Marijuana Rationing Begins in Colorado, Big Demand in Spite of High Prices

[Redfairen]

Source: Main Street

High prices have not diminished demand for recreational marijuana in Colorado, with some shops already sold out of their initial inventory. Grass rationing has begun, as retailers begin imposing additional restrictions on sales, well below the caps required by state law.

The Denver Post reports as many as 100,000 people purchased pot in the first week of legal sales in Colorado, totaling an estimated $5 million in revenues.

"None of us could really prepare for what was going to hit us," Nick Brown, owner of High Country Healing in Silverthorne told the Post. "I think we all thought we would see huge demand and lines. But I don't think any of us expected what was happened over the last six days."

Prices for an eighth of an ounce have reportedly topped $45, nearly double the $25 medicinal customers have been paying.



Read more: http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/marijuana-rationing-begins-colorado-big-demand-spite-high-prices

[TeamPooka]

1. amazing how all these folks started smoking this week.

because there was never any demand before...

[In_The_Wind]

3. LOL

[RainDog]

20. Amazing, isn't it?

and how stupid to have put money into the prison/industrial complex instead of a "new" industry that could spur economic growth - not just with recreational mj, but also with hemp. Gearing up for legality was GREAT for Denver businesses - grow lights, fertilizer, etc.

The govt. is too conservative for the citizens of this nation.

Too bad this conservatism is the kind that misses opportunities to change things for the better, rather than the "I don't give a shit, let's try it" economic ones. lol.

Robert Melamede, who does research on cannabinoids and endocannabinoids, says there are "blips" and "flips"

Blips are backward-looking people.
Flips are forward-looking people.

He says the blips need to sit down and be quiet (well, he doesn't say it in those words) because they are holding back the U.S. at a time when we need flips to help us deal with the problems of modern civilization and its impact on climate.

Hemp could replace petrol for almost every product it's used for, and make car bodies, etc. etc. etc.

But that wouldn't make big daddy oil happy, so the blips just keep on doing the same old backward sorts of legislation year after year.

[WhiteTara]

29. Thanks for your post

you should expound and make an OP

[RainDog]

33. LOL

oh, I talk about this plenty... lol.

you can check my journal for an expanded view of this. or here's a link to one such. also check out the drug policy forum here for articles and links.

Americans are more liberal than either Democrats or Republicans realize - http://www.democraticunderground.com/101674947

The first hemp crop planted in 60 year - http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022852466

[Bennyboy]

2. This story is so much crap it is not funny.

There is no fucking shortage of weed in Colorado. There is a shortage of weed that people are willing to sell to the profiteers at a cut rate price. Would you sell your product to someone that is competing with you? NO.

[RainDog]

19. only licensed growers can sell

as others who are there have said - this is the tourist industry spurring the shortage for the legal side of it. those who were already hooked up would still have no problem finding a kind buddy.

edit - I mean to say... only those whose plants have gone through a tracking process can sell in the shops, from what I read about the law.

[Bennyboy]

21. Let me tell ya, there is plenty of weed in CO

The number of people that smoke pot stays the same. There never has been a shortage so there isn't one now. Tourism might count for some of that, but the simple truth is pot is still being sold like it always has been sold. No grower is going to decide to go legit and make less money and be taxed. that ain't gonna work so they are going to stay underground. No guy that has been selling a couple of pounds a month for all of his life, is going to start aiding a competing business.

[RainDog]

23. But the numbers of growers has been limited, initially

I read that the cannabis that's in the stores is supplied by the same people who have been certified to grow medical marijuana. I'll try to find a link later, if need be.

All plants get a bar coded tag that follows that plant through each stage of development until it's sold to the store.

The people implementing the law had to guesstimate how much marijuana would meet demand, and they based this on surveys of marijuana use, for one thing.

They tried to estimate to meet market demand, and what is happening indicates that the market is much larger than anticipated - which, again, would indicate that more people are consuming marijuana or would consume it if it were legal who are adults.

