Governor Signs Marijuana Bills into Law

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Wed May 29, 2013 at 09:21:00 AM EST
Tags: colorado, marijuana reform (all tags)

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Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has signed the six bills regulating recreational marijuana passed by the legislature. They go into effect July 1.

The bills are House bills 1042, 1238, 1 317, 1318 and 1325, and Senate Bill 283. A short synopsis is here.

When asked about when a response on the new laws would come from the Feds, Hickenlooper says he thought it would be soon, but he really didn't know. Then he quipped, "They've been kind of busy." [More...]

Other uncertainties: Whether Colorado voters will approve a 15% excise tax and 10% sales tax to fund the regulatory scheme.

The "driving while stoned" bill: Instead of 5 nanograms being per se against the law, or even a rebuttable presumption, it's now just a "permissible inference" which can be challenged. Blood tests can be refused, although a refusal will result in revocation of driving privileges.

Congratulations, Coloradans. None of this would be happening if not for Colorado voters believing they could effect change. Voters really need to give themselves a pat on the back for this one.

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Governor Signs Marijuana Bills into Law | 9 comments (9 topical)

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If those two things (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by NYShooter on Wed May 29, 2013 at 10:54:47 AM EST

actually occur: "the end of endless wars" & "greatly expanded decriminalization of pot use," we'd be in for quite a show. The military industrial complex is so huge, and entrenched, plus, the for profit prison system together would mean countless millions of lost jobs, and tons of industrial output vanishing.

In other words, we`ll find out what damage basing an entire economy on the evils that a Corporatocracy brings with it will do our country.

: Corporate kleptocracy is more like it (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Dadler on Wed May 29, 2013 at 11:19:11 AM EST

Best pickpockets in the history of sticky fingers.

If (none / 0) (#1)
by lentinel on Wed May 29, 2013 at 09:06:14 AM EST

all goes well, and Denver experiences a nice lift in tourism, I wonder if other States will rush to join Colorado.

Should be interesting - not to mention a historic shift equivalent to the twenty-first amendment.

Obama has been indicating, with his statement concerning the end of endless wars, that he might be thinking about a more progressive legacy than the Bush third term one that he has acquired so far.

Letting people enjoy a smoke without fear of being sent to the pokey would be a major plus, imo.

The feds have really been derelict.... (none / 0) (#2)
by magster on Wed May 29, 2013 at 10:37:03 AM EST

.... in not providing input. If the feds were going to oppose state initiatives, they should have said so up front so that Colorado wouldn't have had to invest so much legislative time and now state money on an election. Hopefully, by staying silent so long and having Colorado have to invest this much time and effort into implementing Amendment 64, it's a signal that the feds will let Colorado press on without federal interference.

I bet.. (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by kdog on Wed May 29, 2013 at 10:58:21 AM EST

the feds are just waiting for distributors to accumulate lots of cash and inventory before swooping in for the smash and grab.


: Very astute observation (none / 0) (#7)
by Peter G on Wed May 29, 2013 at 05:23:12 PM EST

and consistent with recent experience in nearby states.

Ha. (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Wed May 29, 2013 at 10:46:55 AM EST

SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#10)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 06, 2014 at 08:43:19 PM EST

SITE VIOLATOT (none / 0) (#11)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jun 06, 2014 at 08:43:45 PM EST