General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsColorado: Legislature finalizes historic marijuana legalization
Last edited Thu May 9, 2013, 07:01 PM - Edit history (1)
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23198163/colorado-senate-gives-final-approval-historic-marijuana-billsIf Gov. John Hickenlooper signs the four major bills on marijuana that the legislature passed this year and he has indicated he will this is what the future will hold:
Marijuana will be sold in specially licensed stores that can also sell pot-related items such as pipes. Only Colorado residents can own or invest in the stores, and only current medical-marijuana dispensary owners can apply to open recreational pot shops for the first nine months. The first stores will open around Jan. 1.
Colorado residents will be able to buy up to an ounce of marijuana the maximum it is legal for non-medical-marijuana patients to possess at the stores. Out-of-staters can buy only a quarter-ounce at a time. Pot must be sold in child-resistant packages with labels that specify potency. Edible marijuana products will have serving-size limits.
Voters will have the option of imposing heavy taxes on pot sales. A ballot measure set for November will ask voters to approve a 15 percent excise tax and an initial 10 percent sales tax on marijuana. The excise tax will fund school construction. The sales tax will pay for regulation of marijuana stores.
(more at link)
Congrats to Colorado voters and to the Democratic Party of Colorado that brought this legislation to pass! The Colorado Democratic Party (as well as many other Democratic Party platforms in states across the country), moved to include marijuana legalization as part of their party platforms.
However, Democrats, Independents and libertarian-minded Republicans voted to approve this historic legislation for the state. This is, truly, a bipartisan issue that reflects the will of the American people regarding outmoded and racist laws that should be erased from the books in the U.S.
A last minute effort to recriminalize marijuana failed in the state legislature before this historic vote.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11701105
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)But at least they are getting the ball rolling. Does beer come in child proof containers? Does the store limit how many beers you can buy? Yet MJ is harmless compared to booze. And kids can go into liquor stores to buy candy. Still treating the cure for cancer like it's a pariah, while booze is looked at as a goal to kids.
Response to Politicalboi (Reply #1)
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Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)I'd prefer the tomato model myself, but this is a start.
RainDog
(28,784 posts)It's hard for a govt. to admit to lying to people for 70 years about a substance that is safer than aspirin.
...not to mention all the lies that people believe because of the lying liars who told them. So these restrictions keep the "reefer madness" meme in play while giving people time to adjust to reality.
People are also able to grow 6 plants at a time - three that are flowering and three that are seedlings, or not flowering. Depending upon someone's gardening technique, those three plants can generate far more than an ounce per plant every few months.
Unless someone is creating a public nuisance, I doubt law enforcement will care too much about people with more than one ounce in their homes. The restrictions will allow them to go after people who are trying to be in biz without a license, etc. for now.
But someone could have a low THC/high CBD no buzz for health reasons, and two other hybrids or even pure indica and sativa mother plants at all times. I expect CO will have some interesting experiments going on creating personal blends, etc.
Beyond this, if someone has epilepsy or autism or other issues, I think they're covered under medical marijuana provisions.
Companies are still allowed to test for metabolites, not actual impairment, and refuse employment or terminate b/c of this at this time, as well.
Better tests are needed for actual impairment (the best test, of course, is a field sobriety one) because urine tests only test for previous use, not current impairment.
Yavin4
(35,438 posts)If so, where can I stay in Denver?
RainDog
(28,784 posts)I would love to be able to have a b&b&b4b to accomodate your vacation. (Bed & Breakfast & Books for Bud-Tourists)
What someone does in their hotel room, afaik, would be protected. On-site entertainments, live music, great books to browse, evening films, interesting food.
But the place itself would not sell any bud.