Underage Stings in Colorado Dispensaries

[talisman]

Well look at that.


Police have so far sanctioned no recreational marijuana stores for selling to minors during underage compliance stings across the state, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Authorities in Denver and Pueblo, working with regulators from the state Marijuana Enforcement Division, have conducted 20 undercover stings in which they see whether a store will sell pot to someone under 21. Sixteen of the compliance checks have occurred in Denver, home to most of the state's recreational marijuana stores.

So far, no store has sold to someone under 21 in the checks.

"It is imperative that we keep marijuana out of the hands of kids," Barbara Brohl, the executive director of the Department of Revenue, which includes the Marijuana Enforcement Division, said in a statement. "These results show that strong efforts are being made by the MED and the marijuana business licensees to do just that."

While medical-marijuana stores can sell to registered patients under 21, recreational stores can only sell to those over 21 and must check identification. Stores that are found selling to someone underage could have their license suspended or revoked or face a fine up to $100,000.

"We are pleased with the results, and will continue to monitor the businesses to ensure that the compliance efforts are maintained," MED director Lewis Koski said in a statement.

[YALE]

They won't even buzz you in the front door, if you aren't 21.

[Baron Von Crowder]

cause getting weed is really hard to do in highschool...

[GrayStangGT]

They used to do the same thing when I was a waiter with alcohol. When you've got a 16yr old girl sitting by herself ordering just a bud light it is pretty obvious its a set up. Then an officer would come and give us a certificate thanking us for not selling to minors.

[Rick Modena]

I just got back from Denver, I can tell you that you weed smokers don't want legalization in Texas. The rules are crazy, pretty much the only place you can smoke is on the privacy of your own home. No smoking and driving, no city parks, no state parks, no national parks, no smoking in public, no smoking in hotels/motels and if you sneak smoke you get charged a minimum of $50.00 to un-weed smell it. Just like liquor stores here, no partaking at the establishment or on the premises, they also sell you a special bag to transport it and its a huge white heavy ziplock bag with a child proof zipper. Driving while weed'd out will get you a heavy fine or jail. You get caught with a weapon (registered or not) with weed under any circumstances will get you thrown under the jail.
The establishments are also under extreme rules, I was in Neaderville just west of Boulder on top of of a mountain and stopped at a BBQ hut, I asked the guy about a nice two story building (early 1900's build but restored) and he said it was a dispensary that got shut down for breaking the rules. In state you can buy a 1/2 ounce a day, out of towners only get an 1/4 ounce.

Thought the tax man is making out like a bandit...

[yellowstang]

^^ they just say shit like that to out of state folks. If you're in with the "in crowd", or raised there, it is totally different. When I got off the plane, they handed me free samples since I have ties to Ft Collins.

[Rick Modena]

^^ they just say shit like that to out of state folks. If you're in with the "in crowd", or raised there, it is totally different. When I got off the plane, they handed me free samples since I have ties to Ft Collins.

Free samples of what? I felt like I was being followed the whole time I was there, hehe...

[bcoop]

I just got back from Denver, I can tell you that you weed smokers don't want legalization in Texas. The rules are crazy, pretty much the only place you can smoke is on the privacy of your own home. No smoking and driving, no city parks, no state parks, no national parks, no smoking in public, no smoking in hotels/motels and if you sneak smoke you get charged a minimum of $50.00 to un-weed smell it. Just like liquor stores here, no partaking at the establishment or on the premises, they also sell you a special bag to transport it and its a huge white heavy ziplock bag with a child proof zipper. Driving while weed'd out will get you a heavy fine or jail. You get caught with a weapon (registered or not) with weed under any circumstances will get you thrown under the jail.
The establishments are also under extreme rules, I was in Neaderville just west of Boulder on top of of a mountain and stopped at a BBQ hut, I asked the guy about a nice two story building (early 1900's build but restored) and he said it was a dispensary that got shut down for breaking the rules. In state you can buy a 1/2 ounce a day, out of towners only get an 1/4 ounce.

Thought the tax man is making out like a bandit...

Every instance you mention above, the same applies to alcohol. I don't see a problem at all with any of that. What did you think? They would legalize it and it would be a free for all? I don't know why that would deter anyone to push for legalization. I think that has kind of been the point all along. They want the ability to do it in their own home, and no chance of getting arrested for doing so.

You get charged to remove smoke from hotel rooms as it is, in TX. And it is a lot more than $50. More like $300, last I recall.

[Rick Modena]

Every instance you mention above, the same applies to alcohol. I don't see a problem at all with any of that. What did you think? They would legalize it and it would be a free for all? I don't know why that would deter anyone to push for legalization. I think that has kind of been the point all along. They want the ability to do it in their own home, and no chance of getting arrested for doing so.

You get charged to remove smoke from hotel rooms as it is, in TX. And it is a lot more than $50. More like $300, last I recall.

Aside from getting arrested I don't see the benefit. I am on the side of not fucking with people for getting stoned, the bigger problem is driving while texting or red-light running around here. I wans;t expecting a free for all, but if someone can fire up a cigarette in public I don't see why firing up a doob in those places is a no-no, they should treat it just like alcohol but it is not, at least in my eyes it wasn't...

