Colorado

News

The Coffee Joint, the first establishment to hold a cannabis consumption license in Denver, is now the second pot lounge business to apply for a state social consumption license.

A group of Colorado researchers recently studied how cannabis use affects athletes and found a possible role between the plant and pain management.

DENVER - Serenity Christensen, 14, is too young to set foot in one of Colorado's many marijuana shops, but she was able to spot a business opportunity in legal weed. She is a Girl Scout, and this year, she and her mother decided to sell their cookies outside a dispensary. "Good business," Serenity said.

Voters in Denver, a city at the forefront of the widening national debate over legalizing marijuana, have become the first in the nation to effectively decriminalize another recreational drug: hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Letters

If consumers are going to purchase and consume beer and other alcohol products [Re: Cannabis Corner, "Are People Switching From Booze To Pot?," Jan. 19], consider purchasing them from companies who do not support or enable cannabis (marijuana) prohibition. That's not always easy to do.

Re: "Colorado Amendment 71 tries to cut down on constitutional red tape," Oct. 4. I disagree with (County Commissioner) Dan Gibb's claim that Summit County voters "don't have a say" regarding the initiative process. Further, stating Amendment 71 has bipartisan support neglects the fact that opposition to Amendment 71 also enjoys bipartisan support, but more importantly includes the private sector, which is the vast majority of voters, rather than a list of inconvenienced politicians.

When I came to Denver three years ago, I was a bit shocked at the condition of the streets. Oh well, I thought, money must be tight here. But then marijuana legalization happened and I read about the avalanche of money it created. Do the pot users and wide-eyed would-be millionaire entrepreneurs not use the roads? One would think some of this newfound source of tax money could be used to repair at least the worst of them. No?

"Denver mayor says violence won't be tolerated on 16th Street Mall," June 30 news story ( online only).

In a recent Associated Press article "Colorado: Youth pot use hasn't gone up since legalization" the main idea was that overall in Colorado marijuana use among high schoolers has remained stagnant at 21 percent, just below the national average of 22 percent. The Pueblo for Positive Impact group found the rate in Pueblo is much higher at 30.1 percent among high schoolers and decided to post several posts to its Facebook page, emphasizing this huge difference.

I am gravely concerned about the effort to ban the sale, cultivation and testing facilities of recreational marijuana in Pueblo County. Now that marijuana is legal in Colorado, counties have the choice of whether to regulate the industry locally. Through responsible regulation, they create a climate in which jobs are created and tax revenue is generated.

I have been following Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo for some time now and I must say I am very disappointed in the name choice. I would say that "citizens against marijuana in Pueblo" would be much more appropriate.

This letter is not to start a debate or argue whether I'm pro-or anti-cannabis. Every person in Pueblo has the right to believe whatever they so choose, along with the right to vote on what's happening within their own county.

Opinions

The legalization of retail marijuana stores two years ago has had profound impacts on the city and county of Pueblo. Some good. Some bad.

Colorado has led the charge for legalization of marijuana and many states are following suit and are entertaining the legalization of marijuana in this year's elections.

Last week, Colorado Springs City Council passed another new ordinance that will affect home growers of all stripes.

Dear Stoner: I'm in the midst of a devastating family situation and am so blindsided by grief and stress that I need something to calm me down and help me fall asleep. I don't wish to smoke, but am open to other suggestions.

Links

This web site has been provided by DrugSense and is used in conjunction with the DPFCO email list.

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