What’s more, local law enforcement officers fear teen drug use will continue to rise in the city, and that legally permissible weed will make it increasingly hard to explain the dangers and harm associated with illicit teen drug use. In addition, patrons would theoretically have to bring their own cannabis due to local laws that prohibit the sale of both food and cannabis. But while the measure takes effect immediately, it’s likely to be a while before you can enjoy that public puff-puff-pass.
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“People are already taking advantage of it”, Smith notes.
Adults carrying or possessing more than an ounce of marijuana will continue to face misdemeanor charges, a $500 fine, and they risk being in jail for up to six months.
“The industry has been so used to a standard way of operating… and so we want people to know that they now have an alternative that’s built for this industry, that’s built on the backbone of compliant banking, and that’s going to be stable”. “Many of them are trying cannabis and have nowhere to go”. Still, there is reason to expect a somewhat smooth transition. Medical marijuana – if we even keep that silly distinction – should be grown, tested and sold at approved and regulated scientific centers. “For the most part, Prop. 64 overlays quite nicely on top of those regulations”. California, Massachusetts and Nevada all approved recreational use after voting last Tuesday. “One worry police have, is the driving aspect”.
A new Congress and Administration are in Washington, and it’s unlikely they’ll be friendly to pot industry interests.
Marijuana is legalized at the state level but there are still rules in place that protect CCC’s policies because of the classification of marijuana at the federal level.
He also announced plans to create a national marijuana museum in Pueblo.
The irony is that marijuana use is illegal under age 21, a fact the legalizers will be quick to point out when challenged. I don’t want my kids anywhere near them. When marijuana was legalized, it was predictable that there would be several hurdles such as this one that would have to be overcome, and we will likely see other states going through these same problems, now with the legalization of recreational marijuana in California, Nevada, Massachusetts, and ME during this same election cycle.
Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, and has since become number one in the country for underage marijuana use.
“It’s definitely not just a Left Coast issue anymore”, Smith concludes. Other cities are grappling with the same questions, making it hard to determine just how much city and state tax revenue will be generated by the measure.
What comes next is a move for federal changes to the law, especially with regards to banking issues.
“We really need to be reasonable”.
“There have been some pretty intensive prevention programs” that probably helped hold the numbers down, said Kathryn DeYoung, a disease tracker with Denver’s public health department.
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As it turned out Election Day, voters in Arizona were the only ones to reject expanding laws about who can smoke, inhale, eat or drink the drug without worrying about state or local police.
