Welcome to our Ask The Cannabist column. Clearly you have questions about marijuana, be it a legal concern, a health curiosity, a Colorado-centric inquiry or something more far-reaching. Check out our expansive, 64-question Colorado marijuana FAQ first, and if you’re still curious, email your question to Ask The Cannabist at askthecannabist@gmail.com.
Hey, Cannabist!
I will retire in 90 days from my position as a public school teacher. For over 40 years I have been living in fear that I will be busted for pot and have my life ruined. I wish to move to Colorado. My ideal neighborhood would have local shops for food and the casual cup of coffee along with cultural events and reasonably close outdoor activities. How great it would be to have a variety of legal pot vendors within walking distance. I would be so grateful if you offered your opinion. –Pending Proud Citizen of Colorado
Hey, Pending Proud!
Congrats on your upcoming retirement! It sounds like, not only do you want to enjoy cannabis in your retirement, you want to move to Colorado to get relief from long-term fear of potential life-altering criminal penalties associated with cannabis.
Marijuana centers are mostly located in and around Denver; most neighborhoods have at least a few nearby centers. No need to limit yourself to Denver, though. Colorado has many beautiful places to live. Find the right spot for the new chapter of your life. Since you are more familiar with your urban or suburban housing preference, lifestyle essentials and amenities and budget, the neighborhood hunt is up to you.
Centers are not located everywhere. The Cannabist map is a good geographical resource to cross-check for marijuana center locations in neighborhoods. Some counties and municipalities — mostly outlying suburban counties like Douglas County, Arapahoe County and cities like Englewood — have either permanently banned marijuana centers, or have temporary moratoriums in place to slow down the implementation of Amendment 64. Some towns will be voting on the issue in November. If you find a potential neighborhood outside metro Denver, check the local government websites to find out the local ordinances related to marijuana centers. Happy house hunting! XO
Hey, Cannabist!
Can non-residents buy seeds? Are seeds available for purchase at rec shops and will my purchase be tracked? –Johnny Appleseed
Hey, Johnny!
Yes, adults 21 and over, residents and non-residents, can buy seeds from marijuana centers in Colorado. No, your purchase won’t be tracked. You will have to show your state-issued ID to get inside the door of a marijuana center. Security cameras will document the transaction, but your customer information is not recorded.
Scott Reach of Rare Dankness, a Colorado cannabis seed company, says seed purchases follow the same guidelines as all cannabis purchases. “As far as regulation, seeds fall into a gray area. We are talking about a product that contains no THC until grown to maturation. But as a seed you can eat them, smoke them, do what you will and the seed itself won’t get you high. They aren’t plants, there is no root structure. And a percentage of seeds will always be non-viable. It’s birdseed at the end of the day.”
According to the Rare Dankness website, the company’s seeds are available in Colorado only through the River Rock and Medicine Man marijuana centers. It is also states: “We do not ship our seeds out to anyone. We do not even ship them within Colorado.” XO
Pot & privacy: Customer info complex issue for rec shops
Hey, Cannabist!
Where is the section called the “Alcoholist” or the “Tobacconist”? Why is my vice left out and not tried to be made mainstream? A drug is a drug. Maybe I’m addicted to Vicodin. I need and demand that the local media not only legitimize me but support me with pages and pages of material on how to throw my addiction in the faces of everyone around me and demand their acceptance. –NIMBY in Castle Rock
Hey, NIMBY!
I’m reading your question with a grain of salt. You’re ranting and don’t really ask a question you want answered.
I get it, not all Coloradans are thrilled about cannabis legalization ground zero happening here. One person’s social legislative criminal justice triumph or fearless and ecstatic marijuana center shopping experience is another person’s reluctant societal nightmare. I’m not persuading you to change your attitude, I am giving you some context though.
Alcohol and tobacco are already mainstream recreational drugs. When 13 years of alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, it was news. After 77 years of prohibition via the Marijuana Tax Act, cannabis has now joined the category of legal, taxed and regulated recreational drugs. We are now legally acknowledging cannabis and defining appropriate context within Colorado society. This is news.
You don’t have to read about cannabis culture, the product reviews or social events, especially if you have no interest in knowing more. Stick with the news coverage and only read the cannabis stories to keep informed on the changes that impact your life.
Lastly, it helps to have a sense of humor. Whether you are a consumer or not, everybody can laugh at pot jokes. Here’s one from late-night TV’s Jimmy Fallon: “There’s a growing trend of older Americans who are using marijuana in their retirement. That makes sense because old people are always talking about their joints.” Cymbal hit! XO