I think they underestimated HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS to many people, and, so, how many people would show up as marijuana tourists because they wanted to be there for an event that so many of us see as the equivalent of the end of alcohol prohibition. (those caps are for any politicians or their minions, ahemlol, who read this.)

People from all over the nation came to Colorado just for this moment.

I would've gone there, too, if I could afford it. I also wish I could take my autistic son (who is of legal age) to see if it benefited him for some issues - but he wouldn't smoke anything, and he doesn't use any product, other than Reeses pb cups, to alter his consciousness, so he might not be willing to try it anyway.

So, yeah, there are people like me who would go there if we could, or could go there and did.

In Sept, I think it is, more people will be able to enter the legal industry. At this point, it was limited to those already in the medical end of marijuana production, tho.

So, as I said, the illegal guy may be out of a job after this year, but for now, I doubt anyone who was already a resident is going without because the stores are running low.

[Bennyboy]

30. I ahve been telling people this for a long time....

No proposition is going to exist that covers it all. the simple truth is at least ONE MILLION ONE POUND PLANTS need to be grown every year to supply just Colorados' use. (it is more like 7 here in CA) and tehy have beeng rowing it for long time and are still gonna grow it.

This is so complex an issue I cam convinced that it cannot be solved via the ballot box. I am not convinced it can be solved through the legislative process either and even more so not convinced that i want to see it legalized. So many things. In a thread from yesterday i spell out some of the things that are not, or will not be covered and hwo that will cost trillions in court fees suing and going tot he Supreme Court for so many things...

[RainDog]

32. I want it legalized

I don't want to break the law, but when I have a migraine, I'd like to be able to use mj to stop it b/c it's better than the pharma stuff - no "hang over" from pain or the med. Like I said, my son is autistic, but high functioning. He is very "by the book." Very law abiding, a "good kid" because he is very literal-minded about things. But he has some health issues related to IBS sorts of things and I wonder if mmj could help him. Doesn't need to be the stuff with max THC - in fact, a higher CBD strain would help him more probably. Where we live, tho, that won't be happening for either of us because of the law that exists.

I remember reading when you were trying to get some estimates on things. That was interesting. As long as mj is illegal elsewhere, I think you can expect CO to have quite a few bud tourists - and I wouldn't be surprised if some try to flout the state line laws... and some will get caught... with a big to-do about it.

I started following this issue b/c someone asked me to for a work project. The project, however, didn't pan out, so I just kept up with it here as a hobby, really - I'm interested in the subject b/c, like I said, it's like the fall of prohibition. I'm not in the industry as you have been. I'm just a bozo on this bus.

But here's the thing, too. Possession of an ounce is no longer a crime. No one knows where that ounce came from. There's no provision in the law to show your receipt of purchase. So the underground market will function as long as there's a demand.

That's also why CO is watching the market to try to find the place that keeps the price, tax included, low enough to discourage the black market but high enough to discourage kids, etc. and to generate revenue for the state.

Let's be real. The U.S. is a punitive nation. We have a puritanical, nationalist, religious streak that has been inbred by all the gawd talking politicians and the voters who love them. Remember when, during a hearing about saying the pledge, the doofuses in the House had to all run out on the Senate steps and recite the pledge with "under god" in there... and the democrats were right along with the republicans b/c this kind of idiotic bullshit is essential to maintaining this streak of stupidity in America.

Legal marijuana, used responsibly, shows claims about it made by pols for years are lies. The cross-section of buyers shows it's not limited to stoner stereotypes. Tax revenue and ancillary revenue from growing, and tourism, will make CO the envy of a lot of states - even as they crow against the new law because they want that cudgel to put black kids in jail and threaten protestors, etc. etc. etc. Same as it ever was. I don't want that same old same old anymore.

Its legitimate medical uses, with legality, can also be explored through research.

I realize you're coming from a different part of the culture than I am. But I'm saying that legal is better for a greater number of people than illegal.

[Bennyboy]

35. While I agree to a point

I don't think "legalize it maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan" is the answer. I think that it has to be nailed down completely so every little teeny weeny thing that comes up does not go to court.

