So now that Colorado has officially legalized MJ for recreational use, how long before other states start to follow? How does that work though since its still a federal crime to have MJ? I thought federal law trumps state law?

 

AR's ballot was yesterday and it failed to legalize by a margin of 51 to 49



a few hundred votes were the difference



and yes its still a federal law, so legally any place selling the stuff can and more than likely will be arrested for possession



heck iirc there was a discovery channel tv show that about a store owner and his legal battles

 

People illegally cross the border every day and fail to be arrested walking around in public. Why should mj be any different?

 

In California, there is still a fight between federal and state laws. It violates federal law to have it for medical use. Perhaps we'll become similar to Holland and simply de-criminalize it.

 

 

What Majik said





The DEA will swing by and bully shops every time that Colorado isn't behaving sending enough tax revenue to the feds.

 

I'm a little confused on this. I thought the law that passed was basically decriminalization of possession of small amounts by adults. Are they going to be allowed to just openly sell pot in stores now?

 

^ Yes...you can purchase up to one once and you must be 21+ to buy it. Cops will have ways to test you in cases of driving while under the influence. So think of it like alcohol, except you can only have a certain amount.



Also, you can not smoke in public. It must be in the privacy of your home.

 

What it means is that local and state police cannot arrest you for possession since it's not a crime as far as the state is concerned. The DEA can still bust your ass. Which probably won't happen to individual consumers but might happen to dealers or places that sell.



I don't think it will be a major change in practice for people in Colorado, but it is an important step towards the inevitable (having it be legal at a federal level).