While we were visiting
Amsterdam with the two Dommes in training, it was hard to avoid a stop at one
of those ubiquitous “coffee shops”, where the locals dispense marijuana and
hashish to (mostly) tourists, like us, who follow the Rick Steves “must do in Amsterdam" bucket list.
Fortunately, we fell
upon a neighborhood shop that was pretty laid back, and where the proprietress
was welcoming, spoke good English
(as everyone there seems to do) and was happy to ease our way into the
experience. She even suggested a low budget 3 Euro joint as a starter. It was
probably more embarrassing for our kids to watch their boring parents “toke up”
than it was for us to “try out” this experience for the “first time” in front of them. In any event, it was a
pleasant night cap after a fun dinner at a cute little Nether-French
restaurant.
By coincidence, we then
got this dispatch from our over paid and underworked Western Correspondent on
the experience in his hometown after a year of legal pot:
Mick, Here is my long awaited report on the anniversary of legal
pot here in the Mile High State
It has truly been a very very cool thing here in Colorado
Law enforcement hates it
No more easy arrests of poor people...
Black people
Young persons
Homeless
And our Governor has shown no particular support for the law
But by and large nothing has changed for the worse
No particular increase DUI Pot arrest's
No increase in traffic accidents
No "crazy potheads killing the peeps"
Actually I have seen no difference at all
Except
It is so cool to be able to walk in and buy some recreational
pot
The REC dispensaries are very well regulated
You must show an ID
Because you must be 21 to buy and out of state peeps can buy
less the Colorado residents
Tourism is up
As are tax revenues
Every tourist I meet wants to know all about it
And where can we buy some!
We have many conventions here in our city
Many of the visiting conventioneers want to go the
the pots shops first
Presumably to be able to listen to the boring speeches at
the convention.....
Many of the shops are very high end with "fancy
stores" marble and such.....
Many peeps are bring their families her for medical treatment
Crime is down
The edibles are great
Cost is coming down
They even teach cooking schools using pot in Aspen...... with a
famous chef
Truth is
It makes a mockery of the
WAR ON DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winston Churchill once said
Americans always get it right
After they have exhausted every other possible alternative
.......
So true....
So my take is
Although it will take years
Our national policy of throwing people in jail for wanting to get
high
Will end in my lifetime
And our national shame of having the highest incarnation rate is
the world will end
We have tried every other alternative ...............
Shame on us
The still sad
But hopeful
WC
