by Jack
In a somewhat ironic twist of fate, Denver, the avant-garde Capitol of Colorado is being overrun by homeless arriving from all over the US! The City legalized the recreational use of marijuana and with this came an unintended consequence. Legal pot really appeals to those folks who prefer to shun the traditional 40 hours work week for life on the road. Imagine that?
The Mayor said he was taken by complete surprise, as were many other officials, by the sudden influx of homeless following the legalization of pot. He noted that Denver has always been a very generous city, but generosity has it’s limits and the new needy are testing those limits. The mayor said the options are limited, and one is to repeal the new marijuana law.
“Brett Van Sickle, director of Denver’s Salvation Army Crossroads Shelter, tells the AP. Van Sickle goes on to cite “an informal survey of the roughly 500 new out-of-towners who stayed [at the Crossroads Shelter] between July and September,” which apparently found that “as many as 30 percent had relocated for pot.” Seattle News Weekly
“One organization dealing with the increase is Urban Peak, which provides food, shelter and other services to homeless people aged 15 to 24 in Denver and Colorado Springs. “Of the new kids we’re seeing, the majority are saying they’re here because of the weed,” deputy director Kendall Rames.” Denver Post
There are plenty of deniers that will tell you legalizing marijuana has nothing to do with the exploding homeless population, they prefer say its just a reflection of our economy, but then they tend to be involved in some way with the new marijuana industry.
The dope smokers I know are not homeless. Of course that is purely anecdotal. Not to be taken otherwise,
My opinion is this — anyone who sucks the acrid smoke of anything into their lungs is stupid. Beyond stupid. I can say this because I was once a member of the stupid. Not dope, tobacco. God knows I would like to have a fine Cuban cigar right now. I know that it is the path to hell.
Now Pie, lets not be too hasty in our reproof of nicotiana tabacum! Your hand rolled Cuban cigar is a forgivable indulgence.
I’ve never really been a smoker, but on rare occasions, and only to mark some special moment, I have partaken in a little libation and a premium cigar. The last time was about 15 years ago. I had purchased a large, but majorly distressed, home in Hawaii and with a crew of three we worked long hours for almost 30 days. We removed truck loads of overgrown landscaping, e, repaired some serious termite damage (one whole wall was replaced), then there was the fencing, installing all new fixtures, drywall repairs, doing the roof over the carport, new kitchen cabinets, carpeting, obtaining an easement and even pool restoration. Then one day it was all done, the transformation was complete, and right on time. The house was a stunner and that evening I bought an expensive bottle of cognac and a couple of really good Cuban cigars (black market) and we celebrated by just kicking back, shooting the bull, sitting on the rocks overlooking Kailua bay as the sun dropped into the horizon. Man, what a relief it was to be finished! And it came to a perfect close with the perfect cigar. Haven’t had one since. (Hey, maybe with these new import rules we can soon buy a good Cuban cigar legally?)
Jack … 500 is not, in Denver, a big spike.
I know you see these things, and you like these things … they appeal to you, these things, … but why do you never think about these things … before you post them.
Libby, it was not 500 as I recall, it was a sampling of 500. The mayor said it was a 30% increase…which is not small.
I speak from the experience of once being a nicotine addict. I suppose there may be folks who can smoke tobacco (and/or dope) and not become addicts, but I do not believe them. All the dope smokers I have ever known say, “Hey, I am not addicted, I can give it up anytime, I choose to smoke.” But they never give it up and I have known heavy smokers who went nuts without their morning fix.
OK, maybe not stupid, but I am of the opinion that sucking the acrid smoke of any plant into your pink lungs is just not very bright. Think about it.
I suppose there may be cigar smokers claim to not inhale, but they do.
I would loved to have hand rolled stoogie, a good Stilton, and a bottle of 1963 Fonseca right now, but if I had the cigar my body chemistry would send me right back into nicotine addiction.
Jack, You’re right! Thirty percent of 500 is only 150! … and truly small beer.
And the whole thing is bloody nonsense, anyway. No quantity of pot mitigates how cold it gets in winter in Denver.
You and your purveyors of media drivel have no sense … or they think we have no sense. You should set them straight, Jack … you really should.