Marijuana for the Masses
by Adam Jung
On Tuesday November 6th, 2012, Colorado passed Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, making Colorado the first state to end marijuana prohibition in the United States. The amendment made it legal for residents of the state to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants at home. However, the debate over the legal status of cannabis is not over yet, as the finer points regarding the regulation of production and sale still remain undecided, not to mention the fact that it is still considered illegal under federal law.
In Washington D.C., legislation to establish rules and regulations for growing and selling marijuana could take several years to enact. . In Colorado, consumers may have an easier time because of the already established medical marijuana industry. What is certain is that marijuana will remain an age-restricted product with many of the same legal consequences as alcohol, including penalties for public use and driving while under the influence.
As marijuana usage moves towards acceptance under the law on par with that of alcohol, contentious issues have begun to arise. Among these is the issue of marijuana use in the workplace. Many Colorado business groups have appealed to the government for the enforcement of federal pot laws because of concerns regarding how to deal with workers who consume cannabis. Many companies have drug-free policies that they feel obligated to enforce. This would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire in an already controversial debate between the federal government’s firm anti-marijuana stance and the recently recognized laws of the state governments, possibly creating a legal battle that many fear could drag on for years.
Despite the state of apparent legal limbo that many residents of Colorado and Washington may find themselves in, it is important to remember that the passage of these two new laws is without precedent anywhere else in the world. No other country has exercised liberlaism to this extent. It is a common misconception that cannabis is already legal in the Netherlands, when instead the production and wholesale distribution of the substance is still illegal with merely a de facto legalization of quantities under five grams. Therefore, it is important to note that the decisions made in Colorado and Washington in the coming months and years could have the potential to lay the foundation for change in both the rest of the nation and the rest of the world.
In Washington D.C., legislation to establish rules and regulations for growing and selling marijuana could take several years to enact. . In Colorado, consumers may have an easier time because of the already established medical marijuana industry. What is certain is that marijuana will remain an age-restricted product with many of the same legal consequences as alcohol, including penalties for public use and driving while under the influence.
As marijuana usage moves towards acceptance under the law on par with that of alcohol, contentious issues have begun to arise. Among these is the issue of marijuana use in the workplace. Many Colorado business groups have appealed to the government for the enforcement of federal pot laws because of concerns regarding how to deal with workers who consume cannabis. Many companies have drug-free policies that they feel obligated to enforce. This would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire in an already controversial debate between the federal government’s firm anti-marijuana stance and the recently recognized laws of the state governments, possibly creating a legal battle that many fear could drag on for years.
Despite the state of apparent legal limbo that many residents of Colorado and Washington may find themselves in, it is important to remember that the passage of these two new laws is without precedent anywhere else in the world. No other country has exercised liberlaism to this extent. It is a common misconception that cannabis is already legal in the Netherlands, when instead the production and wholesale distribution of the substance is still illegal with merely a de facto legalization of quantities under five grams. Therefore, it is important to note that the decisions made in Colorado and Washington in the coming months and years could have the potential to lay the foundation for change in both the rest of the nation and the rest of the world.