On November 6th the states of Washington and Colorado voted to accept Initiative 502 and Amendment 64, respectively, legalizing personal use of marijuana on a state level.
What’s Legal?
With the passage of I-502, beginning December 6th in Washington State, it will be legal for adults 21 and over to possess an ounce of marijuana for personal use — or 16 ounces of solid weed-infused product like brownies, or 72 ounces of infused liquid, like oil.
In Colorado, A64 will allow adults 21 and older to purchase up to one ounce of marijuana from specialty marijuana dispensaries and grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes. Possession is limited to up to an ounce for personal use, but selling marijuana without a license, purchasing marijuana from a party who is not licensed as well as public use of marijuana will remain illegal.
Why Everyone’s Confused
States have a year to work out specific rules for the distribution of marijuana; until December 1, 2013. Until rules are official, the production and distribution of non-medical marijuana will remain illegal. The big unknown is how the federal government will respond to the new laws, since marijuana use is still illegal on a national level. Thus far the federal government hasn’t done much to crack down on the 17 states that currently allow people with certain medical conditions to use pot — something banned under federal law. The federal government could sue to block parts of the initiatives eventually and could shut down any distribution operations in the state. Be aware that marijuana — even for medical use — is still illegal on a national level.
So Where Can I Legally Buy Weed?
The Seattle Police Department has posted an online guide to legal marijuana use in the state, answering many frequent questions of I-502 supporters. While contradicting federal and state laws remain an issue, police assure Seattle dwellers that a city ordinance puts pot regulation at the bottom of the priority list for law enforcement. No such guide has been published in Colorado, but marijuana users can refer to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to read up on laws and new on marijuana reform.
2 comments
Tahoedirt
I no longer smoke pot, but I'm always amazed at how misinformed people are about it- They have never smoked it- They know nothing about it.
First of all it doesn't encourage other drug use, aside from the fact that everyone's been lying about it, and might be lying about the effects of other drugs. It isn't harmful and only encourages a very passive state of mind and makes you hungry.
Just tax it so our government has more money to waste
Robert Olschlager
Isn't it time for the government to let people put whatever they want into their bodies? I think it is time to abolish all drug laws. If someone wants to kill themselves slowly with meth, it is not the government's place to either tell them they cannot or treat them.