24 October/November

This coming November, Colorado voters could make their home state the first in the nation to re-legalize marijuana by passing Amendment 64. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol would essentially remove all legal penalties for adults 21 years of age and older who possess up to one ounce of marijuana and would allow them to grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes. With the approval of this measure, an established system would be put in place in which marijuana would be regulated and taxed in a similar manner to alcohol, allowing for the cultivation, processing and sale of industrial hemp.

What is as equally important is that Colorado farmers would once again be allowed to grow industrial hemp which can be used in everything from the food that we eat, plastics, fuels and even the paper that this is printed on. While creating legal marijuana establishments such as retail stores and manufacturing facilities, medical marijuana will also be exempt from excise taxes mentioned in the initiative. This initiative will not change existing laws for MMJ businesses, patients and caregivers, and since only proof of age will be required from individuals to purchase marijuana, consumer privacy will be enhanced.

There is however, opposition that does not support or agree with legalizing the use of marijuana and hemp products. This opposition believes that this initiative will only allow easier access of marijuana to teenagers and that all monies will not go where is intended. Laura Chapin, a spokeswoman for Smart Colorado and strong opponent of Amendment 64 says that parents have enough problems trying to keep the increased temptations of alcohol and drugs away from their children and Amendment 64 would only accelerate that increase.

Co-campaign director for Amendment 64, Mason Tvert, says this is absolutely not true, and that Colorado University researchers have proven this assertion to be completely false. Add in the strong opinions of those that oppose who believe that law enforcement needs to come down more heavily on individuals in possession of marijuana, and this only furthers the debate as to which side has the better argument for their cause.

Brian Vicente, Co-director of Amendment 64 and the lawyer who helped write the initiative says, “despite the fact that more than one-third of American citizens now live in states that permit medical pot, the number of marijuana arrests continues to rise each year. With the strong support of MMJ businesses and regular citizens alike, Colorado is poised to stop this madness with a statewide legalization vote in 2012.”

The debate over Amendment 64 is far from over. Just say now or just say no. The choice is in Colorado voters’ hands and come November this will be the hot topic on the ballot.

Amendment 64:Now or No? by Chris Tucker