What now counts as common sense in Colorado

[LoboGunLeather]

This morning's newspaper (16 Jan 2014 "Pueblo Chieftain") carries a front page article describing how our state legislature has decided to allow EBT cards to be used at licensed marijuana shops.

The EBT card is the basic benefits transfer method for public assistance programs (food stamps, welfare payments, etc). Cannot lawfully be used for alcohol, tobacco products, non-consumables, etc.

Our legislature decided that some neighborhoods may now have more pot shops than banks, so EBT cardholders need to be able to access ATM machines more readily, thus denying the use of said cards in marijuana outlets somehow works a hardship on recipients.

Election year? Yes, that's right.

[Comrad]

We're done.

[kwselke]

Originally Posted by LoboGunLeather

This morning's newspaper (16 Jan 2014 "Pueblo Chieftain") carries a front page article describing how our state legislature has decided to allow EBT cards to be used at licensed marijuana shops.

The EBT card is the basic benefits transfer method for public assistance programs (food stamps, welfare payments, etc). Cannot lawfully be used for alcohol, tobacco products, non-consumables, etc.

Our legislature decided that some neighborhoods may now have more pot shops than banks, so EBT cardholders need to be able to access ATM machines more readily, thus denying the use of said cards in marijuana outlets somehow works a hardship on recipients.

Election year? Yes, that's right.

Don't the pot shops also sell brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and other munchies.

[joeintexas]

I got nothing. I'm speechless. Wow, just Wow.

[TheYoungblood]

Well, they sell snack food. You could purchase that. . . Just saying.

[kamloops67]

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! they should be able to buy liquor as well the poor things...
let them eat cake..

[arjay]

A state rep tried to pass a law yesterday barring the use of those cards at ATMs in pot shops.The voting followed party lines.

[TheYoungblood]

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need "

So they need cash at the medical store. Should anyone be offended?

{Ducking now}

[arjay]

That stuff ain't cheap ;-)

[JcMack]

Give THEM money, give them food, give them drugs, give them the vote. Give US the shaft.

[LoboGunLeather]

Originally Posted by arjay

A state rep tried to pass a law yesterday barring the use of those cards at ATMs in pot shops.The voting followed party lines.

Arjay is correct, and his contribution probably provides better balance to this subject.

Of course, we will not delve into the "party line" vote.

[Jinglebob]

A lizard walked through the jungle and saw this monkey, up in a tree, smoking a joint, getting wasted.

He looks up and says, "Hey, you up there, Monkey, I wish I could hit that joint with you."

Being a cool dude and friendly and very high, the monkey replies, "Well, sure, Lizard, can you climb this tree and get up here?"

The lizard says, "Yes, I am on my way up." and the lizard climbs the tree and finishes the joint with the monkey.

Then the monkey says, "Hey, Lizard, do you want to smoke another one?" and the lizard says, "Yea, sure, but I got cotton mouth so bad I can barely talk. Is there any water around here?"

Monkey says, "Yea, sure, right on the other side of those trees is a big river full of water, go get yourself a drink and hurry back and I'll have one rolled and ready when you get back".

So the lizard finds his way to the river, but being so stoned, he slips and falls in. "HELP, Help" the lizard cries, "Save me, I am drowning and I can’t swim"!

About that time a ten-foot long alligator swims by and yells, "Hold on little cousin, I'll save you." and the alligator swims up to the lizard, lifts him up on his nose and carries him to the river bank.

The lizard says, "Oh thank you, thank you cousin, I was so stoned from smoking some good reefer that I slipped and fell in the river".

The alligator says, "Cousin, I wish I could smoke some good reefer too." and the lizard replies, "There is a very friendly monkey up in a tree with a bag full of some killer weed, on the other side of those trees. Just follow the smell. I'm too stoned to smoke any more".

So the alligator follows his nose to the other side of the trees, smells the smoke, looks up, and yells, "Hey, Monkey, let me hit that joint with you."

The Monkey looks down and says, "Good God Lizard, how much water did you drink?"!!!!!!!


It appears the state of Colorado is becoming home for the monkeys and lizards.

