That Food Stamps marijuana purchase that Colorado residents may have been looking forward to is not going to happen. Being the first state in the US which has legalized the use of pot for stores, Colorado still understands the simple facts about the law.
Marijuana is still an illegal drug according to federal law, which takes priority over state law. The act of legalizing it in Colorado has led to some problems as a result.
Money from marijuana sales cannot be stored in a bank, either. It is still considered “drug money,” and the federal government will have nothing to do with it. Colorado residents will need to use a form of payment that isn’t government funded, because Food Stamps for marijuana is not going to work.
A new bill was proposed this week to add marijuana to other retailers throughout Colorado, such as liquor stores, gun shops, and casinos. Selling pot from verified retailers in the state has been legal since January 1, but the purchase thereof such is still under major restrictions. Any state or federal assistance is going to be denied for anyone trying to even withdraw cash in places authorized to sell cannabis by-products.
Good News: GOP has updated ‘welfare queen’ meme. Bad News: RW Accusing People In CO Of Using Food Stamps To Buy Pot http://t.co/xqA5UwEw2s
— RB Blair (@TuxcedoCat) January 13, 2014
The manager of a chain of marijuana stores in Denver, Ryan Cook , stated about the subject:
“MIG [Marijuana Industry Group] is focused on addressing issues of public safety, such as access to banking, and working with state and local governments to educate the public about responsible use of marijuana and ensuring this product stays out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have it.”
Republican Jared Wright of Grand Junction made his position on the Food Stamps marijuana law clear:
“We need this bill, if for nothing else, as a statement. We shouldn’t be enabling anyone to buy a substance that is banned under federal law. It’s not a good use of taxpayer money.”
While it may have been proven that Marijuana has never directly caused any deaths , the US government is still in charge of how their money is used. In spite of lobbyists insisting that the drug is harmless, the proposed bill will ensure that Food Stamps cannot be used to buy marijuana.