The state of Colorado made history in 2012, becoming the first state in the country to legalize recreational weed. Any adult, over the age of 21, can possess and consume marijuana in Colorado. There is no distinction about state residents versus tourists, in terms of the possession, purchase or consumption of marijuana.
Here’s what lawmakers had to say after pot became legal in Colorado.
1. On the heels of the passage, Colorado’s governor issued the following statement,
according to CNN, “The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "This is a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don't break out the Cheetos or goldfish too quickly.”
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2. Politicians from all over the country weighed in on the measure, including Florida Rep. John Mica (R).
According to The Washington Post, he made the following statement during a Congressional hearing offering a dire prediction about drugged driving, since Colorado legalized pot, "We are going to have a lot more people stoned on the highway and there will be consequences.”
3. “The black market would cost more,” said U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colorado,
according to Pew Charitable Trusts. “If some state taxed marijuana at 100 percent or 200 percent, there would be a black market, but as long as the tax is reasonable, there's no black market.”
Polis advocates legalization and reasonable taxation as a way of taking down the black market sellers of marijuana.
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4.
According to The New York Times, Hickenlooper offered the following advice to other state governors who are facing marijuana legalization efforts: “If it were up to me, being in the middle of it, and having read all of the research and having some concern, I’d tell people just to exercise caution.”
5. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee clarified his position on legalization in phone interview with The New York Times:
“As a grandfather, I have the same concerns every grandfather has about misuse of any drug, including alcohol and marijuana. All of us want to see our kids make smart decisions and not allow any drug to become injurious in our life. I recognize the really rational decision that people made that criminalization efforts were not a successful policy.”
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