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On December 10, 2012 Governor Hickenlooper signed Executive Order B 2012-004 to create the [[Task Force on the Implementation of Amendment 64]] to "consider and resolve a number of policy, legal and procedural issues".<ref>{{citation|title=Gov. Hickenlooper signs Amendment 64 proclamation, creates task force to recommend needed legislative actions|date=December 10, 2012|publisher=[[Governor of Colorado]]|url=http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1251634887823}}</ref> On March 13, 2013, the task force issued 58 recommendations on how recreational pot should be grown, sold and taxed in the state.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado marijuana task force issues 58 recommendations on how pot should be grown, sold and taxed|work=7 News|publisher=[[KMGH-TV]]|first=Tyler|last=Lopez|date=March 13, 2013|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/front-range/denver/amendment-64-task-force-issues-58-recommendations-on-how-pot-should-be-grown-sold-and-taxed}}</ref> |
On December 10, 2012 Governor Hickenlooper signed Executive Order B 2012-004 to create the [[Task Force on the Implementation of Amendment 64]] to "consider and resolve a number of policy, legal and procedural issues".<ref>{{citation|title=Gov. Hickenlooper signs Amendment 64 proclamation, creates task force to recommend needed legislative actions|date=December 10, 2012|publisher=[[Governor of Colorado]]|url=http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1251634887823}}</ref> On March 13, 2013, the task force issued 58 recommendations on how recreational pot should be grown, sold and taxed in the state.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado marijuana task force issues 58 recommendations on how pot should be grown, sold and taxed|work=7 News|publisher=[[KMGH-TV]]|first=Tyler|last=Lopez|date=March 13, 2013|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/front-range/denver/amendment-64-task-force-issues-58-recommendations-on-how-pot-should-be-grown-sold-and-taxed}}</ref> |
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Governor Hickenlooper signed several bills into law on May 28, 2013 implementing the task force's recommendations and proposing a 15% [[excise tax]] on the "average market rate" and a 10-15% [[sales tax]] on retail sales (on top of the 2.9% state sales tax and any local government sales taxes).<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Ways Colorado Will Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol|first=Nicole|last=Flatow|date=28 May 2013|work=[[Think Progress]]|url=http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/29/2070641/five-ways-colorado-will-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gov. Signs Marijuana Bills Into Law|date=29 May 2013|work=[[KKTV]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|url=http://www.kktv.com/news/elections/headlines/Gov-Signs-Marijuana-Bills-Into-Law-209206671.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Legislature approves historic marijuana sales and excise taxes in Colorado|first=David M.|last=Kall|date=28 May 2013|url=https://businessadvocate.mcdonaldhopkins.com/community/managing-your-business/multistate-tax/blog/2013/05/28/legislature-approves-historic-marijuana-sales-and-excise-taxes-in-colorado}}</ref><ref>[http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1317/ HB 13-1317] Implement Amendment 64 Majority Recommendation; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1318/ HB 13-1318] Retail Marijuana Taxes; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/SB13-283/ SB 13-283] Implement Amendment 64 Consensus Recommendations; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1325/ HB 13-1325] Inferences For Marijuana And Driving Offenses; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/SB13-250/ SB 13-250] Drug Sentencing Changes</ref> The tax measure, Proposition AA, is opposed by the Colorado chapter of [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws|NORML]].<ref>{{cite |
Governor Hickenlooper signed several bills into law on May 28, 2013 implementing the task force's recommendations and proposing a 15% [[excise tax]] on the "average market rate" and a 10-15% [[sales tax]] on retail sales (on top of the 2.9% state sales tax and any local government sales taxes).<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Ways Colorado Will Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol|first=Nicole|last=Flatow|date=28 May 2013|work=[[Think Progress]]|url=http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/29/2070641/five-ways-colorado-will-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gov. Signs Marijuana Bills Into Law|date=29 May 2013|work=[[KKTV]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|url=http://www.kktv.com/news/elections/headlines/Gov-Signs-Marijuana-Bills-Into-Law-209206671.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Legislature approves historic marijuana sales and excise taxes in Colorado|first=David M.