do I really have to say it???
Posted on 02/21/2014 8:27:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
DENVER — Colorado welfare recipients are using ATMs located inside marijuana retail shops to withdraw cash.
The money was given to them by taxpayers to help their families survive, but an exclusive Fox31 Denver investigation found some cash benefits most likely going toward marijuana purchases.
FOX31 Denver asked the Colorado Department of Human Services for its “Quest card” database of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cash transactions for the month of January, 2014.
That is the first month in which Colorado marijuana dispensaries were regulated and open for recreational sales.
The FOX31 Denver investigative team matched the addresses of EBT cash withdrawal locations with the addresses of Colorado’s marijuana dispensaries.
In one month, records show 19 different marijuana retail stores had at least one welfare recipient walk into their business, insert a Quest debit card into an ATM machine inside the store, then withdraw at least $20 cash.
It is unknown how many dispensaries have ATMs inside their stores because the state of Colorado does not regulate the machines or keep track of their locations.
We also found welfare clients used state-issued debit cards inside marijuana retail stores to collect cash at least 56 times for a total of $3,895. Names like Medicine Man, Starbuds, The Green Solution, MMJ Uptown and The Sanctuary stood out.
A dispensary client named “Robbie” stopped to speak with FOX31 Denver outside MMJ to voice his concerns.
“It’s not discretionary money. It’s survival money. It’s for food and basic necessities and not for entertainment.”
We asked the overseers of cash assistance for low income families, the Colorado Department of Human Services, to review our findings.
Benefits director Lovetta Love told FOX31 Denver investigative reporter Chris Halsne, “What I can say is that we are very concerned about our programs — the integrity of our programs.”
Love also said until the legislature makes the rules more clear, what we found is legal under state law.
“Our research has shown that the majority of our recipients use their benefits to pay rent, to pay for household supplies, soap diapers, care for their children — those kinds of things. But we have no ability to determine what they can use their money for.”
FOX31 Denver spoke with several marijuana dispensary operators who were not too surprised by our findings, including “Brett,” who runs Starbuds on Brighton Boulevard.
“”Well if an EBT card is meant to be used at any ATM, I guess it’s to be used for whatever they think is necessary. We are a medical facility as well so if they were using it for medical applications, that’s a gray area right there.”
Another manager, who spoke on the condition we not use his name, told Halsne that Quest or EBT debit cards, used by welfare recipients, look very similar to all other debit cards.
He says he “would have no way of knowing if welfare cash was being used for the purchase.” He added, however, that as a taxpayer, the misuse of public money bothers him. In his mind, welfare money is supposed to be used for necessities, not recreational items.
It remains possible that some Quest card users pulled cash from an ATM inside a marijuana retail store, than pocketed the cash without buying pot. However, customers who spoke with us admit it’s a stretch to think the money was being used for anything else.
We visited many of the dispensaries to find that not only was marijuana the only product on sale at the location, but access to the ATMs were often in secure or guarded locations not easily accessible by the public.
Leo Branstetter, who lives across the street from one of the recreational marijuana dispensaries on our list, could not believe his ears when we told him about how tax money was being used.
“No. No. No. That’s the last thing that should happen. Ever. No. There’s no justifying any of that. No way. That should never happen. If there’s no oversight, it’s going to happen exponentially.”
It is against Colorado and federal law for welfare recipients to withdraw cash from a casino ATM and spend it gambling.
However, Colorado state lawmakers have not yet made it illegal for such a transaction to occur inside marijuana dispensaries.
Democratic lawmakers in Colorado killed a bill several weeks ago that would have prevented such withdrawals in both marijuana dispensaries and strip clubs.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
Well, we’ve already seen EBT used at casinos and for cruise ship tickets, so I’m not surprised weed is being bought now as well.
The same thing happened in the days of the paper food stamps, too. 50 cents on the dollar was the going rate, IIRC.
What a mess.
This is likely to blow up in their (Colorado lawmakers) faces.
End cash assistance. It’s absurd.
The destruction of America continues as it goes to pot on 0’s watch just as he planned...
do I really have to say it???
I had an employer who would give people advances. Certain people very quickly figured it out that that made them unfirable, because the boss would keep them until their debt to him was paid, but they’d keep needing “advances” so they always had a debt.
One woman robbed the deli counter of food every night, and wore the same pair of plastic gloves all day long, but he wouldn’t fire her until she worked off her “advance”.
...generating more revenues to the State. Looks like another roundabout way to get more federal funding into local government.
“Welfare cash pulled from ATMs inside Colorado pot shops”
This is my shocked face....
Seriously, who didn’t see that one coming?
“No welfare cash inside any store that does not sell things humans need for survival.”
No welfare cash period! These cards should only be redeemable for food and shelter for which they are intended
I like your thinking, mousetraps indeed
Thanks, maybe its worth repeating for these friends:
We need a way to herd these pot smoking welfare recipients into places where their votes cost the least amount of damage.
How about an incentive for them to move to places like Baltimore and CA??
Well worth our tax $$$ if it works.
Like mouse traps.
There’s been a lot of talk about conservatives moving (usually to Sainted Texas). This is the first suggestion I’ve heard of the reverse, herding libtards, I like it.
I know what you mean...it’s tough. I think it should be divided between voluntary and involuntary circumstances. A person with a legitimate, documented disability is no danger to the Republic.
I trust them to vote with integrity - they make do with what they have, and they’re not looking to get rich off the system. I think the same principle applies to temporary unemployment; they paid taxes while working.
Welfare and disability fraud is a whole other animal. These people are dangerous, because they want something for nothing. They can be bought with just the promise of being given more than they already have.
It is a massive conflict of interest - it’s easy to vote yourself money when you have no skin in the game, and that’s where we are.
I would not be opposed to tying voting to property or income taxes - if you are exempt from paying taxes on April 15th of an election year, you cannot vote in that election. If you actually received more money back than paid through the earned income tax credit, you cannot vote.
It’s the only way to remove the conflict of interest, in my opinion.
I should also add, to keep things fair, no one in a higher tax bracket can legally maneuver things, using tax lawyers and accountants, to where they effectively wind up paying less than the lowest rate. Crony capitalism must end, too.
Of course, I’m a proponent of capping the federal rate at 7%, but baby steps first.
Breaking news......... welfare checks, obama phones and food stamps used at liquer stores, illegal drug sales, casino gambling, lotto sales, cigarretts and VACATIONS! While you and I get out of bed everymorning at 4 am put in 12 + hours at work 7 days aweek 365 a year we still are known as the rich who refuse to be fair and share our wealth with the poor
You have to remember that pot is medicine, and medicine is a Human Right. So, it’s entirely appropriate that welfare money should be used to buy pot. /s
Can we at least get a thank-you card? The people who have worked honestly all their lives continue to fund the lifestyle of the criminals, slackers, parasites, druggies, loafers and other democrat-voters.
Good. Keep em stoned and playing video games. Pay the females well to accept norplants.
WOw, am I surprised.....NOT!
The right entrepreneur will come along one day and open a store that sells, liquor, tobacco, firearms, weed, explosives, sex toys, candy bars, and coffee.
May that person be blessed.
I encourage then to accept SNAP cards.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.