[steveno]

so if actual money is required to buy pot , how much of the scent is going to be transferred onto this money? wouldn't banks be a little concerned about drug money coming in and being accused of laundering drug money for pushers? honest joe citizen could come across with this money in his pocket and a drug dog could single him out just going through an airport.

[arjay]

I suspect the war on pot is over for now.New Hampshire is going to legalize it next.

[steveno]

it would appear that these pot shops are going to have a lot of money on hand so unless they have some real security measures the gangs are going to have a field day robbing these shops

[arjay]

They've been dealing in cash since the beginning of medical pot without too much trouble.The gubmint,retailers and banks are trying to sort this stuff out.It's really up to the Feds whether it stays a cash business

[H Richard]

So you can take the money (earned by hard working honest people) and "given" to the out of work people and let them buy pot with it instead of groceries for their families????? Time for another recall of politicians in Colorado. I'm sad my daughter and family live there and I hope they can stay away from this mess.

[arjay]

Better pot than meth and booze.Though I think it should be restricted to food,shelter and clothing only.

[LoboGunLeather]

Originally Posted by arjay

Better pot than meth and booze.Though I think it should be restricted to food,shelter and clothing only.

Sorry to pop anyones' bubbles, but fraud and abuse in the welfare system is nothing new. I served on a joint narcotics task force 40 years or so ago and we actually made many, many of our dope buys using food stamps (typically traded on the street for 50% of face value).

Now they have phased out food stamps and are using the EBT (electronic benefits card) for just about every entitlement program. Problem? Not really, I know of half-a-dozen places around town where you can hook up with a benefits recipient, go to the grocery store, pick out anything you like, check out on his EBT card and pay him half-price in cash. One store in particular is well known, always having several accomodating benefits recipients waiting at the entrance to hook up with shoppers.

The local commodities program hands out tons of cheese, rice, honey, and other staples to benefit recipients, much of which is quickly turned into cash by others trying to stretch their grocery budgets a bit in a tough economy.

My recent experience is all local, but I'm willing to bet that there are similar frauds going on all across the country every day.

[JcMack]

Originally Posted by steveno

so if actual money is required to buy pot , how much of the scent is going to be transferred onto this money? wouldn't banks be a little concerned about drug money coming in and being accused of laundering drug money for pushers? honest joe citizen could come across with this money in his pocket and a drug dog could single him out just going through an airport.

Supposedley a half to a third of all U.S. $50's and $100's have trace amounts of cocaine on them. If I ever have one I'll test it.

[manyguns]

As I slowly lean toward Texas. I may have found the point of no return. My tiny little rural town has 3 medical pot shops. They will convert to general sales shortly. I assume there will be a cottage industry springing up of pot shop robberies. Image the looks on the faces of the stoners in the store when the armed robbers enter. Oh yah. They might not even notice!

[arjay]

I kinda think a business running on that much cash,especially the drug business,is armed to the teeth.

[UncaGrunny]

Originally Posted by manyguns

My tiny little rural town has 3 medical pot shops. They will convert to general sales shortly. I assume there will be a cottage industry springing up of pot shop robberies. Image the looks on the faces of the stoners in the store when the armed robbers enter. Oh yah. They might not even notice!

Open a convenience store full of snacks, beer, soda, and Monster/RedBull, within walking distance of any (or ideally all three), set up to accept EBT, and you'll be able to retire to Texas early.

[arjay]

or even a few burrito machines :-)

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by LoboGunLeather

This morning's newspaper (16 Jan 2014 "Pueblo Chieftain") carries a front page article describing how our state legislature has decided to allow EBT cards to be used at licensed marijuana shops.

The EBT card is the basic benefits transfer method for public assistance programs (food stamps, welfare payments, etc). Cannot lawfully be used for alcohol, tobacco products, non-consumables, etc.

Our legislature decided that some neighborhoods may now have more pot shops than banks, so EBT cardholders need to be able to access ATM machines more readily, thus denying the use of said cards in marijuana outlets somehow works a hardship on recipients.

Election year? Yes, that's right.

I hope you all there can wipe the slate clean! If not? let me be the first to welcome you to Texas

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by arjay

A state rep tried to pass a law yesterday barring the use of those cards at ATMs in pot shops.The voting followed party lines.