|last=Kall|date=28 May 2013|url=https://businessadvocate.mcdonaldhopkins.com/community/managing-your-business/multistate-tax/blog/2013/05/28/legislature-approves-historic-marijuana-sales-and-excise-taxes-in-colorado}}</ref><ref>[http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1317/ HB 13-1317] Implement Amendment 64 Majority Recommendation; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1318/ HB 13-1318] Retail Marijuana Taxes; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/SB13-283/ SB 13-283] Implement Amendment 64 Consensus Recommendations; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/HB13-1325/ HB 13-1325] Inferences For Marijuana And Driving Offenses; [http://openstates.org/co/bills/2013A/SB13-250/ SB 13-250] Drug Sentencing Changes</ref> The tax measure, Proposition AA, is opposed by the Colorado chapter of [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws|NORML]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Marijuana: Colorado NORML board opposes recreational pot tax measure|date=13 September 2013|first=Michael|last=Roberts|work=[[Denver Westword]]|url=http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/09/marijuana_colorado_norml_recreational_pot_tax.php}}</ref> They support the 15% excise tax but oppose the 10% sales tax as unreasonable and unnecessary, arguing that the proposed marijuana taxes could amount to an effective tax rate of 30-40% and be more than twice the equivalent taxes on alcohol, that there would be adequate funds to effectively regulate recreational marijuana if the measure failed, and that excessive taxation would have the potential effect of keeping a black market alive. [[The Denver Post]] disagreed, citing the insufficiency of licensing fees to previously regulate medical marijuana and rejecting the notion that the taxes would drive pot back to the black market.<ref>{{cite news|title=NORML needs to get on board on Colorado pot taxes|author=The Denver Post Editorial Board|date=18 September 2013|work=[[The Denver Post]]|url=http://www.denverpost.com/marijuana/ci_24123095/colorados-marijuana-community-should-back-state-pot-taxes}}</ref> |
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On September 9, 2013, the [[Colorado Department of Revenue]] adopted final regulations for recreational marijuana establishments, implementing the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code (HB 13-1317).<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado first state in country to finalize rules for recreational pot|first=John|last=Ingold|date=10 September 2013|work=[[The Denver Post]]|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24062676/colorado-first-state-country-finalize-rules-recreational-pot}}</ref> The first stores are expected to open around January 1, 2014. |
On September 9, 2013, the [[Colorado Department of Revenue]] adopted final regulations for recreational marijuana establishments, implementing the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code (HB 13-1317).<ref>{{cite news|title=Colorado first state in country to finalize rules for recreational pot|first=John|last=Ingold|date=10 September 2013|work=[[The Denver Post]]|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24062676/colorado-first-state-country-finalize-rules-recreational-pot}}</ref> The first stores are expected to open around January 1, 2014. |
Revision as of 08:31, 19 September 2013
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Election was held: November 6, 2012[1] |
Colorado Amendment 64 was a popular initiative ballot measure to amend the state constitution, outlining a statewide drug policy for cannabis. The measure passed on November 6, 2012, and along with a similar Washington measure, marked "an electoral first not only for America but for the world".[2] Now enacted as Article 18, section 16 of the state constitution, the law addresses "personal use and regulation of marijuana" for adults 21 and over, as well as commercial cultivation, manufacture, and sale, effectively regulating cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol.[3]
Ballot summary
Elections in Colorado |
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Proposed initiative 2011/12 #30 was submitted on January 4 and found sufficient by the Secretary of State on February 27 to appear on the general ballot for the November election.[1]
Personal use
Adults 21 or older can grow up to three immature and three mature cannabis plants privately in a locked space, legally possess all cannabis from the plants they grow (as long as it stays where it was grown),[4] legally possess up to one ounce of cannabis while traveling,[5] and give as a gift up to one ounce to other citizens 21 years of age or older.[6] Consumption is permitted in a manner similar to alcohol, with equivalent offenses proscribed for driving.[7]
The new legislation does not apply to medical cannabis.[8]
Commercial regulation
The legislation defines industrial hemp as any part of the cannabis plant, growing or not, "with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration that does not exceed three tenths percent (0.3%) on a dry weight basis."[9] The amendment declares that industrial hemp should be regulated separately from cannabis with higher THC concentrations, and requires the Colorado General Assembly to "enact legislation governing the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp" by no later than July 1, 2014.[10]
The amendment provides for licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores.[11] Local governments can now regulate or prohibit such facilities. This amendment requires the general assembly to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of cannabis, requiring that the first $40 million in revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund.
