What do we know about the effects of marijuana legalization?

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@Hari_Seldon

…I see nothing in the [Constitution] that allows the Feds to stop the sale and usage of a substance grown and consumed entirely inside a state and that never enters into interstate commerce. But the court will find a way, mark my words.

It will and it has:

Wickard v. Filburn

Gonzales v. Raich

[dtilque]

@Jasmine

Well, we can throw away money by paying people to try to stop what can and never has been stopped, or we can legalize it and tax the crap out of it and make a ton of money instead. All you have to do is look at Prohibition and its effects to see that.

Actually, taxing thre crap out of mj turns out not to completely eliminate the black market. Washington and Colorado both have taxed the crap out of it (37% for WA, 30% or more for CO) and they still have a black market of people evading those taxes. Oregon’s tax rate at 17 or 20% is lower, but still not really low, so there’s probably some local black market here. But most illegal weed in OR is grown for export to states that don’t have legal marijuana.

[hajario]

@kayaker

There are two distinct groups of people; those who know what 420 means, and those who do not.

I have a Rolex watch tattooed on my left wrist. It is the only watch I ever wear. The time is 4:20. Occasionally a stranger notices the time and laughs, pats me on the back, references 420. There is often someone who overhears this and asks what 420 means, or guesses, “Oh, like, almost 5:00 and time to quit work, huh?”

There is a new guy at my work with a clock set to 4:19 on his forearm. I thought it was a clear reference but on closer inspection it’s actually referring to a Bible verse. Ezekiel 4:19 or something. I can’t be the only one to get the wrong impression.

@Backwater_Under_Duck

I’m in California and I’m really interested in knowing what the state is hauling in. I have always been of the, legalize it and we will happily pay the tax, mentality. I’ve had my medical certificate for years. In January, when the recreational dispensaries were authorized to star up, the established medical pot shops became dual purpose. Medical and recreational.

That varies greatly by county. Some counties are completely dry. Santa Barbara County is medical only and that includes delivery services. Not only that, only Santa Barbara County residents can buy in our medical shops or get delivery. There are rumors that we will get our own recreational shop in a few months but I’ll believe it when I see it. I will be renewing my card in a couple of weeks.

[JackieLikesVariety]

There is a new guy at my work with a clock set to 4:19 on his forearm. I thought it was a clear reference but on closer inspection it’s actually referring to a Bible verse. Ezekiel 4:19 or something. I can’t be the only one to get the wrong impression.

oh, dear - I would totally talk to a stranger with 4:19 tattooed on them and make a joke about pot
googling around for the halibut makes me suspect it as Mathew 4:19

And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.

but back on topic Green Rush Blues goes into legalization affects that never occurred to me, it’s very interesting.

The green ethos that prevailed in the early days has given way to a different set of players, including Wall Street-backed corporations with deep pockets and black market growers who exploit state laws and pollute the dense forests that provide cover for their illicit operations. These Green Rush interlopers are causing irreversible damage to the state’s water supply and precious natural resources.

…

*The hope is that legalization will help rein in ecological damage from black market grow-ops in Northern California and other parts of the state.

But the new regulations could have the opposite effect if large numbers of growers decide the legal route is still too risky and not worth the expense and hassle.*

[dtilque]

@JackieLikesVariety

But the new regulations could have the opposite effect if large numbers of growers decide the legal route is still too risky and not worth the expense and hassle.*

Even if California pot taxes are low (and it looks like they aren’t), there would still be black market growers there. They’d be growing it for the export market. Far northern California and southern Oregon has long been known as the best place to grow cannabis outside and that’s not changed. Nor is the huge amounts of illegal weed grown there. The ecological problems caused by illegal growers in that area are not new, although it’s possible they got worse with legalization.