Medical Marijuana

[JDAZ11]

At the same time, the body doesn't treat it the same way as alcohol, and not everybody responds the same way, AND the high wears off long before the drug leaves the bloodstream, so even if there was a test to measure the chemical I'm not sure if it would be able to be standardized. So one would think that field sobriety tests would be the most effective.

I agree that a field sobriety test is probably the only way to go. I'm pretty sure I heard that's what they're doing in CO right now, but I'd have to google to confirm.

[oceanchild]

Ok, I try to stay out of this forum because of my job, but I can't resist this one.

I will say from Colorado that the medical system was heavily abused before recreational legalization. As a result, it's been difficult to effectively tax recreational. I am personally not a huge fan of medical dispensaries because of the way the system in Colorado was created. If other states or the feds want my policy advice ( ): medical through the normal pharmacy system.

The Denver Post just did a series about CBD as seizure treatment: http://extras.denverpost.com/stateofhope/ It's a good read that left me thinking there are still a lot more questions than answers.

[Sheherezade]

Yeah, I'm kind of a fuddy duddy on marijuana. I have a relative for whom it was either a gateway drug or it did lasting damage on its own. Either way, stoner high school and college days bled into alcoholic manic depressive middle age. It's sad, and that's what I always think of when I see someone just settling in to using weed.

I am in favor of decriminalization and prescription use. I think it's nuts that people go to jail for weed, but I don't want marijuana laced gummy bears in vending machines either. There has to be some middle of the road thing.

I also find it amusing that prohibition ended when we needed the revenue so we decided to tax alcohol and legalize it again. Now, we once again need cash, so the whole "your brain on drugs" stuff is all out the window.

It's been really weird to live through the flip flips on "moral" issues in our last fifty years.


Angie

[diggitydot]

Medicinal and recreational use is legal in our state and they tax the ever loving shit out of it at all levels. DUI is an issue and some enterprising peeps are currently trying to develop field sobriety testing for weed.

A lot of weed is now consumed in edibles, so the lung cancer issue is less problematic.

[oceanchild]

Medicinal and recreational use is legal in our state and they tax the ever loving shit out of it at all levels.

But do they tax medical and recreational at the same rate? The problem here is that the tax rate for recreational is so much higher, so people who already had access to medical (almost everyone) stick with that. So basically, at this point we're only taxing the shit out of the tourists.

[JDAZ11]

Ah, yeah. That's an issue I hadn't thought about before.

[diggitydot]

But do they tax medical and recreational at the same rate? The problem here is that the tax rate for recreational is so much higher, so people who already had access to medical (almost everyone) stick with that. So basically, at this point we're only taxing the shit out of the tourists.

There's essentially no difference between the two anymore. Same exact tax system.