Marijuana in Colorado Legalized for Recreational Use
The recreational use of marijuana in Colorado was made legal on Monday.
While Colorado residents will not be able to make a business out of the marijuana drug industry, on Monday, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper made recreational use of the drug legal. Those over 21 can now officially engage in the personal use of marijuana and grow small amounts for private use, according to Amendment 64.
It will remain illegal to buy, sell and consume the drug in public, according to a CNN report. Support for passing the amendment was obvious, said Hickenlooper.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Voters were loud and clear on Election Day," he said in a statement.
Colorado became the second state to legalize the drug after Washington, although both may have to face tough battles to keep their laws on the books. According to federal laws, marijuana is still classified as an illegal substance.
"Regardless of any changes in state law, including the change that will go into effect on December 10 in Colorado, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law," U.S. Attorney John Walsh said in a statement.
Hickenlooper informed that the state would be making necessary efforts to work with the federal government in order to properly implement the new amendment.
"As we move forward now with implementation of Amendment 64, we will try to maintain as much flexibility as possible to accommodate the federal government's position on the amendment," Hickenlooper said.
The governor initially opposed the amendment and suggested that legalizing marijuana might send out the "wrong message to kids" the drugs are okay.
On Monday, two students from the University of Colorado were arrested for passing out "pot brownies" on campus.
"Two students – Thomas Ricardo Cunningham, 21, and Mary Elizabeth Essa, 19 – baked THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)-laced brownies for the class as part of a 'bring food day.' The professor and classmates were unaware that the brownies contained THC," Boulder police told ABC News.
Two student were taken to the hospital as a result of eating the brownies.
