OT: So, what's it like when they legalized weed...

[RWL2222]

Originally Posted by Eli Bingham

Indeed, it was just invented.

You likely have a sense of what I mean when I say that weed is new, but I can elaborate: I would conjecture to say that the potency of weed available for commercial sale is stronger than it was prelegalization, and the combination of availability and heavy marketing (gummy bears anyone?) that come with the legal change could create some new dynamics, in particular for those in middle- and high school, and college. I get the attractiveness of legal weed to people like me (that is, who like to ride a bike.)

[windsurfer]

Cities really show their greed as they compete to attract newly legalized businesses at absurdly high tax rates. New businesses constantly getting busted for evasion of these absurd taxes. A boom of new greenhouses making previously quiet towns smell like a grateful dead concert.

[C40_guy]

Aside from the initial long lines and the parking issues for an early store in Wareham, MA, there isn't much sign of the stores in New England.

I know several people that use some of these products medicinally (not to get high) and the convenience and ability to avoid more "traditional" medicine is quite positive.

Note, in Massachusetts, it's also quite easy to get a "medical marijuana" card, which opens up access to additional outlets and lower pricing.

Surprisingly easy, actually. Perhaps almost too easy. A phone call and a virtual credit card swipe is all it takes, although I understand that the conversation is reasonably thorough.

All this is second hand, so to speak. I've never been in a pot shop. No real curiosity or interest. But...it helps a number of friends a *lot*.

[pdonk]

In Toronto the number of shops seems to be barely regulated which has lead to them being nearly everywhere and crowding out other retail operations. Some city blocks have 2-3 stores on them.

From a marketing perspective, my wife who is in the alcohol business says that the cannabis business is all about accessibility and slightly about price - since all stores buy from the same source, it is all about proximity to the purchaser with little care from the purchaser about branding etc.

The crazy thing here is only the government could take a business run profitably by people typically on the fringe of society and make it a money losing proposition for the government and many of the businesses.

in terms of my day to day life, no impact. Not a user and don't really care what others ingest as long as it does no harm to me or people not consuming.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by benb

It's less obnoxious than in the past though when they'd get drunk and start a fight. Potheads don't start fights like drunks.

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

Have you ever witnessed a bar fight where the participants were stoned off their asses?

There really is a vast amount of truth in the old joke "Four drunk guys will start a fight; four stoned guys will start a band."

[Likes2ridefar]

Vegas is a good example of how not to legalize weed. At least the strip area. Vendors are everywhere, tables on the sidewalks, etc, and its smoked pretty much everywhere but inside casinos.

I’m not sure I’ll return if it is like our experience last year. Disgusting.

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

Vegas is a good example of how not to legalize weed. At least the strip area. Vendors are everywhere, tables on the sidewalks, etc, and its smoked pretty much everywhere but inside casinos.

I’m not sure I’ll return if it is like our experience last year. Disgusting.

Almost as bad as still allowing smoking of cigarettes inside casinos! Joking. That’s way worse than allowing people to smoke marijuana outside.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

Almost as bad as still allowing smoking of cigarettes inside casinos! Joking. That’s way worse than allowing people to smoke marijuana outside.

The smoking in casinos can be avoided. It is your choice to enter one and some are smoke free. I don’t choose to inhale constant weed smoke when I’m walking down the strip.

[BryanE]

My small conservative northern Michigan city has two dispensaries. I have noticed no change in the odor as it is still illegal to smoke in public. I have been in the store and it seems average age is higher than I would think. Would also add the first tax payments have been paid to each city that has a dispensary by the state. Every dispensary in town earned the city 56,000.00. Nearby Manistee has FIVE dispensaries and now My. Pleasant is removing any rules about number of dispensaries in their city.
My only concern is putting grow facilities to close to residential areas. Time to move on from the Harry A slinger mentality. My bike mechanics love to get tipped with weed. The six dollar a gram Blueberry Muffin seems popular.

[azrider]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

Vegas is a good example of how not to legalize weed. At least the strip area. Vendors are everywhere, tables on the sidewalks, etc, and its smoked pretty much everywhere but inside casinos.

I’m not sure I’ll return if it is like our experience last year. Disgusting.

Dude Amen to that.

We were there just few weeks ago for concert and we thought same thing. Couple that with the card "slappers" and drunks it's just too much. For me at least.

As we were walking over the pedestrian bridge to get to the T-Mobile center for the show a couple of girls were flashing people at one end and at the other end was a guy passed out with puke on his clothes.

Meanwhile families are walking by with little kids

[2000m2]

When this first happened in Seattle, it seemed like every park we went to smelled like weed all the time. Having two dogs, we went to parks frequently, so I found it a little annoying. That was the only change I noticed.

[nooneline]

Originally Posted by RWL2222

You likely have a sense of what I mean when I say that weed is new, but I can elaborate: I would conjecture to say that the potency of weed available for commercial sale is stronger than it was prelegalization, and the combination of availability and heavy marketing (gummy bears anyone?) that come with the legal change could create some new dynamics, in particular for those in middle- and high school, and college. I get the attractiveness of legal weed to people like me (that is, who like to ride a bike.)

The flip side is that there's a fairly new level of standardization and control.

Buy an eighth, roll a j, take some hits, and you don't really know how high you're getting. But buy some edibles and you can calibrate how stoned you want to be, since the dosage is labeled in micrograms. You can choose your THC/CBD ratio, and amount, and meter yourself, or microdose in a way that wasn't particularly common or possible before. So I really think that legalization has opened up a lot of opportunities to be a casual and moderate user who's interested in a slight buzz without being stoned off yr arse.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by 2000m2

When this first happened in Seattle, it seemed like every park we went to smelled like weed all the time. Having two dogs, we went to parks frequently, so I found it a little annoying. That was the only change I noticed.

Same in Portland. Plus I smell it constantly coming out of cars, trucks, and workvans while riding my bike around.. So get ready for that. Somehow people who wouldn't drive drunk, think its fine to toke while driving on the clock or off.

On balance, edibles are way less harmful to society than alcohol - but it's not playing out so cleanly in real life it seems. Because, humans.

[pasadena]

seriously complaining about the conduct on the strip, sin city. ok... that's like complaining about the French Quarter in Nola. The streets reek of everything and anything. Of course these type of tourist concentrations are going to suck.

Legalizing weed has changed nothing.
As a father, you should be more concerned with alcohol and vaping.
I'm far more concerned with drunk drivers and vaping directly marketed to teens. That is the crap to lobby against.

People getting baked... Second hand smoke all of it sucks but cigars, for me, are the worst and cigarettes and vaping are the most common socially rude habit. I would rather someone spit on the ground in front of me than be forced to breathe backwash smoke.

Originally Posted by RWL2222

I'm curious to know.

Here in Virginia it's coming. I am wondering how it changes things. As a father of two, I don't love the whole CBD marketing hooey that is the lead-up to full legalization. I don't love the head shops all around, and hard core dope industry people moving to town and claiming to be local. I don't love the whole argument of compensating black dealers with the license to sell it legally. I have to say I have no love either for the idea of a purely cash-based industry that is not part of the banking system and for which there's no real barrier to entry. How have things changed in your town since weed was legalized?

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by benb

The cannabis billboards have largely crowded out almost everything else in a lot of parts of Massachusetts.

Billboards are annoying in general. We have a few in VA, but really not many (for any items/services). I was amazed recently driving to FL how many billboards there are for sex shops and ambulance chasers.

Basically, ban all billboards, problem solved.