Posted on 06/10/2014 4:26:08 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Colorado has a new cash crop.
New figures show that the state has been raking in profits since January, when it became the first in the nation to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use.
Add in sales taxes from lower taxed medical marijuana and so far this year the state has banked nearly $18 million.
Along with the big bucks have come some big problems.
Like 10 toddlers so far this year overdosing on edible marijuana products.
And from January through May, the Colorado State Patrol handed out 289 tickets to people driving under the influence of marijuana.
The tax money is supposed to be spent on schools, but some of it may be earmarked to hire more people to regulate this booming business and more cops to arrest those driving under the influence.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Colorado state government is gradually becoming a drug cartel. If you think Mexican drug cartels are bad, wait until the government and big business are making big time money from it.
I wonder if there has been a bump up in Colorado tourism due to drug tourists like that stupid Ariana Huffington who ate an entire pot candy bar Miss PAC-MAN style?
That’s right up there with Afghanistan and the heroin. Same kind of cash crop.
It was dowd, not huffpo
Colorado will rue the day they made this legal. The consequences are only beginning to show and will snowball in due course.
Money is the fertilizer that government uses to grow.
They already are.
this is great for the people of Colorado! Soon they will lower or eliminate all taxes, afterall, politicians NEVER spend that money without reducing tax rates, do they?
Pardon me while I stop laughing.
Yes, how DID this country ever make it to 1914 without giving practically unlimited power to the federal government to keep people from smoking pot? We have had 100 years of the WOD yet all we have to show for it is draconian laws that affect practically every part of our daily lives.
Oh, but they are just whetting their beak, compared to what will come.
BTW, the same people who gave us Prohibition gave is the WOD. At least we had enough sense to repeal Prohibition.
Uh, 18 million is hardly a “pot of gold” for a state that will spend $33,000,000,000 this year. It’s nothing more than chump change.
I thought the revenue would be much higher than that (no pun intended).
What could go wrong?
‘Like 10 toddlers so far this year overdosing on edible marijuana products.’
Help me remember - which political party is constantly screeching, “It’s for the chiiiiiiildren!”
A true “Rocky Mountain High”, Colorado.
And, FWIW, legalizing drugs is where I and the Libertarians part ways. Don’t waste your breath trying to change my mind, either.
Had to laugh. Money going to schools? my foot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.