Drugs should never have been criminalized in the first place. It caused untold damage to many people, and clogged the courts.

Let people take whatever drugs they want and bear the consequences of it. THAT is the only way people will realize the folly of being drugged up all day.

When I read the proposals for regulations on the new "legal" pot in California it became obvious to me that it would be more regulated than when it was illegal. For all those users who thought they'd get relief from the new laws "legalizing" it, I think it's likely they'll have to establish (or re-establish) an underground market. I don't use it. But I marvel at how this State manages to screw things up.

Always find it ironic that America constantly declares itself the freest country in the world yet locks up a huge percentage of its population (the highest percentage in the world) with a large amount of those people incarcerated for putting things into their own bodies that the State does not agree with. Absolutely bizarre.

I can see/hear it now.......
911?? Yes, someone broke in and stole my marijuana!!

What a surprise that it took so long to grab money
From the lucrative black market.
But The supply is endless and unlimited.
The price will likely fall and the loot and subsequent looting will be less than expected.

I love the word "recreational." What are the Maryjane users "recreating?" The loss of keeness of their senses. Perhaps they're poor eaters and want to sharpen up their appetites. Or perhaps, slow down their reflexes so they can be more mellow while driving. We are cautioned to not have one single drink before we drive, should we now add one single toke to that?

the tax benefits are not good in the long run when eventually the whole population of the state just sits around laughing. also the auto accident rate in Colorado is up about 5 percent

The problem with legalizing addictive substances is that the cost of licensing, inspection, and enforcement of the legal substance always makes the "street" version much cheaper. Colorado and Washington state are experiencing this effect, with the cartels' black market profits exploding.

The problem of enforcement also explodes, because with so many legal users in possession of a substance that may or may not be legal, identification of the illegal substance becomes much more difficult. The evidence chain becomes nearly impossible to follow, giving the illegal distributors easy cover.

Giving up on finding the illegal sellers of the substance helps reduce the law enforcement burden, allowing them to focus on crime that may or may not be an effect of the substance users' abuse. However, because it neglects the law enforcement role of revenue producer as a result of catching the illegal distributors, and allows tax avoidance, government will not permit this sensible strategy. We're seeing this civil war between an overstretched law enforcement community and state politicians disappointed in less tax revenue than expected, particularly in Colorado.

Legalizing drugs also compounds the medical issues and stresses medical resources. One medical community enhanced by increased drug use is the research members. New, unanticipated conditions are cropping up in a bigger population of users. Screaming and vomiting ("scromiting") is a heretofore unrecognized condition of heavy marijuana use, and it's finally being realized that a small number of heavy users do in fact become much more violent with use of marijuana.

There are always unexpected surprises when reality hits the fantasy of exuberant expectations.

Well...there goes our world lead in technology.

In our little rural community here in E.WA. the people blocked a huge grow operation under the pretense that it would increase crime in the area. They also managed to block a retail operation in a strip mall, only to just recently have a portable building brought in to open another marijuana shop next to a landscape business up the street. We'll see how that goes, the community seems to be against it, but now that it's here sales will have to determine whether it stays or goes. Since there are shops all over the major city of Spokane perhaps this shop will not draw any outsiders to keep it going. Crime is extremely low in this area, even with limited law enforcement, which we attribute to the fact that almost everyone carries legally. Of course we all only carry to protect ourselves and our families from the diversity of the wildlife in our little rural town.

It makes it much easier to "control the people" when they are stoned. -Come on in for this joint at your local polling place-Vote (the right way) and get a free pizza! WHAT A GREAT PLAN!! N-O-T-E.

Me dino noticed in the article that pot is also legal in Las Vegas.
Just know the casinos are all for that.
A casino was serving me free wine the only time I passed through that city and stayed overnight.
Wonder why. Wonder why.

Drugs have the same affect on the human body and mind no matter what kind they are. Interesting how the drug itself insidiously lies to the consumer that it is needed and provides benefit when it fails and always creates harm. Depending on the drug it may be minimal or extreme. While the argument can be made for not using drugs there is no reason to forcibly tell others they can't use them or control or tax (extort) them. Very few people in the world do not use some form of drug. I wonder why it is that humans need an escape from reality or a shock to the nervous system to face the day.

It makes sense, keep people stoned and dependent and they are more readily led.