As another marijuana club opened its doors at 4:20 pm last week in Colorado, debate continues on just how to “regulate weed like alcohol” in the state.
This past November, Colorado and Washington became the first states in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana. In Colorado, Amendment 64 makes it legal for adults 21 and over to light up in private as well as possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Additionally, individual residents may legally grow up to six pot plants for personal use. But the decriminalization of marijuana has raised some tough questions and concerns regarding regulation.
One of the toughest questions facing regulators includes whether to limit legal marijuana rights to residents only. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and some members of the panel studying future regulation of marijuana have currently recommended denying rights to nonresidents. Their recommendation is based on Colorado’s current medical marijuana system, which requires a person be 21 years of age and a legal resident of the state for two years. Others on the task force aren’t sure this is a good idea, however, citing potential loss of tax dollars and enforcement as two reasons to not limit sales of recreational pot to residents only.
Arguments can be made in both directions. Tourism is huge in Colorado, with millions of visitors spending millions of dollars every year in the state. Would allowing these visitors to purchase and/or use marijuana be a detriment or a plus?
Some people are concerned about Colorado’s image. They don’t want the state to be known as a haven for marijuana, and are concerned that allowing nonresidents to purchase and use marijuana might change the types of visitors Colorado attracts, opening a gateway for other types of drug users and increasing crime. Others are concerned that it could potentially harm the pristine beauty of the state if people started growing marijuana in wilderness areas.
Those in favor of allowing nonresidents the same rights as residents cite the economic advantages both at city and state levels. They also point out the difficulties involved in enforcing such a law.
There are other tough issues to tackle in deciding how to regulate marijuana in the state of Colorado as well. Should the state impose limits on the potency and growing standards for pot, and what about commercialization and advertising? How do regulators restrict minors from purchasing and using pot? These are all tough questions facing legislators, and with a deadline of the end of February quickly approaching, there is little time to tackle these issues.
Meanwhile, Club 64, which is like a bar or nightclub without an actual location, opened last week, charging “members” $29.99 to light up with other smokers at the “bring your own bud club.” Although “Club 64 wasn’t the first legal club for recreational marijuana users, according to The Denver Post,” it does allow communal indoor smoking. Attorney Rob Corry, an expert in Colorado cannabis law, says the “indoor smoking is legal because it is not in public view and the clubs sell no marijuana, food, or drinks.” He also added that “They do give away sodas as well as Cheetos and Goldfish crackers,” jokingly referring to comments made by Governor Hickenlooper that “federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”
Corry says the club is “just a place for adults to exercise their constitutional rights together. We’re not selling pot here.”
It will be interesting to see how regulation of marijuana in Colorado proceeds. Will the new bill go up in smoke, or will Colorado be a pioneer in the legalization of recreational marijuana? Will the federal government get involved?
Considering more people in Colorado voted for marijuana legalization than for President Obama’s re-election, it could get interesting should the administration decide to challenge Amendment 64.
As attorney Rob Corry pointed out in an article in the Huffington Post, “Amendment 64 is one of the most important measures in a generation. Amendment 64 received 50,000 more votes than President Obama, so we expect Obama will respect us.”
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