Marijuana

[Rogar]

I agree that pot isn't more harmful than alcohol and all the other positives. Like alcohol, if it's used responsibly, it has it's own recreational value. And I agree that it should be legal. Another positive I would add is the tax revenue, some of which is earmarked for schools and education. I think the tax rate for recreational MJ in Colorado is 35%, so this could be very big.

The biggest negative I can think of is that there is going to be a faction of users, enabled by it's legalization, that will abuse it and put others in harm's way. Whether it is driving under the influence, maybe skiing out of control, or working around hazardous equipment or machinery while impaired. There are enough bozos on this bus without adding more. Hopefully other states with follow suit so tourists don't flock to Colorado for the pot experience and then do silly things that infringe upon others.

[Gregg]

...it will be interesting to see how many people's employment is adversely affected by their legal usage.

I think that will probably be a fascinating test of constitutional law. The standard drug tests shouldn't apply due to the lingering nature of THC that you mentioned. In the case of Colorado I'm not sure employers have many options regarding employee pot use until some type of standardized performance test is implemented. It seems that, unless someone is caught consuming pot red handed, any action taken by an employer is a law suit waiting to happen. One of them will surely make it to the CO Supreme Court and maybe beyond.

[bae]

Aren't most states in the USA still employment-at-will, Gregg? I don't see much of a constitutional issue there to hang your hat on, pot smokers are not a protected class.

[pcooley]

I have to say, as a liberal-ish adult, that I don't oppose legalization, but I would also say, as a parent of a teenager and a soon-to-be-teenager, that I oppose legalization. I don't want my kids smoking pot, and I don't want my kids drinking alcohol, and part of the reason for that is I know what ridiculously dangerous situations I got myself into from about eighth grade on. I managed to keep my grades up, and my life didn't crash to the ground, but I could have been in a serious automobile accident.

It's hard enough to focus on alcohol, and the fact that adults can drink it legally, and that, yes, I occasionally buy a bottle of wine. I don't also want to deal with yes, now marijuana is legal too - especially with the added argument that it's not as bad as alcohol.

[iris lilies]

Drug testing was always a gross invasion of privacy. If someone is impaired, there are always performance tests.

Spoken by someone who doesn't have to fund the entire program that trains, and carries out, tests that would only be imperfeclty administered at best.

I say, don't wanna lose your job for smoking pot? don't smoke then.

DH worked in the tree and lawn industry where the operators of large vehicles are required by the feds to take regular drug tests. The tree climbers are a macho bunch who also, as a general group, like to smoke dope. There were many an employee placed on leave for a bad test, then when the wait period was up, came back on duty. It's very difficult to hire highly skilled tree surgeons, especially if they have climbing skills.

Also, Dh mentioned a few new hires who would take the required drug test and never come back to work because they knew they hadn't passed.

[bae]

I have to say, as a liberal-ish adult, that I don't oppose legalization, but I would also say, as a parent of a teenager and a soon-to-be-teenager, that I oppose legalization. I don't want my kids smoking pot, and I don't want my kids drinking alcohol,...

My concern is not so much the smoking of pot, but the other forms it will now be sold in in my state - soft drinks, baked goods, syrups, candies, and whatnot. At our medical training a few months ago, they showed us a mind-boggling array of packaging and product.

[pcooley]

My concern is not so much the smoking of pot, but the other forms it will now be sold in in my state - soft drinks, baked goods, syrups, candies, and whatnot. At our medical training a few months ago, they showed us a mind-boggling array of packaging and product.

I didn't even think of that. That's all our strung out society needs, THC laced Red Bull.

[Rogar]

My understanding from friends with kids is that pot is/was readily available to teens and young adults through whatever black market underground channels exist. Possibly the legalization might add some validity to it's use, but maybe not a big change in availability to the younger age groups.

Also, it seems like dispensaries for medical patients already existed in virtually every neighborhood. Rumors I got were that most anyone who seriously persued it could find a doctor to write a prescription for minor or imagined illnesses or pains. This included access to edibles. And procession of smaller quantities for non medical patients was already legal or a low priority misdemeanor.

So legalization of recreational MJ, at least as it went here in Colorado, may have been a big step philosophically, but practically speaking maybe a much smaller change.

[Gregg]

The part of CO that we lived in was a resort area. Procuring pot, or just about anything else, never seemed to be an issue for anyone regardless of what the regulatory environment was. In that town the new law simply moves the transaction from the back door to the front door and insures some of the revenue will provide a playground in addition to the dealers new Range Rover.

You're right about the employment at will issue, bae. Constitutional issue or not, I do think the ability of an employer to limit an employee's off-the-clock consumption of a legal substance is going to open up some interesting debates, not the least of which are privacy issues with possible ramifications well beyond getting stoned at home.

[gimmethesimplelife]

And there's also the issue of drug testing in the workplace and THC's tendancy to remain in the body longer than alcohol. There are a host of safety regulations which must be adhered to and it will be interesting to see how many people's employment is adversely affected by their legal usage.

I expect some interesting lawsuits in Colorado and Washington State in regards to this issue - legal pot use vs. employer's right to drug test pre-employment/randomly during employment/testing during employment after accidents and such. This just screams lawsuit heaven as this is taking place in the United States. Rob