One of the first things that cannabis industry opponents say when trying to spread their message is that legalizing cannabis sales will increase children’s access to cannabis. That will then be accompanied by a surge in cannabis use by underage people these opponents claim. If recent underage sting operations in Colorado are any indication, those claims are unfounded.
Law enforcement and state regulators recently conducted underage sting operations at cannabis stores in Denver and Pueblo. Underage individuals were sent into twenty different stores to try to purchase legal cannabis, similar to the way underage sting operations are conducted on alcohol retailers. Every single store refused to sell cannabis to the underage individuals. That’s a 100% compliance rate. Per 9News:
Despite the limited scope of the sting operations in the fast-expanding marijuana industry, the announcement provides a welcome image boost to pot shops.
“We are pleased with the results and will continue to monitor the businesses to ensure that the compliance efforts are maintained,” Lewis Koski, Director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, said.
I wonder how many times underage stings have been conducted on alcohol establishments and it resulted in a 100% compliance rate. These sting operations are proof that regulating cannabis works to help keep cannabis out of the hands of kids. The black market does not have age requirements, and does not check ID. It’s going to be very hard for prohibitionists to try to spin and spin this one and continue to claim that the sky is falling in Colorado.
