Marijuana was legalized in Breckenridge, CO by voters who overwhelmingly approved a measure decriminalizing possession of up to one ounce of the substance, and marijuana paraphernalia yesterday at the polls.
Come the 1st of January 2010, persons 21 years and older can possess the drug. However, it is still illegal at the state, and federal level.
Mason Tvert, Executive Director, and co-founder of SAFER, (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation) stated in The Huffington Post that, "This is a noteworthy event in and of itself, but one has to wonder whether legal marijuana could be just what Colorado's slumping ski industry needs. Ski resorts are offering everything from large discounts to specialty cheeseburgers to attract people to their towns."
With the decriminalization of marijuana in Breckenridge, officials might want to consider opening up snack stands from the influx of tourists wanting to hit the slopes after some good hydro.
However, whatever jokes you might come up with, the decriminalization of marijuana is slowly making headway, and this is probably how the drug will eventually become legal across the US, a little at a time.
The Fed's, however, seem to be foot-dragging with the exception of the Obama Administration recently instructing federal prosecutors to lighten up prosecuting people who are complying with state medical marijuana use laws. We will have to wait and see what happens with those instructions as far as prosecutions go.
With this recent decriminalization of pot, and police officials in Breckenridge indicating that they won't hassle people about the drug, Police Chief Rick Holman said his department will “still have the ability to exercise discretion.” Discretion is a wide open word for authorities that basically lets them do what they want. Citizens will have to wait and see what the Chief means. However, according to the Summit Daily News, "In 2008, Breckenridge Police Department ticketed 10 people under the town marijuana possession law."
Maybe marijuana's legalization movement is finally having an impact on what they have been fighting for. Marijuana was legal at one time, but some less than admirable people were responsible for painting a very bleak picture of the drug several decades ago culminating in the passage of laws making it illegal.
If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland Countyresidents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents).
In the flow...
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Comments
Everywhere I look I see more and more people recognizing the indisputable fact that the prohibition against cannabis is a complete failure. Its continued myopic prosecution by law enforcement is a symptom of insanity. Another noble experiment with unintended consequences. Cannabis prohibition has introduced more people to cannabis than if they had just left it alone and not said anything about it. I can almost hear Anslinger twirling in his grave. Serves him right!
You know if alcohol is legal than pot should be too. You don't here about people smoking pot and driving into a telephone pole. Most likely your going to stay where you are if your hi. The only reason for the government makes pot illegal is because they make to much money off convicting those who possession it. If they were smart they would make pot legal, tax it, and save money on the taxes for those who have been incarcerated.
ok Wes. you are the reason they don't legalize pot. stupid people like you can't even pass a spelling test. why would they let you kill anymore brain cells. you would more than likely drive into a telephone pole while sober because you are so stupid. What now?! :O
P.S. You're Wrong.
xoxo
Wes, i have a couple things id like to bring up. I'm all for the legalization of marijuana, but if they tax it and regulate it like tobacco don't you think they might over tax it? The government isn't holding off legalization because they make so much money off the incarceration of people. They would make WAY more if they legalized it and taxed it.
Look, there are pros and cons to everything, the legalization of Marijuana follows suit. It just that the pros heavily out way the cons. You can not stand by and honestly believe the garbage propaganda that has been beaten into the modern society. Let us shake this "waste of life" image that has been painted of the people to indulge in the use of marijuana. And dont stop at Marijuana push hemp too. By legalizing both we as a country could see a profit in the Billions. But if your going to represent the movement of legalization please be smart about it. So Wes get your facts straight you sound like a child. And "Smarter then Wes" you should do the same. Its been proven through scientific studies at various universities that Marijuana does NOT damaged or kill brain cells, in fact in some studies its been shown to improve growth. So lets be smart about this, help the people understand and rid the nation of this prohibition fueled by ignorance and lobbyist [Tob., Lumber, etc] greed.
On another note Decriminalization is NOT legalization! Don't be fooled so even this article is wrong in the first paragraph... Decriminalization just means that the repercussions are less sever and it doesn't go on your record. Legalization would open the product to the public and would remove this crop from the black market. You could open stores, shops, cafe's, etc. not just for medical customers. I hope we all start to smarten up so we can really make some headway.
rep of the union is right
Amazingly, cannabis is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has NO accepted medical uses. Oddly, more than 1/4 of US states have legalized it for MEDICAL USE. Does anyone else get the feeling that US Law is a little off?
The DEA insists that 'smoked marijuana' has no accepted medical uses. This is actually true. The carcinogens produced by ingesting the smoke from burned cannabis is considered of sufficient concern that it is not recommended. However, cannabis can be vaporized, or turned into edibles. For whatever reason, the DEA and ONDCP want to pretend that those options don't even exist!
It's time to recognize the failure and the futility of the 'War on Drugs.' Additionally, it's also time to recognize that cannabis is objectively SAFER than alcohol or nicotine.
Alcohol KILLS 75,000 Americans/year, and addicts 15%.
Cigarettes KILL 450,000 Americans/year, and addict 30%.
Cannabis kills ZERO Americans/year, and can cause dependence in 10%.
All we want is PARITY for a SAFER subst
As a 31 year old professional living in Tokyo this news has inspired me to look into booking a ski trip to Brekenridge. My wife and I enjoy toking up occasionally and I have always wanted to visit Colorado for the skiing. This news will be boon for Brekenridge as I am sure I am not the only responsible young professional who looks at this news as an added reason to book a trip I hadn't considered (I would have looked at Aspen or Vale first) to a resort I wasn't familiar with.
Alcohol it's not a gateway drug you can't get any higher than when your totally slobber faced drunk! And it's legal so the collateral damage is acceptable in the eyes of the media.
why is it still illegal?i hear your "ideas".thats what they are.ask yourself how many gov officials stand to lose theyre jobs,and im talking from the big wigs all the to # of prison staff.THINK.theyre tyhe ones fighting to maintain illegality.
the only reason it is illegal is because there is no thing like a breathalizer so cops dont know how much you smoked or how high you are
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