In November 2012, Colorado enacted the Colorado Amendment 64 which allowed adults aged 21 and above to
grow , legally possess marijuana while on the move within the state, and even give
some as gift to other adults aged 21 and above. The consumption is basically controlled
the same way as alcohol.
Several bills
implementing the Amendment 64 were
signed into law in May, 2013, and by September the same year, the Revenue Department
had adopted regulations for recreational marijuana and implemented the retail
Code for pot to be used across the state.
The first Marijuana store opened in January and tourists
began to flock in almost immediately, prompting the state to post more police
in Denver and limit the use of the spiritual herb in ski resorts. Anyone in Colorado and aged 21 and above (resident
or not) has a constitutional right to consume cannabis, and as things stand now
– it’s a booming business.
Colorado is experiencing a record number of ski visits, thanks
to the marijuana incentive. According to industry insiders, the numbers shot to
ski arrivals stood at 12.6 million in the 2013-2014 season, a 10% rise from the
previous season.
While it’s prohibited to smoke marijuana in hotels and ski
resorts, there are “420-friendly” lodgings that allow tourists to puff away
their weed. Many music venues and bars also allow outdoor smoking within their
compounds.
There are tens of marijuana
dispensaries catering to the needs of the booming tourism. Charter buses are
arriving from neighboring states. People are arriving from as far as Japan and
Saudi Arabia to experience how it feels to smoke legal weed.
Consumption and Revenues up
The consumption of marijuana is on a steady climb in
Colorado and so are the tax revenues collected from sales. In August 2014, pot
worth $34 million was sold, with $3.4 going straight to the taxman. It is
estimated that the state will make up to $ 30 million this year alone.
Crime rate goes down
It’s not only business and tourism that have improved, what
has baffled many is the fact that crime rates have gone down in Colorado since
pot was legalized. Crime rates have dropped by an impressive 15% while murder
has dropped by 42%. These findings are likely to spur debate and calls for
marijuana legalization in other parts of the States, and the world as whole.
There seem to be a connection between the legal status of
marijuana and the effect on individuals or society. Psychologists should help
here.
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