[roliath]

I just got back from Denver, I can tell you that you weed smokers don't want legalization in Texas. The rules are crazy, pretty much the only place you can smoke is on the privacy of your own home. No smoking and driving, no city parks, no state parks, no national parks, no smoking in public, no smoking in hotels/motels and if you sneak smoke you get charged a minimum of $50.00 to un-weed smell it. Just like liquor stores here, no partaking at the establishment or on the premises, they also sell you a special bag to transport it and its a huge white heavy ziplock bag with a child proof zipper. Driving while weed'd out will get you a heavy fine or jail. You get caught with a weapon (registered or not) with weed under any circumstances will get you thrown under the jail.
The establishments are also under extreme rules, I was in Neaderville just west of Boulder on top of of a mountain and stopped at a BBQ hut, I asked the guy about a nice two story building (early 1900's build but restored) and he said it was a dispensary that got shut down for breaking the rules. In state you can buy a 1/2 ounce a day, out of towners only get an 1/4 ounce.

Thought the tax man is making out like a bandit...

Your missing the point, of course there are hefty rules. But the fact of the matter is, its legal and I can go to a store and buy it and have a ton of choices. And I can avoid contact with shady ass dealers, or if you are lucky and have a regular guy you can avoid his limited selection or the possibility of him going dry.

[jluv]

I just got back from Denver, I can tell you that you weed smokers don't want legalization in Texas. The rules are crazy, pretty much the only place you can smoke is on the privacy of your own home. No smoking and driving, no city parks, no state parks, no national parks, no smoking in public, no smoking in hotels/motels and if you sneak smoke you get charged a minimum of $50.00 to un-weed smell it. Just like liquor stores here, no partaking at the establishment or on the premises, they also sell you a special bag to transport it and its a huge white heavy ziplock bag with a child proof zipper. Driving while weed'd out will get you a heavy fine or jail. You get caught with a weapon (registered or not) with weed under any circumstances will get you thrown under the jail.
The establishments are also under extreme rules, I was in Neaderville just west of Boulder on top of of a mountain and stopped at a BBQ hut, I asked the guy about a nice two story building (early 1900's build but restored) and he said it was a dispensary that got shut down for breaking the rules. In state you can buy a 1/2 ounce a day, out of towners only get an 1/4 ounce.

Thought the tax man is making out like a bandit...

How is any of that worse than it being completely illegal?

First of all, a lot of that shit (smoking in public, driving while stoned, etc) happens regardless. It happened before any laws changed and will continue to happen. It's not like things are more strict now. At least smoking in your home or having a little with you are not crimes there like they used to be.

I have no problem with the rules and regulations. As I said above, it won't eliminate these things from happening, but you can't just legalize the stuff and let it be a complete free for all. I dig that a lot of people are indeed taking it seriously, and not taking this new privilege for granted. It's kick ass that these retail shops are being so responsible and basically proving the naysayers wrong. It just goes to show that if the state will be cool enough to legalize it, and give these stores a chance to make a buck off of it legally, they're going to do it right and not fuck up the opportunity.

And back to the smoking in parks thing - they make this rule to keep people acting civil, but things really are different now. Think about it like this: If I was camping in the wilderness of some national park in CO ten years ago, with seemingly no one around, and somehow a cop sees me from a distance rolling a joint and smoking it next to the campfire, he might come bust me for possession of weed. That shit was a completely illegal drug, and just having it would have been a big deal. Now, if I am burning a joint with seemingly no one around, a cop likely isn't going to go out of his way to come bust me, and if he does, I certainly wouldn't get popped for possession. Maybe I get a ticket for smoking in the wrong place, and maybe kicked out of the park, but even having that on my record isn't going to be a big deal or frowned upon by others, considering the act of holding or smoking weed itself is no longer illegal.

Did you know that you can't consume alcohol at all in state parks in Texas? People still do it. And everyone knows it. Personally, I don't mind that law, because it causes people to be civil and quiet and lets you enjoy your shit like an adult. Joe Pool Lake is a perfect example. I camp out there several times a year. On the West side of the lake you have Loyd Park, which is not a state park and allows alcohol. Good luck getting a nice, quiet, peaceful spot out there. It's a fucking party. Rednecks hooting and hollering and drinking cases of Keystone with AC/DC blaring from their crappy boomboxes. It's no big deal to find empty cans and other litter laying around any of the campsites. That shit was cool when I was a teenager looking ton get drunk outside, but it's not my scene anymore. So I drive on over to the East side of the lake to Cedar Hill State Park. There's a big sign out front telling you that it's illegal to drink there and you'll get a $500 fine if you get caught. Just about every campsite there is enjoying some adult beverages, but they keep it discrete, and they don't get rowdy, and I can sit and sip my drink of choice while still enjoying the peace and quiet of nature and I don't have a bunch of goons ruining my weekend. It's a heck of a lot cleaner, and there's more wildlife. I'm drinking every time I'm there, and they have never fucked with me.