I know this ia different subject but the point is still valid here:

The city of Baltimore passed a noise ordinance 35 years ago. That is still being fought in court. 35 years. 35 years of the taxpayer paying high priced attorneys and judges to fight for a wrong law. that is is exactly what is going to happen unless every little thing is spelled out in every aspect of the industry.

[RainDog]

36. nightmares

there are lots of them.

I don't know a thing about that B'more issue.

I meant to ask before, tho - do you have a link to the post where you were talking about these things? I'd like to read it.

[Bennyboy]

38. Here ya go..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4297973

It will actually cost CA way more than it takes in....

The lawsuits will be so expensive.

Especially if it is legalized through a proposition. There is no chance whatsoever that the voters can handle something this complex. No chance that a proposition that covers every aspect of the cannabis industry could even be conceived, much less brought before the voters. And that means lawsuits, letting the courts decide all of the stuff that is going to come up, outside of the propositions language.

And that means lawyers on both sides. Judges, billable hours, for a about ten million things.

Look at the CO initiative. That law is so vague that almost every aspect of the industry is going to go to court, many many many times before it is all cleared up.

This is probably the most complex thing we care facing right now. There are so many aspects an sub aspects going on with this and now the only way to rectify them is to go to court.

Just ten things that are never covered in any proposition; (and will need to be settled in court which will cost the taxpayers for decades)

exactly how is it to be sold retail? in store fronts? At Football games like Liquor? At the 7-11 or in a specialty shop?
Edibles, where can you sell them? Can I sell them at legally Red Rocks and why not?
extracts, how are they made, safety,
product safety we require that of everything right?
product labeling, dosages, % content
large grower versus the backyard grower that still makes 20K selling weed. Or the guy who grows five plants, but they piss off his neighbor.
Zoning
driving (actual impairment, tested and verified)
Public smoking, Apartments> Condos? restaurants/ bars?
Public vaporizing?
What about tasting rooms?
Pot tourism? (around here it is HUGE)
Taxes is intensely complicated. Do you put trimmers on the payroll? How are you going to get a grower, one who has been a criminal all of their live, to pay taxes? Or do books? And how do you even account for it all? Some us the trim some don't. Some give it away and it gets used by someone else for another product.

I know my share of growers and I know NONE of them will pay taxes voluntarily. The only way they will pay taxes is how it happened after Prohibition, revenuers going through the woods finding grows and slapping tax tags on them.

And with that you will have to step up enforcement of public lands grows, if you are going to be taxed, then you need to protect the market by stopping tax free weed. And that means a bigger budget for the weed crusaders, only this time they will be able to focus only on Public lands.

[jmowreader]

39. How Washington will deal with storefronts

https://lcb.app.box.com/adopted-rules

They are breaking the pot trade into three segments: producers, processors and retailers. If you want to become a vertically-integrated weed operation that grows pot plants, converts the plants into consumable products, and sells them, you need three licenses.

I found this interesting: the term they use for a portion of marijuana is a "serving" rather than a "dose."

[RainDog]

41. Thanks!

just saw this.

Excuse my ignorance, but didn't CO address many of these issues? Of course, the elephant in the room is the unequal application of the law regarding the legal profits from sales in CO vs. the Feds' current laws for banks.

CO could invent its own currency that is purchased and used for anything in CO. Local businesses would benefit by taking the script, not just pot businesses. This has been tried in some places, but I don't know if there was enough of an "underground" economy in those places to sustain it. Or the state could create a state-level, people-owned banking system that doesn't answer to the federales.

See, this is the joke about prohibition. It is making law-abiding citizens into criminals for no good reason.

Anyway, great things to think about.

Do you also have the post where you broke down the prices? Would you mind copy and pasting that here, too?

