Grand Junction to Decide on Marijuana Retail Sale and Production Tonight

Okay, so marijuana is legal to use in Colorado, thanks to voters who's voice was heard in last year's election. Now, the city of Grand Junction is deciding on exactly how they want to regulate the drug. Tonight's city council meeting (7pm, 5th and Rood) will feature the second reading and public hearing on an ordinance that would ban the retail sale, production, cultivation, and manufacturing of marijuana. There seems to be pretty strong opinions on both sides of the aisle.Some would say Grand Junction is stuck in time and doesn't really want to grow. Others would suggest Grand Junction will be missing out on revenue generated by the drug. Others might suggest that marijuana is not as bad as alcohol.

I don't know about any of that, but I can't imagine the "benefits" of having free-reign marijuana would in any way outweigh the negative factors.

We already have the problem of drunk drivers - both teens and adults. Now, on top of that we have to worry about stoned drivers.

Do you have kids?Do you want them reefered  up driving stoned, slacking in school, or losing a job because they can't stay sober? Do we want to actually make it easier for our kids to get their hands on this stuff?

Is marijuana really the best source of revenue to fund road construction and parks projects, education, or anything else the city might choose to do with any money generated by the sale and manufacturing of  pot? Are we so desperate for economic development that we would resort to these measures in an effort to get a leg up economically?

Maybe I'm old-fashioned and maybe I'm in the minority on this.Maybe I'm too old to "get it." Maybe I'm living in Mayberry where the biggest crimes seem to be producing moonshine and jaywalkers. If all of that is the case, I'm okay with it. I don't mind being in the minority. Somehow, I don't think I am.

I wonder what Colorado voters were smoking when they voted to legalize marijuana? Oh, wait, I think I know.

What do you think?