Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: The Colorado Experiment

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  • Danielle, in reply to Blake Monkley,

    Urine testing unfortunately is happening in retail or cubicle jobs

    This will be a surprise to precisely no one, but fucking hell I hate capitalism sometimes. This is a thing in New Zealand now? Pissing in a cup so managerial wowsers can make sure they're seen to be doing something? We don’t even have health insurance tied to our jobs here like they do in the States, so it doesn’t make sense on any level except an authoritarian/demeaning one. BLAH.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • ange wither, in reply to Danielle,

    this song seems appropriate here

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Danielle,

    This will be a surprise to precisely no one, but fucking hell I hate capitalism sometimes. This is a thing in New Zealand now? Pissing in a cup so managerial wowsers can make sure they’re seen to be doing something?

    I'm sure it will improve your mood no end to learn that it's been driven-relentlessly through fearmongering by a commercialised agency that you you own as a taxpaying citizen.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    what i find amazing about Colorado is that nobody who grows or sells... can open a bank account, because it's against federal law. So they all have these safes and run on a cash economy

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’m sure it will improve your mood no end to learn that it’s been driven-relentlessly through fearmongering by a commercialised agency that you you own as a taxpaying citizen.

    Oh, TERRIFIC. Thanks so much for that, Russell. ;)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie, in reply to Sue,

    what i find amazing about Colorado is that nobody who grows or sells... can open a bank account

    Not so, Sue - I did ask the biggest of the growers about this. Many banks are working on a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy at the moment, but it's still fraught, so every six months or so they change banks. But she did say they try and pay all their suppliers in cash wherever possible...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Damian Christie,

    Problems that didn't already exist under prohibition. But thanks for reducing all that to a snide quip.

    Your welcome. Maybe you could have said more of your itinerary in the main story than this -
    " I of all people would get to go to Colorado for what must be the biggest event on the worldwide cannabis calendar.
    Then there is the pundits who just want more 'wholesome shops'. It screams middle class.
    Or worse, patronising superiority such as this -" just to get or hold on to some bullshit retail or cubicle job. Oh really !

    There are certainly some lost balls in high weeds here

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    Then there is the pundits who just want more ‘wholesome shops’. It screams middle class.

    I'm fighting the urge to respond in kind here.

    If by "more wholesome", you mean "at least the level of duty of care expected of alcohol outlets", then yeah, I think that. Being legally forbidden to serve obviously intoxicated people, for example, although my own expectations would be higher.

    The hole-in-the-wall nature of some of the "legal highs" stores in New Zealand (especially the Naenae one) has been a revelation to me. I genuinely didn't anticipate that kind of retail environment being allowed under the new law. I think that coming out of a medical marijuana system (whatever you think of the medical claims for cannabis) has been a big lucky break for Colorado.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    Your welcome. Maybe you could have said more of your itinerary in the main story than this -

    O c'mon, Damian can write in what ever fashion he likes. Why you be so demanding?
    His version of what is probably the biggest in society now is accurate. And he is middle class if that's how you want to box him and just because you may work in a retail or cubicle job does not make it a bullshit one. I did retail for 20 years ,had a ball. But fuck, there are some bullshit ones. Don't take that comment seriously about you.
    I actually really enjoyed Damian's account on the fact that I knew peeps there and knew what it was like there before, and he portrayed the turn around really well I thought. He said he went on account of a job he cant talk about at the mo. Watch this space I imagine.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Sue,

    what i find amazing about Colorado is that nobody who grows or sells… can open a bank account, because it’s against federal law. So they all have these safes and run on a cash economy

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Perhaps related, perhaps not, but I noted two stories today:
    one about a man so intoxicated he fell off a bar stool in a pub and hit his head and died.
    and
    that a Nelson Highs shop was burgled the night Dunne revealed his volte-face:.

    I haven't quite worked out what it all means yet - it's complicated...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I genuinely didn’t anticipate that kind of retail environment being allowed under the new law.

    I know! I thought it’d be more Moloko Plus Vellocet down the Korova Milk Bar.... regular as Clockwork!

    But it reminds me of the ‘surprise’ after Casinos were legalised – the story beforehand was that it wouldn’t affect the locals that much, and would mostly be used by high end tourists – which turned out to be as accurate a prediction as deregulating the electricity market would make it cheaper!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    I think you misunderstand - the majority of my jobs have been in retail or cubicles. I know exactly how low-status and pointless they can be, which is why I categorise them as "bullshit". I'm not insulting the people who hold them: I *am* those people, and I'm kinda awesome. ;)

    (Also, I'd sadly pass a piss-in-a-cup test with flying colours at the moment, but that's hardly the point, is it?)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    Your [sic] welcome. Maybe you could have said more of your itinerary in the main story than this -

    Okay Sherlock. Perhaps you missed my oh-so-subtle clues, like...

    “No trouble” seems to largely sum up Colorado’s cannabis experiment – a process being watched from within the US and around the world. I spoke to a State Trooper, and to the Department of Transportation.