[TeamPooka]

25. the real news is that nobody is getting arrested. nt

[EC]

4. They really are selling it too cheap.

even with the tax it comes out a lot less then what it is on the street. I understand they want to keep it cheaper than black market prices so people will buy legally, but I think they are underestimating the street costs. Street here for good quality an eighth is $200. and there is plenty demand at that price. People would prefer to buy legal. Not that I want them to up the price. I'm wondering if the cost of living there has just made it a destination for better quality of life without going broke. It's beginning to look better to me anyway.

[tridim]

6. $200 for an 1/8th?

Yikes! You're getting majorly ripped off.

[AAO]

7. Are you talking 1/8 of an ounce or a pound?

[Baclava]

10. ha ha - 1/8th of an oz

this ain't no ditchweed we're talking about here

[AAO]

17. I can understand $50, but not $200

[Baclava]

40. well ya, that $200 claim sounds bogus

it doesn't say you have to limit plant size either

[AAO]

42. Six of those and I'd have good weed for about 20 years.

[Bennyboy]

28. That is more than the street price...

here in CA. 50 dollar 1/8? Bit high no matter the strain.

[AAO]

34. That's the highest I've paid around here

$400 an ounce for RGS. But $1600 an ounce? At that price I would expect continuous spontaneous orgasms from 1 hit.
(RGS - really good shit)

[Psephos]

44. If you want continuous spontaneous orgasms, you need to buy some PT-141. n/t

[EC]

24. eighth ounce... n/t

[bamacrat]

11. $200 an 1/8th is outrageous.

$60 - $70 in the less enlightened states is average, but $200 is someone ripping you off.

[jtuck004]

12. I do miss the $10 oz days in Oklahoma...

but today in WA state $40 an eighth on the street seems pretty typical.

$200 - holy crap. Is it so good you can just rub the bag and get high? 'Cause that's the only way it would be economical enough to pay that, it seems.

[Comrade Grumpy]

15. Where are you? I'll be right there with a pound, then take the rest of the year off.

[TeamPooka]

26. where is here for you? because i'm bringing weed there if it goes for that much. :)

[Earth_First]

45. You're probably getting jacked at that price...

Does s/he at least buy you a drink first?

[tridim]

5. First Velveeta, and then this???

Federally legalizing Cannabis will solve this alleged shortage in about 3 months.

[AAO]

8. Once we can all grow it hydroponically in our own homes

The dealers and the legal sellers will go out of business.

[Baclava]

13. Colorado residents are allowed to grow 6 plants for personal use

Cannabis plant evolution in action

[sofa king]

37. Oh, come on now!

Who in the world WOULD NOT pay $200 an eighth for some of those hentai-shaded weeds up there? That one looks like you could light it up and poop out a Smurf.

[JimDandy]

14. Homeowners are only about 55 percent of the housing market

Renters will not be able to grow their own, because landlords won't allow growing weed in their units. The weed retailers will not go out of business.

[certainot]

9. so the cops now have to turn around and watch for smugglers going IN to colorado!

[Ezlivin]

16. Too bad all transactions have to be in cash

Because of Federal banking restrictions, all marijuana sales and operations are done cash only.

[AAO]

43. I wouldn't want it on my credit card statement. I always pay cash for weed.

I mean it still is a federal felony to possess weed (if you're black anyway).

[MindMover]

18. I got some really great tomatoes at .03 an ounce ...

this is nutsolla .... anybody can grow weed ... I know because I have grown it ....

throw some seedies in the ol pot and water every once in a while ... don't even barely need tending ... and poof, in 12 weeks ya got bud ... cmon people ... 200 an 8th ounce .....

[TeamPooka]

27. growing is a fairly simple process that's easy to screw up but curing is an art form. nt

[FrodosPet]

31. So YOU are the one growing schwag and seeds and lumber?

Nowadays, in Michigan you end up either ignored or yelled at for selling crappy reggos!

If it ain't loud and proud, then get that ish outta here!

[DreamSmoker]

22. Regulation restricted

Live and learn I guess..
State regulations made this happen..
Its going to happen to any State at this point that legalizes Pot..
This was by design to appease the DEA and DOJ....
Most Folks do not know that a retired head of the DEA helped set up this entire regulating system Colorado uses today..