Daylin Leach Meets Legal Pot, Likes It
State Sen. Daylin Leach visits Colorado, courtesy his Facebook page.
State Sen. Daylin Leach has long been known for his pro-pot position — especially where medical marijuana is concerned. Now he’s a true believer: He and three legislative staffers just went to Colorado, where joints grow on trees weed is legal, and he likes what he saw.
Writing for the York Daily Record, Leach says:
The thing that became most clear during our trip is what a tremendous economic opportunity this is. The larger grow facility we toured employs 65 people in high-paying horticultural jobs. The labs we saw employed doctors, medical technicians, mechanical engineers and extensive support staff. The dispensaries employed security, technicians and even the sales force, known as “bud-tenders,” had to be highly educated about their products, and thus commanded a very good salary.
Further, the tax revenues coming into the state are astronomical. It is estimated that in the first six months of legal cannabis, the State of Colorado has pulled in well over $50 million in direct tax revenues, plus millions more from licensing fees, and indirect businesses such as paraphernalia companies, apparel, tourism, etc. Also, residential as well as warehouse real estate (that would otherwise be dilapidated and abandoned) is being snapped up at premium prices. This is all on top of the millions saved by not having to prosecute tens of thousands of people for marijuana offenses.
This is probably the best “what I did on my summer vacation” report, ever.
He adds: “It was also clear that Colorado has not turned into a state full of ‘stoners.'” He says marijuana prohibition is on its way to the “ash heap of history.”
Left unanswered by the column:
• Who paid for the field trip to Legalized Pot Utopia.
• Whether Leach or his staffers partook. Legally, of course.
Anyway, read the whole thing. Colorado was already a nice state before marijuana legalization. Of course, there was still a lot of marijuana being smoked then, too.