    Or perhaps the fact I spoke about travelling with a crew of non-pot-smokers as part of a project I'm engaged with - I don't expect you to know much about me, but perhaps you know that my *job* is a journalist?

    With reading comprehension levels like yours, it's probably best you're not a smoker. If you don't like the conversation around these parts, perhaps you might feel more at home at Stuff Nation.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Damian Christie,

    . I spoke to a State Trooper, and to the Department of Transportation No rise in crime.

    So thats the law enforcement angle covered ...right

    Wrong, the Colorado State Patrol only covers protection of State assets and main highway traffic enforcement. The CDOT builds and operates the highways
    Local enforcement of drugs is not their responsibility, unless its smoking weed in a car !

    So this is how you get the bias in your finished work, talk to the wrong people !

    Lets hope there is long discussions with the local sheriff or police chief who have to deal with the effects of marijuana use

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Danielle,

    I think you misunderstand – the majority of my jobs have been in retail or cubicles. I know exactly how low-status and pointless they can be, which is why I categorise them as “bullshit”. I’m not insulting the people who hold them: I *am* those people, and I’m kinda awesome. ;)

    The interesting thing is which US industry really doesn't do drug-testing: tech.

    Apart from the fact that it would be absurd for companies like Apple and Microsoft to test, given what their founders have said about their own drug use, companies that have introduced testing (HP, iirc) have withdrawn it because they lost talent as a direct consequence.

    This story on the relationship between California's med-pot sector and tech-company workers kind of says it all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    So this is how you get the bias in your finished work, talk to the wrong people !

    Hey Steve, back off a bit. Whatever your views, you have no basis for accusing Damian of "bias" in his work.

    Also, this:

    But a new report contends that fourteen years later, even after Colorado legalized the sale of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use on Jan. 1 of this year, violent and property crime rates in the city are actually falling.

    According to data from the Denver Police Department, violent crime (including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Property crime (including burglary, larceny, auto theft, theft from motor vehicle and arson) dropped by 11.1%.

    A study looking at the legalization of medical marijuana nationwide, published late last month in the journal PLOS ONE, found that the trend holds: Not only does medical marijuana legalization not correlate with an uptick in crime, researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas argue it may actually reduce it.

    It's early days, but for the time being claims that legalising cannabis would lead to surging crime in Colorado are not not being borne out by evidence.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    So thats the law enforcement angle covered …right

    I've got no interest in (and I'm contractually prohibited from) going into further details of who I did and didn't speak to Steve, and I'm well aware of the jurisdiction of CDOT and the State Patrol, as well as everyone else I interviewed, thanks. I was just pointing out that I was doing a hell of a lot more than just 'soaking up the vibes' or whatever your original dismissive statement was.

    Perhaps rather than scoff, you could add something constructive to the discussion with some firm evidence about the negative impacts of legalisation in Colorado thus far?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Damian Christie,

    Heres something you can consider that may be more relevant than the people who design and operate the roads in Colorado or others concerns about shopfront design.

    http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/05/marijuana_brain_studies_comparing_pot_with_alcohol_and_cigarettes_on_health.1.html

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    So that article, in sum, says: smoking it is bad for your lungs, there are no conclusive studies on regularly ingesting it, and casual use doesn't harm you much? Um... I'm not exactly sure this is a silver bullet, Steve.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Steve Curtis,

    Hey Steve... you missed the one very important reference which sums up your argument succinctly.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Danielle,

    Indeed. Considering the main thing people typically mention is damage to your brain, since the comeback around the carcinogenous effects is always that a better delivery method would help a lot. Eating or vaporizing, for instance.

    I don't find "brain structure changes" to be very compelling evidence of harm. I'm more interested in cognitive function, although of course brain structure is a fascinating topic. But I'm less concerned about a brain being structured differently if it still continues to work just fine.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    The Gilman study was rubbish.
    Well, at least Ryan M. Smith, Research Assistant Professor
    The Ohio State University
    , thought so. I believe its called peer review.

    And, From The Same Article

    If you are considering smoking pot—or quitting—here is what you need to know. Smoking marijuana once is very unlikely to harm you. It takes at least 15 grams of cannabis to kill a person, and probably much more than that. A healthy person would have to smoke dozens of joints in a single session to risk death from overdose. People who do die from the acute effects of marijuana die in accidents: A recent study suggested that more than 10 percent of drivers killed in car accidents test positive for cannabis.*

    As for the lethal dose...
    The LD50 for Cannabis is apparently a little more that 15 grams.
    Some say that the ammount is closer to 1/3 of your body weight Well maybe if you were to drop it on me from a height of 10 feet or more.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Nice to see Obama is looking to release inmates

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to ,

    That’s a good observation Sue. And that’s the sort of oddness that makes the United States colorful.

    Yep. Who said that all the weird stuff only happens in Florida or New Jersey? ;)

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

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