The ballot measure Amendment 64 to change the Colorado Constitution to allow marijuana possession for persons 21 years old or older passed in November. Statewide, the pot bill received 54.8 percent in favor and 45.2 percent opposed. El Paso County residents narrowly voted against it, with 50.6 percent opposed.Soon after the results were announced, Gov. John Hickenlooper made national headlines when he said, ìFederal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.î The United States Department of Justice also issued a reply soon after Election Day: ìThe department’s enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged.îThe DOJís position that federal law makes marijuana use and possession in any amount illegal has resulted in confusion among lawmakers. Hickenlooper and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers wrote two letters to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking for clarification on the DOJís intentions regarding Amendment 64.Hickenlooper and Suthers wrote the following: ìWe need to know whether we can expect any different posture regarding marijuana grown and distributed for recreational use. Specifically, we need to know whether the federal government will take legal action to block implementation or whether it will seek to prosecute grow and retail operations.îThe amendment’s passage has brought national attention to Colorado and the marijuana legalization movement. Twitter and Facebook came alive election night with updates celebrating or denouncing the result.El Paso County Commissioner Amy Lathen, who represents Falcon, said the business community has already made clear their thoughts on the measure passing. ìCompanies from out of state are already saying they will not consider Colorado because of this,î Lathen said. ìThey say workforce is their No. 1 issue, and obviously when you increase the use of a mood-altering drug, you’re going to dumb down the workforce,î she said.Changes in state-level laws regarding individual behavior take effect when Gov. Hickenlooper officially certifies the results of the election, which he is required to do by Dec. 6. The amendment as passed will allow, at the state level, individuals in Colorado age 21 or older to grow up to six cannabis plants privately in a locked space, possess up to one ounce of cannabis and give as a gift up to one ounce to other individuals 21 years or older.However, don’t expect to be able to buy a dime bag in local drug stores right away. Commercial grow operations and sales in retail establishments will be a more gradual process, with regulations and permitting procedures necessary for each county and city. The amendment requires these procedures be established and active by Oct. 1 next year. However, cities and counties can ban retail marijuana establishments from their areas by ordinance or a general election ballot question, according to the amendment text.Lathen said the board of county commissioners is acting quickly. ìOur legal team is preparing a resolution for the commission to vote on to ban retail establishments,î she said. ìWe can’t ban people from possessing within the county, but the amendment allows us to ban retail sales in our unincorporated areas.î