Figures...............

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by arjay

I suspect the war on pot is over for now.New Hampshire is going to legalize it next.

Someone needs to be:

...over that.

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by LoboGunLeather

Sorry to pop anyones' bubbles, but fraud and abuse in the welfare system is nothing new. I served on a joint narcotics task force 40 years or so ago and we actually made many, many of our dope buys using food stamps (typically traded on the street for 50% of face value).

Now they have phased out food stamps and are using the EBT (electronic benefits card) for just about every entitlement program. Problem? Not really, I know of half-a-dozen places around town where you can hook up with a benefits recipient, go to the grocery store, pick out anything you like, check out on his EBT card and pay him half-price in cash. One store in particular is well known, always having several accomodating benefits recipients waiting at the entrance to hook up with shoppers.

The local commodities program hands out tons of cheese, rice, honey, and other staples to benefit recipients, much of which is quickly turned into cash by others trying to stretch their grocery budgets a bit in a tough economy.

My recent experience is all local, but I'm willing to bet that there are similar frauds going on all across the country every day.

The exact same thing runs rampant here too. When I lived in the Weird World of Austin, I saw it all the time. I reported it every time I saw it and only got a generic scripted reply. In other words-its VERY low priority on their list of things to correct. Makes my blood boil:


Anyway, back to Austin. Most of the fraud I saw were those newly released from prison who got the EBT, would go to Walmart, use the entire amount to buy meat, then sell it at bus stops.

Here in Corpus, I still see that but is rare. However here, people will walk up to you willing to do as you mentioned above-shop with their card, give them the cash. One of my neighbors mentioned that she used someone elses card to get $200 in food while paying the car holder about $80 bucks. She thought that was OK since it benefited her though she says that she hates fraud too. I made her angry with me when I disagreed with her opinion. I told her fraud is fraud, and she was part of it. Boy, I never saw anyone turn red so quickly.

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by JcMack

Supposedley a half to a third of all U.S. $50's and $100's have trace amounts of cocaine on them. If I ever have one I'll test it.

Actually, the percentage is much higher according to what ive heard. More like 80-90%

[UncaGrunny]

Originally Posted by arjay

or even a few burrito machines :-)

Taco stand!

[kamloops67]

pot should be legal everywhere,i am glad that steps are FINALLY being taken. our leaders will follow your leaders, and harper can take a leap and use himself for a lawn dart.

i dont agree with all the welfare handouts, especially buying them pot! and i also believe those caught defrauding the system should be cut off and charged .

heres a shocking idea- have able bodied "recipients" do community service to earn their stamps, make it a little less attractive to the lazy *****

have you ever heard a welfare recipient refer to their relief check ,as a PAYCHECK? thatll stir your blood.

i would like to add that i wouldnt mind funding welfare with my taxes, id even be proud to do so, if the money really went to those that NEED it. rather than those that are just lazy and worthless.

[cussedemgun]

Here we sit in front of our 'puters trying to figure out how best to further regulate & control the FREE populace

Come on gang, if there is any fix, it would be "take away the card & replace it with a social security card & the real job that is supposed to go with it.

Our gub'm't is closing & exporting industry. The loss of PRODUCTIVE jobs is the problem, not the 'card' that has come to replace 'pay checks' (remember the oldie days when everyone had one?).

After all, we are all just big kids & idle hands make mischief!

[manyguns]

It is funny that the cigarette haters who claim the second hand smoke is killing them have nothing to say about pot smoke. I did attend college and the effects of "bong lung" were obvious. Same thing with florescent mercury vapor light bulbs. The dreaded mercury is now somehow nontoxic. I guess that the IQ points not reduced by video games can be addressed with pot. As if people are not dumb enough in their natural state!

Wasting Away Again In Reeferville

[Fishslayer]

Originally Posted by cussedemgun

Our gub'm't is closing & exporting industry. The loss of PRODUCTIVE jobs is the problem, not the 'card' that has come to replace 'pay checks' (remember the oldie days when everyone had one?).

The last "real" job I had went to Singapore. I was actually a temp for a year & a half there.

