Colorado, Washington and other states legalize recreational marijuana
As a result of measures on the ballots in Colorado and Washington, voters approved the legalization of marijuana in November, 2012. Recreational use in both states is limited to those over age 21 and in quantities of less than one ounce. Other states, listed below, have similar restrictions on recreational use. Possessing and selling marijuana remain against the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Whether the federal government decides to pursue criminal charges against growers and sellers or not, users who smoke or ingest the drug are still banned from skiing, snowboarding, or hurtling down a mountain while high. The Colorado Ski Safety Act, a law passed by Colorado in 2006, bans anyone from participating in mountain sports while intoxicated.
Photo by SkinFitness (Flickr)
Red tape will keep some of the laws from taking effect immediately. Rules and regulations regarding tax laws, licenses to grow and dispense marijuana must be complied with first.
Update: As of November, 2020, fifteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. This includes Oregon, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, Washington, Illinois, Maine, Nevada and Michigan.
