Dales Colorado bound?

[Gob]

The US state of Colorado is making history by becoming the first to allow stores to sell cannabis.

As many as 30 stores around the state are expected to start selling the drug for recreational purposes from 1 January, dubbed Green Wednesday.

Colorado, along with Washington state, voted to legalise the use and possession of cannabis for people over the age of 21 in November 2012.

Washington is not expected to allow the sale of it until later in 2014.

Colorado and Washington are among 20 states to have approved marijuana use for medical purposes. The drug is still illegal under federal law.

Store owners had stocked up, prepared celebrations and hired extra security in preparation for their opening on Green Wednesday.

Under the new law, cannabis will be sold like alcohol. Residents will be able to buy up to one ounce, while those from out of the state can purchase up to a quarter of an ounce.

Cannabis can only be smoked on private premises, with the permission of the owners.

The sale of the drug will be taxed in the same way as alcohol, and state officials have said they expected it to raise millions - the first $40m of which will be used for school construction, The Denver Post reports.

It was not clear exactly how many shops were expected to open on New Year's Day, though around 30 were listed by The Denver Post.

A total of 136 stores have been given licenses to sell marijuana. Most of the shops are based in Denver. Some communities elsewhere in Colorado have exercised their right not to have the stores.

Supporters of legalising cannabis have praised Colorado's move.

Rachel Gillette, of the Colorado branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said the state "has found an exit strategy for the failed drug war and I hope other states will follow our lead".

But critics say it sends the wrong message to the nation's youth and fear it will lead to serious public health and social problems.

"There will still need to be a black market to serve people who are ineligible to buy on a legal market, especially kids," said Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. "It's almost the worst of both worlds."

[Joe Guy]

[oldr_n_wsr]

the first $40m of which will be used for school construction,

And the lottery was supposed to virtually eliminate the school tax portion of our property taxes.
Anyone want to buy a bridge?

[Long Run]

And the state gets hooked on the MJ tax.

If they were halfway smart, they would learn from all the lottery states and they would annuitize the new tax revenues, putting all the new money into an investment fund and just spending 5-6 percent a year of the fund's balance (like a foundation). In 16-20 years, there would be more tax revenues from this reliable source of funding that should last forever, than from the highly variable new MJ tax. Plus, if the voters have a change of mind about the "benefits" of legalizing the drug, they can go back to "medical" marijuana or some more restrictive regime without causing a huge hole in governmental budgets.

Oh wait, these are politician making the decision about how the funds -- the money will be spent before it hits the state bank account. And oldr is right, this will not reduce existing taxes; it will just become part of the big "pot" for public services.

[Big RR]

they can go back to "medical" marijuana or some more restrictive regime without causing a huge hole in governmental budgets.

that's the reason I support the tax "addiction"; it will be too difficult to change once the state gets hooked.

[oldr_n_wsr]

it will be too difficult to change once the state gets hooked.

A 12 step program would help. I should know

[Big RR]

Perhaps, but then you'd first have to convince the states to want to abstain from the use of money forever. Good luck with that.

[rubato]

To say nothing of finding a higher power.

Yes,
Rubato