From
The Washington Post
DENVER — At 8 a.m. 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
some pot-laced chocolate 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 that 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.
