# Colorado: the beginning of the end of Prohibition (recreational cannabis use)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 2, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703 "2014-01-02T15:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/21 "2014-01-02T19:32:52Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > In addition, I welcome this move as it serves to push out the “Medical Marijuana” fiction. Please, can we just stop with that nonsense? It’s not complete nonsense though. And I think the MMJ side of the business may continue. It’s tax free. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/22 "2014-01-02T19:46:41Z")
Wouldn’t a different president simply be able to re-enforce the federal law against pot? From what I understand, Obama simply told the JD that he wasn’t going to enforce the fed. statute against pot. Seems simple enough that a different president could just start it up again. If I have the facts wrong, please correct me ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/23 "2014-01-02T19:57:02Z")
Still waiting for a Representative or a Senator to introduce a bill taking it off Schedule I… …still waiting… …nope, not yet… (glances at watch) ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/24 "2014-01-02T20:02:35Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wouldn’t a different president simply be able to re-enforce the federal law against pot? From what I understand, Obama simply told the JD that he wasn’t going to enforce the fed. statute against pot. Seems simple enough that a different president could just start it up again. If I have the facts wrong, please correct me I don’t know how this works in a federal system; can the President deny a state an established revenue source approved by the state electorate? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/25 "2014-01-02T20:32:28Z")
No, but Congress can. Make it illegal, that is. They can’t force the state to make it illegal, but they can force the POTUS to enforce the federal law. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/26 "2014-01-02T20:42:26Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Why would they? “Marvel” that is? It’s not like they are dealing with a bunch of drunks. I think there’s sort of a social concept that recreational drug users are inherently a lower class of people, and thus more unruly. I’ve never used it, but my experience is that the cross-section is broad enough, that any collection of recreational users won’t be meaningfully different than any other broad collection. Personally, if anything, I’d have been shocked if there were any problems. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Not sure about this. Are Colorado head shops charging more than the street price? Even if there were, within a certain amount, it wouldn’t matter. Using digital music as an example, despite the fact that it is still fairly easy to get free music, a lot of people are opting to pay for it. They may be doing it because of the fear of prosecution for music piracy or because they want to support the artist or some other reason, but people aren’t always going to pay the lowest price they possibly can. I think marijuana offers even greater incentive, because the alternatives aren’t free vs. not-free, and the risk of prosecution is higher. Why pay $60 for an eighth on the street, when you can pay, say, $70 to get it legally and also have no concerns about quality, and know that the money is going to public schools and a legitimate business rather than some random drug lords. Obviously, if they can offer it at the same price or cheaper, which I imagine they ought to be able to, then even that’s not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/27 "2014-01-02T20:45:14Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Still waiting for a Representative or a Senator to introduce a bill taking it off Schedule I… > > …still waiting… > > …nope, not yet… > > (glances at watch) Might want to use a calendar. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/28 "2014-01-02T20:45:24Z")
Note that all of this violates federal laws…Eric Holder…comment? I’d beware the DEA-they are threatened by this, and will lash out 9they don’t want to lose their cushy jobs).:mad: ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/29 "2014-01-02T21:13:35Z")
They’re not going to do it with Obama as president. At least that’s my understanding. And why would the DEA be threatened by this? Colorado’s doing perfectly legal state law stuff. If anything it frees up the DEA to go after actual harmful criminals ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/30 "2014-01-02T21:16:54Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Note that all of this violates federal laws…Eric Holder…comment? > I’d beware the DEA-they are threatened by this, and will lash out 9they don’t want to lose their cushy jobs).:mad: There’s plenty of other far more dangerous drugs they can go after. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/31 "2014-01-02T21:20:09Z")
It’s 4:20. Just sayin. Praise Jesus and all. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/32 "2014-01-03T01:16:23Z")
I wish I could try legal marijuana to see if it would help with my IBS. My company prohibits it and does random testing, however, so it’s not going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/33 "2014-01-03T01:22:58Z")
Once it’s legal to grow, the cost should plummet. It’s wicked easy to grow some amazing stuff in your backyard with little or no work. Plant a few seeds every year, and you’re set. ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/34 "2014-01-03T01:27:52Z")
You can grow it legally, with a license. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/35 "2014-01-03T01:57:56Z")
Rocky Mountain High, Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/36 "2014-01-03T02:04:48Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > You can grow it legally, with a license. You can grow up to six plants on your own property, no licence needed. That is part of the legislation. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/37 "2014-01-03T02:44:50Z")
> [@](#): > > After decades of the surreal and utterly absurd ‘War on Drugs’, finally sanity is beginning to prevail - right? Well, that’s probably over the top, as there are still going to be drugs that are illegal even if MJ becomes legal across the board. That said, if MJ were to become legal across the board it would free up a lot of law enforcement resources to do other things. > [@](#): > > Millions in tax revenue (a 21.22% sales tax) Eventually it would be billions, if this were to spread and pot were to become like alcohol or tobacco products. > [@](#): > > Taken the kids away from criminal gangs Not sure how much gangs are involved in the MJ trade…I was under the impression that most of the criminal gang activity revolved around much harder drugs. > [@](#): > > Regulating quality and quantity Absolutely. > [@](#): > > Releasing police to concentrate on crime Yup…the cost savings or freeing up of police assets and resources alone will probably be worth millions. > [@](#): > > Smaller jail populations Same as above. > [@](#): > > The absurdity of a war on abstraction I don’t think this is going to do much for the War on Drugs™, so I’m not seeing this one. > [@](#): > > The horror of so many lives wasted in detention Goes hand in hand with others above. I’m more focused on the cost savings and resources and assets that will be freed, personally. As with Prohibition, the stuff IS (or was) illegal, so folks who flaunt that do so at their own peril. I’m more than good with it becoming legal, but when it’s illegal you pays your money and you takes your chances. I think this is a good first step and will be an interesting test case. I assume that other states are watching this very carefully to see how it turns out…if it turns out positive I could see other states eventually adopting similar measures. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/38 "2014-01-03T02:55:37Z")
I suspect the federal law will crumble with time. in practical effect, there’s going to be an increasingly hard time not merely enforcing it, but justifying it and the Supreme Court is unlikely to look very favorably if it is challenged again. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/39 "2014-01-03T03:33:42Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > I suspect the federal law will crumble with time. in practical effect, there’s going to be an increasingly hard time not merely enforcing it, but justifying it and the Supreme Court is unlikely to look very favorably if it is challenged again. Unlikely. The SCOTUS is not going to weaken the jurisprudence surrounding the interstate commerce clause. If it’s legalized federally, that will have to come from Congress. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703/40 "2014-01-03T04:01:08Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > I suspect the federal law will crumble with time. in practical effect, there’s going to be an increasingly hard time not merely enforcing it, but justifying it and the Supreme Court is unlikely to look very favorably if it is challenged again. It might be challenged under the doctrine of [desuetude.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desuetude) Or, perhaps, Colorado could have enforcement of the federal law [estopped](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoppel) under the doctrine of detrimental reliance, or, for that matter, entrapment. After all, Colorado would never have allowed recreational sales if the federal government hadn’t declared that they wouldn’t enforce federal marijuana law against states that legalized it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-prohibition-recreational-cannabis-use/677703.md?page=3)