I guess what I'm saying is that some rules are written to make things more enjoyable and respectable for the masses, but if you are mature and respectful, you can still do your thing and have a good time by being discrete and not drawing a bunch of attention to yourself. Basically, just don't be a clown about it.

[Rick Modena]

I also saw an influx of white kids wearing dreadlocks, lots of kids that are homeless. I guess every hipster in America thought they could just move up there and live off of weed. I also heard that jobs are plentiful since most can't pass a drug screening and people are losing jobs.

I don't give a fuck either way but it just seemed to me like a big pain in the ass and somehow the MAN is still fucking people over...

[Rick Modena]

How is any of that worse than it being completely illegal?

First of all, a lot of that shit (smoking in public, driving while stoned, etc) happens regardless. It happened before any laws changed and will continue to happen. It's not like things are more strict now. At least smoking in your home or having a little with you are not crimes there like they used to be.

I have no problem with the rules and regulations. As I said above, it won't eliminate these things from happening, but you can't just legalize the stuff and let it be a complete free for all. I dig that a lot of people are indeed taking it seriously, and not taking this new privilege for granted. It's kick ass that these retail shops are being so responsible and basically proving the naysayers wrong. It just goes to show that if the state will be cool enough to legalize it, and give these stores a chance to make a buck off of it legally, they're going to do it right and not fuck up the opportunity.

And back to the smoking in parks thing - they make this rule to keep people acting civil, but things really are different now. Think about it like this: If I was camping in the wilderness of some national park in CO ten years ago, with seemingly no one around, and somehow a cop sees me from a distance rolling a joint and smoking it next to the campfire, he might come bust me for possession of weed. That shit was a completely illegal drug, and just having it would have been a big deal. Now, if I am burning a joint with seemingly no one around, a cop likely isn't going to go out of his way to come bust me, and if he does, I certainly wouldn't get popped for possession. Maybe I get a ticket for smoking in the wrong place, and maybe kicked out of the park, but even having that on my record isn't going to be a big deal or frowned upon by others, considering the act of holding or smoking weed itself is no longer illegal.

Did you know that you can't consume alcohol at all in state parks in Texas? People still do it. And everyone knows it. Personally, I don't mind that law, because it causes people to be civil and quiet and lets you enjoy your shit like an adult. Joe Pool Lake is a perfect example. I camp out there several times a year. On the West side of the lake you have Loyd Park, which is not a state park and allows alcohol. Good luck getting a nice, quiet, peaceful spot out there. It's a fucking party. Rednecks hooting and hollering and drinking cases of Keystone with AC/DC blaring from their crappy boomboxes. It's no big deal to find empty cans and other litter laying around any of the campsites. That shit was cool when I was a teenager looking ton get drunk outside, but it's not my scene anymore. So I drive on over to the East side of the lake to Cedar Hill State Park. There's a big sign out front telling you that it's illegal to drink there and you'll get a $500 fine if you get caught. Just about every campsite there is enjoying some adult beverages, but they keep it discrete, and they don't get rowdy, and I can sit and sip my drink of choice while still enjoying the peace and quiet of nature and I don't have a bunch of goons ruining my weekend. It's a heck of a lot cleaner, and there's more wildlife. I'm drinking every time I'm there, and they have never fucked with me.

I guess what I'm saying is that some rules are written to make things more enjoyable and respectable for the masses, but if you are mature and respectful, you can still do your thing and have a good time by being discrete and not drawing a bunch of attention to yourself. Basically, just don't be a clown about it.

I agree with everything you said and I do all of that. It just seemed to me that people from other states are getting on board thinking that legalizing it is some kind of godsend and its not. The man is very much involved and if given the chance to fuck with someone for breaking the rules he will tax that ass. As you can see by the MED, they are enforcing the rules and not just to the dispensaries.

[jluv]

I also saw an influx of white kids wearing dreadlocks, lots of kids that are homeless. I guess every hipster in America thought they could just move up there and live off of weed. I also heard that jobs are plentiful since most can't pass a drug screening and people are losing jobs.

I don't give a fuck either way but it just seemed to me like a big pain in the ass and somehow the MAN is still fucking people over...

It's still better than the alternative in so many ways. And some of the problems (like the influx of hippies to that area) will naturally be alleviated when legalization extends to the rest of the country. Frankly, CO has always had a pretty big population of hippies and pot smokers anyway. At least they aren't criminals just for being that, any longer.

Texas will probably be one of the last states to legalize, but it's coming. We're all going to look back in 10-20 years and realize how crazy it was back when pot was illegal. It's pretty neat living through the changes, imo.

[bcoop]

I also saw an influx of white kids wearing dreadlocks, lots of kids that are homeless. I guess every hipster in America thought they could just move up there and live off of weed. I also heard that jobs are plentiful since most can't pass a drug screening and people are losing jobs.

I don't give a fuck either way but it just seemed to me like a big pain in the ass and somehow the MAN is still fucking people over...

Colorado has been liberal for a long, long time. In the cities anyways, like Denver, Boulder, etc. So dirty hipsters is nothing new.