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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsColorado Weed Sales Raise Huge Amounts in Taxes and Crime Down 10 Percent
http://www.nationofchange.org/colorado-sells-weed-march-goes-schools-and-crime-down-10-percent-1401716951
All the naysayers who were against marijuana legalization are eating crow about now. Colorados weed sales just keep trending up, and with the sales of legal weed, they are improving their schools and reducing overall crime rates.
Not counting medicinal weed sales, Colorado sold nearly $19 million in their recreational weed market in the month of March, and $1.9 million of that goes straight into government coffers and towards building schools. At this pace, according to PolicyMic, Colorado will make $30 million this year in pot taxes alone.
Whats even more promising is that these numbers are still low estimates, as the recreational and medicinal marijuana markets (coinciding just fine, take note Washington) are likely to keep trending upward. Many say that a figure closer to $60 million in weed tax revenue is a more likely assumption. Medical marijuana is also not as heavily taxes as recreational marijuana, and hopefully it will stay that way.
Crime rates in Colorado have dropped by 10.6% while Dunkin Donuts has begun expanding its brand in the state (really). It looks like a really good future for people living in Colorado, or any state that legalizes both medical and recreational marijuana though it is admittedly too early to tell.The cherry on top of this tax-generating cake? Crime rates are also down in Colorado, so while kids are hopefully going to get a better education, the government (idealistically) will spend more money improving infrastructure and other business opportunities for Colorado citizens, and unemployment rates are plummeting. The Colorado police can take a little rest from their duties.
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)it always makes me so thirsty.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Maryland has loads of tax money from recent gambling sites, but you could not realize it in reality.
raptor_rider
(1,014 posts)And make a go of it. However the governor here says she will fight it all the way. Time to get Martinez out of office, and get someone in there that will hear our voices, instead of ignoring us!
AnneD
(15,774 posts)NM is the next state. Like gambling, the first states to legalize it will reap the highest reward (pun intended).
abakan
(1,815 posts)I agree whole heartily with both of your statements. I was hoping the latest problem the gov had would be the one to do her in...but no..Republicans seem to have more lives than a cat..
RainDog
(28,784 posts)msongs
(67,193 posts)putting people in prison for possessing a joint (or whatever they are are called these days)
OnlinePoker
(5,702 posts)Proof that legalized marijuana is killing jobs. lol.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)Legalized pot is a huge blow to organized crime.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)Thanks for the thread, eridani.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Tax another one,
Just like the other one,
Colorado's been makin' cash
Tennessee now needs a stash!
Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Taaaaaxxxxx another one,
Just like the other one,
We want what you got, too
To increase our revenue
Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Don't bogart that joint, Denver
Pass it on to Nashville!
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)KansDem
(28,498 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)unterrified democrat
(33 posts)The video introduces this song as being performed by Country Joe and the Fish...but it's actually "The Fraternity of Man" from the Easy Rider soundtrack... just sayin
KansDem
(28,498 posts)http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/DONTBOGA.HTM
Ghost in the Machine
(14,912 posts)for 2016?? How about YOU, members of CONgress?? This rests on your shoulders, too. The "War on Drugs" has failed and you are wasting millions upon millions of dollars every year that you keep it going! Why has it taken so long to admit it? You KNOW Prohibition of alcohol failed, along with raising the criminal element. Are you incapable of learning from the past??
LEGALIZE ALREADY!!! Take the profit motive away from the drug cartels and watch the crime rate fall and the tax coffers rise. Get it together, man!
Peace,
Ghost
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)Oh, I'm sorry, that was the cops...
End this stupid drug war.
tblue37
(64,980 posts)"Baby in Coma After Police Grenade Dropped in Crib During Drug Raid"
Baby before no-knock SWAT raid:
Baby after raid:
The alleged drug dealer was a nephew whom the baby's parents had already kicked out of the house. The parents had no connection to the crime, and nothing related to drugs was found in their house during the raid.
Ishoutandscream2
(6,655 posts)tblue37
(64,980 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)Response to eridani (Original post)
SMC22307 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Blue Owl
(49,918 posts)Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)I hate to ask this and sound negative, but is that across all sorts of crimes like violent crimes, robbery, etc or would you come to that reduction solely by eliminating marijuana-related crimes?
tblue37
(64,980 posts)pot is a quick and easy way for a police department to pump up their arrest rates, so they tend to go after such people instead of after serious criminals, who tend to be much more dangerous to apprehend.
Once those cheap and easy arrests are taken away from them, their arrest rates are bound to drop precipitously.
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)Unfortunately, that is kind of what I suspected when I read those numbers. I'm personally not a marijuana user and I've never used it, but I'm all for legalization. I was hoping this would be a another statistically solid reason for legalization.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Compared to the January-April period from 2013, 2014 has seen an overall reduction in both violent and property crimes since legalizing marijuana. This strikes down the statements made by opponents of the bill that legalization of the drug would lead to an increase in crime in the state. Notable reductions were seen in homicide (down by over 52%) and theft from motor vehicles (down by 36%), and all forms of violent crime saw a reduction in their incidence over this period.
Read more at http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/colorado-marijuana-sales-up-crime-down/#3X4lMgOPQu4qU0UA.99
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)....it will reduce the overcrowding in for-profit prisons. There'll be room for real criminals!
WillyT
(72,631 posts)bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I assume they will refuse all educational proceeds as well. Wouldn't want to be hypocrites, after all.
shanti
(21,670 posts)do employers include cannabis in their pre and/or post employment drug testing? can they discriminate since it's now "legal"?
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)And, yes, employers can still discriminate, because employers can pretty much do what they want.
If you don't want drug testing at work, negotiate with your employer. Or better yet, have a union do it for you.
That said, employers are eventually going to figure out they lose too many employees and potential employees by testing for marijuana. You can ask the FBI about that; they can't find enough hackers who don't like to get high.
Response to Comrade Grumpy (Reply #42)
shanti This message was self-deleted by its author.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Liquor is legal, but using it on the job is not.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)IronLionZion
(45,259 posts)music and video game sales, etc?
Good for Colorado. This should help their economy. I see a lot more articles about Colorado than Washington state. Hopefully more states will follow suit and the feds will reschedule it soon.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)metal, and turn those jails into housing for the homeless!
We can move a few of our police jobs over to the public service/social worker sector!
heaven05
(18,124 posts)for an island of sanity in an ocean of insanity.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)CrispyQ
(36,226 posts)A dispensary owner told me some of the things they have to have. All sorts of security inside & outside. Surveillance cameras, infrared detectors, it was amazing.
Hubert Flottz
(37,726 posts)Colorado is one of the most beautiful states, that I've ever had the pleasure to reside in.
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)Hubert Flottz
(37,726 posts)All of what you saw on that beautiful video, is there and that's just a very tiny fraction of Colorado's beauty.
I've even had dreams many times, of being back there taking pictures. Truly, "A photographer's dream." You won't be disappointed Joe.
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)Thanks eridani!
joanbarnes
(1,715 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)but throwing people in jail for smoking it or growing it seems as silly to me as people growing Bell Peppers. I detest Bell Peppers, but I'm not inclined to make it illegal to grow them.
I would be willing to bet the prison industrial complex is horrified that Colorado has had success. If you can't jail people arbitrarily, what is next? My GOD you might have to actually go after real criminals.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Maureen Dowd eats Colorado cannabis candy bar, unwise about dosage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5046840
Response to pinboy3niner (Reply #56)
Uncle Joe This message was self-deleted by its author.