My 2 Cents: Welfare Cards Used At Colorado's Pot Shops

People are using their welfare cards and withdrawing benefits from the ATM’s at Colorado's pot shops.

Wednesday, July 23rd 2014, 10:48 pm

By: News 9


What could possibly go wrong?

When Colorado legalized pot, you knew there'd be some hiccups along the way, but I have to admit, I didn't figure on this one.

People are using their welfare cards and withdrawing benefits from the ATM’s at Colorado's pot shops.

Don't know for sure if they're buying marijuana with that money, but you'd have to be high to think otherwise.

That means our tax money, money that's supposed to help struggling people get back on their feet, is being used to get stoned instead.

According to National Review, their analysis shows in the first six months, since pot was legalized in Colorado, welfare beneficiaries used their EBT cards at least 259 times to access public assistance money at pot shops.

The total dollar figure... $23,608.00 withdrawn under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

It's chump change out of Colorado's total welfare allotment, but it's still maddening.

There are a lot of truly needy families who could use that money.

In response, two weeks ago the Colorado State Board of Human Services passed a rule banning use of the welfare cards at marijuana shops. Now, they can deactivate the cards if there are signs of misuse, and the Colorado legislature will hopefully crack down on the problem. 

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