Colorado Cannabis Dealers Stock Shelves
- Details
- Category: World News
- Published on Sunday, 29 December 2013 18:45
- Written by Janet Walker
Colorado cannabis dealers are expecting brisk sales, generating upwards of $67M in tax revenue, as the Rocky Mountain state is the first to completely legalize, without prescription, the sale, distribution and use of marijuana.
As of January 1, 2014 citizens of Colorado are free to enjoy the pleasure of recreational usage in the mile high city and throughout the state. Legalization brings with it a host of additional issues that will be become the testing ground as other states look West for precedent.
As state lawmakers are expecting a windfall in taxation from sales alone, additional taxes could come from tourism or other recreational activities that already bring tourists to the Rocky Mountain state, bringing a cash influx to the states stretched budget.
Federal laws and limits still exists in the other 49 making travel especially risky for Colorado citizens who desire to carry the drug or paraphernalia across state lines.
It is important for citizens to understand the harsh penalties that may be in effect in other states supersede the legal status in Colorado. Should a citizen be arrested the laws of the state of residence don’t apply to state of arrest.
The same issues apply to employment testing which could adversely affect employment if one participates in mandatory drug testing after a visit to any state where recreational usage is legal.
At the present time Washington and Colorado are the only two states where both medicinal and recreational marijuana is legal. Seven additional states, California, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island are likely to legalize recreational use but now only allow medical usage. Nine other states, Hawaii, Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana
Colorado’s bold initiative could become the model for other states are fighting state budget deficits.
