Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jan 2014
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Niraj Chokshi, The Washington Post

COLORADO LIGHTS UP GRAND EXPERIMENT

On Groundbreaking Law's First Day, Lines Long, Future Unsure

DENVER - At 8 a.m. on New Year's Day, in an industrial area a few 
miles from downtown Denver, a former Marine named Sean Azzariti 
walked into a giant store and bought a bag of weed. Legally. To smoke 
just for fun, if he's so inclined.

Azzariti's transaction - 3.5 grams of Bubba Kush for $40 and 50 mg of 
Truffles for an additional $9.28 - was the first in the state's grand 
experiment in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

The first-in-the-nation law was greeted with long lines at retailers 
and a lot of "Rocky Mountain High" jokes. But beyond the buzz, the 
measure represented the institution of a major new public policy in 
America - one opponents fear will turn the state into a dangerous 
land of debauchery and that backers hope sets a nationwide precedent.

If Colorado is able to successfully legalize marijuana without 
causing a social backlash, the tourism, tax and other considerations 
are likely to compel several other states to quickly follow suit.

Backers say enough signatures have been collected to put legalization 
before voters this year in Alaska. Oregon would probably come next, 
and by 2016, they hope to see measures on the ballot in six other 
states: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana and Nevada.

Supporters are also hopeful that lawmakers will push for legalization 
in Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Washington state has legalized pot, but sales there won't begin for 
at least a few months.

If problems arise in Colorado - whether that means residents get sick 
of stoner-tourism or there are a rash of marijuana-related accidents 
or crimes - it could set back a decades-old movement that has gained 
substantial momentum in recent years.

Experts say there really is no way to know which way it will go.

"Nobody on earth has ever done this before," said Jonathan Caulkins, 
a drug policy expert and professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Azzariti's involvement was not by chance. He was active in the 
campaign to legalize recreational sales and, although he can use the 
pot however he pleases, the veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars 
said he needs it to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

His purchase was the culmination of a large media event hosted by 
advocates and the industry. Dozens of reporters filled the 3D 
Cannabis Center for a 7:30 a.m. news conference as customers waited 
in line outside, where a light snow was falling. News releases were 
distributed, and advocates were on hand for interviews. Other stores 
welcomed press, too, with media handlers in tow.

Toni Fox, owner of the 3D Cannabis Center, where Azzariti made his 
purchase, said she expects her average monthly revenue of $30,000 to 
grow more than eightfold, to $250,000, once improvements are made.

Not everyone was celebrating Colorado's new marijuana reality Wednesday.

"Today, we're witnessing the dawn of Big Marijuana, in a similar way 
that we had Big Tobacco for over 80 years," said Kevin Sabet, who 
co-founded Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) with former 
Rhode Island representative Patrick Kennedy. "We're opening the doors 
to allowing a new, powerful industry to downplay the effects of a 
substance they will be profiting off of and to downplay the effects 
of addiction."

[sidebar]

AT A GLANCE Allowed amounts Colorado residents 21 and older are
allowed to buy up to an ounce of marijuana per transaction, and
out-of-state customers are allowed to purchase up to a
quarter-ounce.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom