Last updated : December 23, 2024
Despite all of the media attention that the passage of Colorado’s Amendment 64 has received, there seems to be confusion about what marijuana legalization means. Here are 10 useful things to know.
You can still get fired for using marijuana
If you think you can use pot without getting in trouble at work, think again. As the Denver Post points out, employers who prohibit the use of drugs are absolutely permitted to make personnel decisions based on the use of cannabis—even if it happens after hours.
How did pot get legalized anyway?
Not so long ago, legalizing recreational marijuana was unthinkable. However, 55% of Colorado voters approved the amendment.
Why would rational people vote for marijuana legalization?
The best answer is money. Millions of dollars are spent every year policing and prosecuting cases involving marijuana. Now fewer dollars will be spent prosecuting marijuana use and will be used elsewhere. Plus, the government plans to rake in tax dollars to the tune of 25%. That’s plenty of incentive for politicians to get behind the movement.
Can people still get medical marijuana?
Amendment 64 in no way affects the separate regulations that are already in place for medical marijuana users. People using the drug under doctor’s orders don’t have to pay the hefty taxes.
How much marijuana can be purchased?
Anyone with a Colorado ID can purchase as much as an ounce of marijuana at a time. Up to this amount can also be shared with a friend as long as no money changes hands. People from out of state are permitted to buy up to a quarter ounce at a time.
You have to be 21
Anyone under 21 is out of luck if they’re looking to score some legal marijuana. However, some punishments for being caught with it while under age have been lightened.
The safest place to light up is at home
Don’t expect marijuana smoking establishments to start springing up anytime soon around Colorado. Similarly, you’re not allowed to use it in bars and restaurants since the Clean Indoor Air Act is still very much in effect. Even places that sell marijuana don’t allow you to smoke there. Use is pretty much restricted to private property. If you’re thinking about lighting up in someone else’s house, be sure to ask their permission first.
You can also grow your own
Anyone who doesn’t mind the potential for their home insurance rates to skyrocket can grow their own marijuana at home. Just make sure that the patch is kept under lock and key and doesn’t consist of more than half a dozen plants.
Are DUI rates going to climb?
It’s a possibility, one that the police are gearing up to handle. Any driver whose blood test shows the presence of THC in an amount greater than 5 nanograms may receive a citation for driving under the influence. At this point, it’s impossible to say which parts of Colorado’s DUI laws may need to change to accommodate for the legalization of marijuana. Time will shed a lot of light on what might need to be different.
What do the Feds have to say?
That’s a difficult question to answer, as federal law still considers marijuana illegal. The national government appears to be trying not to step on state laws, but this is another situation where time will tell what adjustments need to be made.
