr - Chicago to San Francisco via Denver. Definitely one on the list

http://www.amtrak.com/california-zephyr-train

[USbongLord]

weed is a parking ticket here now..no big deal...now learn to grow...the cops got murders and heroin to deal with...have fun with yer freedom...never understood the paranoidism..never will...once the other states see the cash comin in its a matter of time...now for a hit of cheesus ill come to colorodo when we run out here