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

Mic.com ^ | 7/1/14 | Chris Miles

[Rebelbase]

$19 million in new tax revenue.

Marijuana-related arrests, which make up 50% of all drug-related crimes, have plummeted in Colorado, freeing up law enforcement to focus on other criminal activity. By removing marijuana penalties, the state saved somewhere between $12 million and $40 million in 2012, according to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

According to government data, the Denver city- and county-wide murder rate has dropped 52.9% since recreational marijuana use was legalized in January. This is compared to the same period last year, a time frame encompassing Jan. 1 through April 30.

[Rebelbase]

The criminal lawyers must be panicked looking for new sources of income now that they've lost the marijuana business.

[Rebelbase]

In case anyone wants to know, excerpt is my friend.

[GeronL]

Pot parties for kids are popular now

[Wolfie]

The Prison Guard union must be pissed.

[Jim from C-Town]

The lawyers can now turn to what they do best extorting corporations. They can now file a class action suite against the Marijuana Industry with McDonald's and White Castle as co-defendants in a wrongful munchies law suite.

[Wolfie]

Pot parties for kids are popular now

Yes, in every State in the union, just as they have been since the 70's.

[ConservingFreedom]

Pot parties for kids are popular now

More so than before? Evidence? Sounds like urban legend to me.

[fwdude]

Marijuana-related arrests, which make up 50% of all drug-related crimes, have plummeted in Colorado,...

So, because a former arrestable crime is no longer an arrestable crime is supposed to surprise anyone?

Why don't we legalize burglary to make the crime rates plummet even more?

[Rebelbase]

The article is remiss in not addressing the loss courthouse parking revenue now that all those dope cases have vanished.

[defconw]

Surrounding states are having a lot of fun! Cops are pulling over Colorado plates, just because! :)

[ilgipper]

I am somewhat indifferent on this issue, but more money for government is hardly a positive. More corruption and more pockets stuffed. Now, it’s sure to spread to other states to get funneled into more politicians bank accounts.

[Bucky14]

Maybe if they decriminalize bank robbery, murder and rape they will save even more money!

[Fresh Wind]

Better yet, legalize crime.

Problem solved.

[Wolfie]

Defense attorneys, cops, judges...everybody sucking off of the Prohibition teat is being hurt. What a shame.

[pfflier]

Wherever the Huffington Post and Mother Jones are cited you might want to consider a reality check.

[gdani]

The criminal lawyers must be panicked looking for new sources of income now that they've lost the marijuana business.

Not as panicked as the police, judges & courts now that they can no longer inflate their budgets & salaries for ticky-tack marijuana offenses.

[ConservingFreedom]

Marijuana-related arrests, which make up 50% of all drug-related crimes, have plummeted in Colorado,...

So, because a former arrestable crime is no longer an arrestable crime is supposed to surprise anyone?

Why don't we legalize burglary to make the crime rates plummet even more?

Read all the way to the end of the sentence: "... freeing up law enforcement to focus on other criminal activity."

[Blood of Tyrants]

As are the local police departments who received a large portion of their funding from asset forfeitures.

[Maceman]

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

But nobody can remember what they are.

[Wolfie]

Malum in se, malum prohibitum. Look it up.