Colorado and the Legalization of Marijuana

With the turn of the new year, Colorado has legalized the use of recreational marijuana. If you don’t live in Colorado, or if you do live in Colorado and don’t know the rules surrounding pot use, you might be curious as to what is allowed and what isn’t. Jared Polis, one of the major proponents behind the legalization of the drug, says that “"This is a big step in allowing small businesses to grow and succeed while following state and federal laws," Polis said. "I am hopeful that other states may see marijuana regulation as an opportunity to reduce crime, combat drug abuse, and enhance economic opportunity.”

David Bienenstock, a Colorado resident, talks about his experience with buying legal pot (reported by Vice.com). “On Wednesday, I bought some legal weed at Colorado's newly opened recreational pot stores. What an incredible feeling of freedom and liberation! Finally, after nearly a century of oppression and millions of arrests, the War on Marijuana is over—at least in the Rocky Mountain State, where I'm now safe from harm for choosing buds over booze.” Although marijuana use is legal, there are some restrictions on use, like where you can smoke it. As of now, you can use it at home, and some hotels offer rooms that you can smoke in. That’s about it.

Here are some of the stipulations included with buying and smoking legal marijuana:

- Possessing more than an ounce of cannabis
- Displaying or smoking cannabis in public view (except on a front porch)
- Selling cannabis without a license
- Sharing cannabis with someone under 21
- Transporting cannabis across state lines
- Driving while impaired by cannabis
- Bringing cannabis to Denver International Airport

The Opposing View

Not everyone is excited about these new laws, including the federal government. The growing, selling, and use of marijuana is still illegal under federal law. The feds have and will continue to bust those who partake in these activities. Also, parents are concerned that their children will take the view that "if it's legal it's safe," which draws comparisons to alcohol use.

The CALM organization (Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana) states that "Federal laws against the use, cultivation, and transportation of marijuana should be maintained and enforced and should not be relaxed or softened. Cultivation, processing, transportation and use are illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act.

"Marijuana continues to be identified by Congress and the DEA as a schedule I drug. Schedule I drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and a lack of accepted safety for use. After decades of study the FDA continues to reaffirm that there is no medical benefit provided by the use of smoked marijuana and that, in fact, considerable harm can be caused by such use."