Jack-In-The-Box Goes to Pot

YOU HAD TO KNOW IT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME. That is, someone was going to eventually capitalize, or aim to capitalize, on the growing legalization of pot. Currently three states allow recreational marijuana use; Colorado, Washington, and California.

I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE MORE TO FOLLOW.

Enter Jack-In-The-Box who will now enter the busting out of the seams pot industry, albeit on the back-end. Starting in mid-January the fast food chain will try out it's Jack's Munchie Meals at certain locations in the Long Beach, California market.

My suspicion is that most other fast food companies are already getting a boost from hungry pot heads looking for something to fulfill their munchie cravings—although none of them to date have actually tried to directly reach out with a menu catering to them.

So, what's in the munchie meal? Supposedly a couple of tacos, some chicken strips, five mini churros, onion rings, fries, and a drink.

That actually sounds like a nice little snack for anyone. But to go one step further with the whole thing, Jack-In-The-Box will also price it's munchie meal at just $4.20, capitalizing on what is apparently a code term, 420, that pot heads use for marijuana consumption.

As for whether or not this will boost sales for the fast food giant is up for debate. Even with growing acceptance of pot consumption by the general public, one wonders what customers may opt out of eating at Jack-In-The-Box simply fearing that they might be surrounded by a bunch of high customers—and who knows what antics that might entail.

Then again, if you ever frequent a Denny's at 3 o'clock in the morning, it can be a rather entertaining meal in and of itself...

Provided you aren't the source of entertainment.

You may be all right though in the end. One wonders if there may not be a few police officers eating there, or hanging out there to see who might be getting a munchie meal. The consumption of pot may well be legal in the state, even if it is still illegal at the federal level, but one thing that is definitely illegal is driving under the influence of something.

If you get that munchie meal to go, you might want to consider having a driver along who hasn't toked.

Look Out, The Bunnies Are Stoned!

When it comes to the issue of the legalization of marijuana I tend to be one of those conservatives who actually comes down on the side of the legalization proponents. Why? For me it is quite simple.

All of the laws to curb the use of marijuana has simply created a black market, and pot is in as much demand as it ever was before.

Just like prohibition did not stop the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol, drug laws will not stop the sale, distribution, or use of marijuana. If people want to use marijuana, nothing is going to stop them from doing it.

Still, there are a ton of people out there who will go to any length to make a case against the legalization of marijuana, and just a few of those arguments are going to make one very telling suggestion.

They were toking before they made their argument!

Enter Matt Fairbanks, a DEA agent in Utah's "marijuana eradication team" who sat before a state Senate panel and actually made the suggestion that...

Are you ready for it?

If edible medical marijuana is legalized in the state of Utah, rabbits could become addicted to pot, lose their natural instincts, and sit around all day getting high.

Being a stock market guy, this is fantastic news actually. Imagine the shares of any stock of carrot chip makers going through the roof since there will now be a massive influx of high bunnies looking to cure a case of the munchies!

Start buying now.

Somehow I don't see the crux of the argument. And why just the bunnies? Surely there will be high grasshoppers, crickets, and maybe even some high locusts somewhere munching on the leaves of cannabis plants and getting high. Why single out the bunnies?

There is that thought that comes to mind sometimes that some people simply begin to "clutch at straws." This is what I think of this particular argument. High bunnies? Really? I mean, really?

Is that all you've got?

Forget destruction of families, deaths on the road due to high drivers, machinery injuries from industrial workers coming into work high, or any other argument that might just have an iota of legitimacy to it.

Besides the fact that we are talking about medical marijuana, not recreational marijuana.

I said I was on the side of the legalization proponents. That does not mean that I discount the real dangers of more open sale of marijuana anymore than alcohol has its problems. But I can assure you that if I wanted to make an argument against any legalization of marijuana, it's not going to be by going before a government body and saying that bunnies will get high.