While I'm not in favor of retail MJ for recreational purposes the law is what the law is and since there seems to be plenty of demand why not set up some retail outlets and reap the profits and taxes? My first instinct would be to put the retail locations in remote areas that would welcome the revenue but that seems to me like it would be setting people up for DWIs.
So if not in rural locations then where? Red light districts on the edge of questionable parts of urban centers? You can't fix stupid, some percentage of people will continue to drink, smoke dope, and get drugged up and then drive. Perhaps by setting up a red light district that is all pedestrian with some cheap lodging options might encourage those who choose to imbibe to enjoy their poison of choice and stay put until they are sober enough to safely go about their business.
On the other hand, how long would it take before these red light districts degenerate into the Opium dens of the 1800s? I think many people are all for the recreational use of pot but few would welcome a retail outlet in their back yard.
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Given Prop 64 passed by a WIDE margin, seem sthis little issue will go away....the people have spoken........I feel sure locals will sort it out and given the depression(and cuts in fed budgets) in many CO areas $$$$$$$$$ will talk.Millions in tax revenue will drive most decisions.
No question that there is money to be had hand over fist; would you be comfortable with a retail outlet in your back yard? What if a pot retailer setup in the old Safeway strip mall and set their hours as 24/7? Would it be better if the hours of operation were limited to Monday - Friday, 0800-1800?
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Personally I prefer a distribution network like liquor stores buy it and bring it home. Less chance of drugged driving versus the destination pot clubs that seem to be starting.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
If it's legal and you don't have retail stores available to sell it, it's just gonna get sold on the streets anyway like it has been for decades. It's clear that these retail stores will end up in the crappy areas like Commerce City and depressed areas of town where dispensaries already exist. It's just like used car lots... nobody wants one in their neighborhood unless the neighborhood is already a 'hood'. Forcing people to buy weed from high crime areas will create a larger underground network of untaxed and cheaper weed. Pot isn't like alchohol in that it's pretty easy to reproduce and since it's legal anyway, how much effort and $$$ will be a spent on hunting down black market grow operations? I just don't see huge amounts of tax revenue coming out of this new law unless pot stores are in every city and not just in the shit holes.