The job before that (6 years) went away when the gun salesman of the decade dismantled a lot of the .mil.

Now the jobs in my field are almost exclusively temps. Let's just say I don't fit today's "demographic" at most of those places either. And no, I'm not looking for $80K a year, either. I'm actually applying for electronics assembly work. I even have an app in at Big 5! Told the manager I'd take my pay in guns & ammo.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by steveno

it would appear that these pot shops are going to have a lot of money on hand so unless they have some real security measures the gangs are going to have a field day robbing these shops

The weed shops in Colorado all take some pretty stout security measures. you can't get in with out a card and you have to go through a bird cage to enter most of the stores.

The thing that bugs me is right or worng the people of Colorado voted to legalize Marijuana. The people made their will clearly known and from the first day our state reps have done everything they can to over turn that that will.

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by Fishslayer

The last "real" job I had went to Singapore. I was actually a temp for a year & a half there.

In November of 2008 ETA ( I actually got the year wrong it was nov 2007 by 2008 I was already working as a security guard) I worked for a machine shop that supplied Boeing and some other aerospace companies. I made 12 bucks an hour (not bad money for a guy with my level of experience in Colorado) and never worked less than 60 hours a week. My wife worked as an office manager for Century 21

In November of 2013 My wife had been unemployed for 3 years, I am working as a security guard and my old Job is being Done by Raj Koothrapali's cousin Sanjay for 75 cents an hour.

In keeping with the house rules I won't make any mention of what may or may not have happened have happened in November of 2008 to change things

[the ringo kid]

Originally Posted by manyguns

It is funny that the cigarette haters who claim the second hand smoke is killing them have nothing to say about pot smoke. I did attend college and the effects of "bong lung" were obvious. Same thing with florescent mercury vapor light bulbs. The dreaded mercury is now somehow nontoxic. I guess that the IQ points not reduced by video games can be addressed with pot. As if people are not dumb enough in their natural state!

Wasting Away Again In Reeferville

Too bad its Margaritas we aint talking about here-ala, Freddie Fender--who lives in my area.

[Taurus627]

Wow, and to think people told me I was crazy for leaving Colorado for the friendly confines of South Dakota!!

[kyf]

This is a trick thread......there is no common sense in Colorado......

[kamloops67]

arjay might disagree...

[billwill]

Give those folks a 'cost of living raise', that pot is expensive. Hey dude...I'm just trying to survive in today's world.

[Grayfox]

I think we should legalize all drugs. Pot all the way to herion. Then we should give it away free to anybody who wants it.
In a few months, the problem will correct itself.

[1morethan8]

Originally Posted by Grayfox

I think we should legalize all drugs. Pot all the way to herion. Then we should give it away free to anybody who wants it.
In a few months, the problem will correct itself.

And the only ones that don't overdose will be the cannabis users!

This sorta removes part of your misguided thinking.. aye?

[kamloops67]

its laughable how out of touch many off you are when discussing drugs and "users" they are not all unemployed idiots nor are they all drug abusers, any more than a social drinker is a raging alcoholic .
yall are coming off like a bunch of old ladies from the temperance movement.

[arjay]

we all know how prohibition worked out..and what it created.

[1morethan8]

Tennessee allowed marijuana by prescription for a brief period in the 1980s, but that law was later repealed.
A new bill HB1385 in Nashville may bring it back.. legally?

[manyguns]

At least we have discovered a new dessert. Baked Colorado!

[Smoke]

Originally Posted by 1morethan8

And the only ones that don't overdose will be the cannabis users!

This sorta removes part of your misguided thinking.. aye?

Yeah but they'll all die of cancer

[1morethan8]

Originally Posted by Smoke

Yeah but they'll all die of cancer

Are you sure?
Did you know smoking marijuana is safer than cigarettes?

"Studies have shown changes in the linings of the breathing passages in marijuana smokers. But results of epidemiologic studies of marijuana and cancer risk have been inconsistent, and most recent epidemiologic studies have not found a substantial effect on cancer risk." - American Cancer Society

[Harrison]

I have read several articles suggesting that the Mexican drug cartels will soon be taking over the legal pot business. It could happen.