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.
“We are allotted a certain number of plants that we are allowed to grow and hopefully we can sustain with that source,” Williams said. “I think that there are many recreational users coming from all over the world. I see it [other stores] as helping each other.”
Many people have high hopes for the effect legalization will have, and they hope that it will provide users with a safer way to have fun.
“I feel that it is a safer choice,” Williams said. “Society pushes users to recreate with alcohol, but this is a safer choice.”
But there are two sides to every story, and some citizens believe the legalization will only be harmful.
“It’ll be detrimental,” Buxton said. “Right now, you have to be 21, but even with alcohol, there’s underage consumption.”
According to NBC News, in the first month alone, the sale of mari- juana brought in over $1 million in tax revenue. The first $40 million that marijuana produces will be used to build schools. In spite of the money going towards schools, some citizens see the legalization of marijuana
as a comment on the people of Colorado and what they think is best for their state.
“I think it’s disappointing that the citizens of Colorado think that the only way we can improve our state is by taxing something that is gener- ally considered, up until recently, an illegal drug,” Colorado citizen Tom O’Keefe said. “Once the government starts getting the revenue from marijuana sales, they’re not going to want to give it up.”
Recreational marijuana is only legal in 19 cities, and there are multiple laws regarding its use in public, but it’s hard to control everyone’s actions in a state so large.
“My husband and I were at a restaurant and people were smoking,” Buxton said. “That’s actually against the law, but the police aren’t going to go out of their way to make an example out of anyone.”
Marijuana is almost always talked about as a “gateway” drug, meaning that its use often leads to the use of more dangerous drugs. But whether or not its easier accessibility will increase or decrease the use of other illegal substances is still up in the air.
“From a law enforcement perspective, I guess one could say that legal- ization of marijuana will result in fewer criminal offenses, which in turn will free up the already cluttered court system,” Fleet said. “However, maybe the amount of other crimes may increase due to it’s legalization? I guess only time will tell.”
