Legalization in Colorado

A little over a week ago on January 1st 2014, Colorado became the first state in America to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Marijuana now can be bought just like alcohol to any person above the age of 21 for all purposes. But now that the drug is being retailed it will need a sale tax like all other goods being sold over the counter. Retail pot will have a 25% state tax plus the usual state sales tax of 2.9% making recreational pot one of the most heavily taxed consumer products in Colorado.The tax revenue is estimated to bring 67 million a year with state officials stating that over 25 million of the revenue will be designated to build schools. Now that recreational marijuana is on the market there is no need for medicinal marijuana right? Wrong, medicinal users will not have to face such harsh taxes like the recreational users so therefore medicinal dispensaries will stay open. Now that it is legal Colorado residents are able to by up to an once at a time with out of state residents being able to buy up to a quarter once. You can also grow your own marijuana now too up to 6 plants is allowed in Colorado homes as long as they are properly inclosed. even though that marijuana is now legalized for recreational purposes you are not allowed to consume it in public areas or even in marijuana dispensaries. You are only permitted to smoke it on private properties with owners consent. What Colorado is doing is revolutionary in the fact of marijuana legalization. Many states will look closely at Colorado's efforts here and if they work out well may even model there legalization tactics off of theirs.

Citation:
"Marijuana Legalization: Long Lines on First Day of Colorado Legal Pot Sales." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 02 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.

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What is Marijuana

Marijuana is a plant that contains the chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in its leaves, buds and flowers.Marijuana is the most commonly used drug with about 42 percent of adults saying that they have used it before.Just under 40% of high school students in the U.S. report using marijuana at least once in their life, and 20% report using it regularlyThe most common way to take Marijuana is to smoke it. Users will roll it into a cigarette "joint," put into an emptied cigar casing "blunts" and smoke it in a pipe or a water-pipe "bong." It can also be baked into food and eaten or mixed in tea.People smoke marijuana because it elevates their mood and relaxes them. Depending on the level of THC, users may also experience euphoria, hallucinations and paranoia.During the temperance movement of the 1890s, marijuana was commonly recommended as a substitute for alcohol. The reason for this was that use of marijuana did not lead to domestic violence while alcohol abuse did.The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 made it illegal to possess, use, buy, sell, or cultivate marijuana in the United States. The law classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no acceptable medical use.While marijuana is still a controlled substance under federal law, 13 U.S. states currently have compassionate use laws in place, which allow for regulated medical marijuana use: AK, CA, CO, HI, ME, MI, MT, NV, NM, OR, RI, VT, and WA. An additional 17 states and the District of Columbia have legislated to recognize the value of medical marijuana but do not protect users from federal prosecution.

Citation:
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: Facts for Teens (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-teens).NIH Pub. No. 04-4037. Bethesda, MD. NIDA, NIH, DHHS. Revised March 2011. Retrieved December 2012.