Over the years, several states have worked toward the legalization of medical marijuana, but now two states have taken it even further. Colorado and Washington have legalized the use of recreational marijuana and, as of Jan. 1, all previous medical marijuana dispensaries could also begin selling recreationally in Colorado as long as they were approved. This change in law has brought about many changes in crime, marijuana sales and the lives of the citizens.

“There seems to be a lot of confusion about what the laws actually are,” Colorado resident Sandy Buxton said. “There are a lot of kinks that need to be worked out.”

Laws have been put in place to regulate the consumption of recreational marijuana, including an age restriction of 21 and limiting the amount that can be purchased to one ounce, which can make up to 56 joints. In addition, there were requirements before a dispensary could open its doors recreationally.

“We had to be an existing medical marijuana dispen- sary licensed in the state of Colorado and the city of Denver,” Timberline Health Clinic owner Yvette Williams said.

Since marijuana will be available to those over 21, there is a question of whether or not its use in those under 21 will increase as a result.

“I think it would be reasonable to believe that there will possibly be more marijuana drug offenses in the schools based on the ‘availability factor’ changing,” Colo. Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Vance Fleet said. “Like alcohol, many juveniles engage in underage drinking after they have got a hold of alcohol they have stolen from their parent’s cabinets. The easier an illegal substance is to obtain, the number of criminal offenses related to the substance may very well increase.”

Marijuana is the cause of many arrests and imprisonments every year, but now that it has been legalized in Colorado those numbers are expected to decrease. Fleet believes the bad in the situation may outweigh the good, though.

“I personally do not see any benefits from legalizing marijuana,” Fleet said. “From a law enforcement perspective, I guess one could say that it is a ‘benefit’ because there will now be fewer criminal offenses related to marijuana use, which in turn will free up the already cluttered court sys- tem. Casualties to legalizing marijuana is a huge controversial topic, and I think defining ‘casualty’ in this matter is very important, and can have a broad meaning. There continues to be concerns regarding the effects of marijuana on the developing brain.”

Now that people can come from all over the world to purchase mari- juana, dispensaries have to be ready for the new customers. One way to meet the increase of customers is to plant as many marijuana plants as possible, which, for Williams, means maintaining more than 3,000 plants for her one store. There are currently 24 dispensaries in the state that sell marijuana recreationally, which will help manage the new customers.