Can’t speak for entire state but in the populated parts of the state where I live there is lots of change underway since the state legalized. I don’t grow or use but I’m not sure if legalization has really been as good as many hoped when they voted for it. Here are some things I’ve seen happening where I live——

There’s tons of tax dollars going into state coffers but what does our commie Governor do with it? She probably sends it to metro Detroit welfare programs. I definitely believe the taxes are generated but I’m sure it’s not that simple once it’s collected I thought alot of taxing hit at the point where product entered supply chain. Perhaps at retail level too but I am not sure; there’s a dispensary in about every town including the conservative Republican areas and they aren’t hurting for customers. I do kniw that there are “banks” niw specializing in holding the weed revenues.

The big grow and processing operations do put a lot of money into local economy. The weed industry is high tech stuff with equipment and lab facilities that put best universities to shame. The operations here were primarily funded, licensed, staffed and generally coordinated by outfits from California and Colorado thst already had played the bureaucratic game to get on the board. Large outlays in fences, buildings, indoor lighting/plumbing etc. plus they all hire huge staff to tend the crop and even more to process it. The initial start up made lots of money for those supplying the operations.

Another local change is way more people know how to grow quality weed now. The state allows individuals to grow for personal consumption. And I haven’t seen a helicopter fly in years looking for illegal grows There’s weed in tons of back yards in open view now. That outdoor weed was worth $200+ bucks an ounce before legalization. Lots of locals made a sizable income on illegal market. That market is essentially dead. There’s so much weed here that there’s zero miney to be made illegal growing and you are already seeing some of the licensed grows pushed to the point of no profitability. Nobody with any understanding of market intends on getting into it niw. Id guess you’ll start seeing consolidation of operations in future

One other thing i see now is way more people smoking in public. Especially in vehicles. If you pull up to a stop light in city and don’t see or smell someone next you smoking that’s rare

And who counts the cash?

"Until recently, the IRS assessed a 10% penalty to legal marijuana businesses that paid their taxes in cash Hill says. In 2014, one of them sued. The following year, the IRS revised its policy and said it would no longer apply the 10% penalty to businesses that had tried in good faith to open bank accounts. However, Hill says the IRS would still prefer to be paid by check, credit card, or electronic deposit, “rather than with bags of cash smelling of weed.”"

There is some dirty money.

Of course they're out there, now, there's a whole bunch more smoking that crap that wouldn't have had the 'nad's to try it while it was illegal. You can get a contact high sitting at a long red light! And what about folks that don't want or because of medical reasons can't have that crap interfering with there other med's and/or medical condition. Have you ever seen anyone passing around a syringe full of insulin? That whole dispensary scene is a big joke.

This is Vancouver BC. I imagine this problem may take care of it's self.

Give it time and they will be in there for some other crime.

Not totally true Hobbie. People work so they can buy their dope, so they can worker harder to buy more dope. As far as 2nd and 3rd causes, Well accidents just happen !

If they are personal use drug users and getting caught, they are going to jail for something down the road. We ain’t talking about the sharpest tacks in the box.

Repeat after me. Its not the dope! Its not the dope! Its not the dope! There ya go, you are getting the hang of it already.

so how do you stop it?????????????? serious question. so far no one has said.

Same way you stop murder, stealing, raping and other offenses.

If you are talking how do you stop States from making pot legal. That's easy. Have the Federal government threaten to withhold highway funds. Now which is more lucrative. Pot taxes or highway funds?

This is how the drinking age got to be 21 in all States.

Long prison terms and possible death penalty for anyone caught with a joint?

That still doesn’t stop the others from happening for a few people does it?

You are not going to stop it completely, however, would there be more murdering, stealing and raping if it were made legal?

If we are going to go freedom and the honor system let’s do it right.

Murdering, stealing, and raping violate the rights of others. If I smoke a joint, eat a mushroom, or take a pill in my own home it doesn't violate you in any way.

Agreed but everybody isn’t going to do it in their home or stay in their home after they do it.

No different than alcohol. Which is why we need stricter/harsher enforcement and penalties when the addicts DO commit crimes that affect other people.

A lot of older people on here that bought the after-school specials like reefer madness.

I don't think recreational drugs are great for people but anyone that wants pot to be illegal is a sad excuse and a hypocrite if they also don't want alcohol made illegal. I HAVE SEEN more harm from drunks than I have ever seen from a stoned person looking for a snack.

But alcohol is OK becuse you like a beer, glass of wine, or shot now and then.

These ole'boys around here have been smoking grass for a looong time, and I can't remember any rapes, murders, or thefts.

But you go strolling up into one of their weed patches, and the murder thing may very well come into play....Copperhead road country.

Okay. Working out great for those cities that have made it legal.

Carry on.