Polling
The largest survey for the amendment, conducted October 23 by Public Policy Polling, indicated that 53% of voters intended to support it, with 46% opposed.[12]
Support
Though support for liberalizing drug policy has traditionally been considered a liberal or libertarian cause,[13] Amendment 64 garnered a number of high-profile conservative endorsements, including, most notably, an endorsement former U.S. Representative and 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate Tom Tancredo, who claimed, "Throughout my career in public policy and in public office, I have fought to reform or eliminate wasteful and ineffective government programs. There is no government program or policy I can think of that has failed in such a unique way as marijuana prohibition."[14] Similarly, Temple Emmanuel's Rabbi, Steven Foster, endorsed Amendment 64 because, "as clergy, we have the responsibility to talk about what policies serve our community best. You do not have to use marijuana—or even approve of marijuana—to see that our current laws are not working." [15] Many supporters of Amendment 64 did so because they wanted to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's law enforcement resources. Proponents believe that permitting recreational use will allow officers to focus on prevention of violent crime and that it will remove some of the burden on the state's prosecutors and courts.[16]
Other justifications for support include: (1) increasing the state's revenue (much of the additional revenue is required to be used to fund primary education)[16] (2) subjecting otherwise illicit substances to health and safety regulations for the protections of users,[17] (3) enhancing individual freedom,[17] (4) eliminating a black market (black markets tend to result in crime regardless of the goods sold because market participants are already criminals, and therefore have less to lose by committing additional crimes).[18] (5) providing empirical evidence for studying the effects of legalization to identify whether the harms associated with drugs are actually caused by the policy of prohibition.[18]
Yet another argument favoring Amendment 64 is that regulation of marijuana may actually reduce marijuana usage by teens: According to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the organization responsible for much of the campaigning in support of Amendment 64, marijuana use by teens is likely to go down because commercial access would be limited to persons 21 and older. The campaign also points out that teens who currently seek marijuana have to turn to criminals for their supply and that these criminals may expose teens to other, potentially more dangerous drugs like heroin, meth, or cocaine.[19] Supporters also point out that Colorado's experience with medical marijuana supports their conclusion:[20] The CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System monitors a number of statistics for America's youth.[21] The CDC study suggests that marijuana use among Colorado's youths fell by 2.8 percent from 2009 (24.8 percent) to 2011 (22 percent), while the national rate of youth use increased by 2.3 percent from 2009 (20.8 percent) to 2011 (23.1 percent).[20] Furthermore, the CDC found that the availability of drugs on school grounds in Colorado fell 5 percent from 2009 (22.7 percent) to 2011 (17.2 percent), while the national rate increased by 3.1 percent over the same time.[20]
Opposition
The group No on 64 objects to Amendment 64 chiefly because it claims the amendment would lead to increased use of cannabis, a consequence the group considers harmful. In particular, the group sees cannabis as addictive and as damaging to children because they believe it "permanently affects brain development, impairs learning ability and contributes to depression."[22]
On October 14, The Denver Post's editorial board announced its opposition to Amendment 64. The board began by saying, "We believe possession and use of marijuana should be legal," but ultimately encouraged readers to vote against the amendments because "Drug policy simply has no business being in the state constitution." [23]
Implementation
The policies took effect when the Governor ratified the ballots, which was to happen within 30 days of the election.[24] Governor John Hickenlooper officially added the law to his state’s constitution on Monday December 10, 2012 making the private consumption of marijuana legal in Colorado.
Since the amendment passed there has been concern over its conflict with federal substance prohibition laws.[25] Shortly after its passing Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper stated “This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”[26] The outcome is nevertheless expected to have broad impacts south of the border,[27] including in Mexico where less than a week after the U.S. vote Mexican senators submitted a proposal to legalize marijuana in their country.[28]
On December 10, 2012 Governor Hickenlooper signed Executive Order B 2012-004 to create the Task Force on the Implementation of Amendment 64 to "consider and resolve a number of policy, legal and procedural issues".[29] On March 13, 2013, the task force issued 58 recommendations on how recreational pot should be grown, sold and taxed in the state.[30]
Governor Hickenlooper signed several bills into law on May 28, 2013 implementing the task force's recommendations and proposing a 15% excise tax on the "average market rate" and a 10-15% sales tax on retail sales (on top of the 2.9% state sales tax and any local government sales taxes).[31][32][33][34] The tax measure, Proposition AA, is opposed by the Colorado chapter of NORML.[35] They support the 15% excise tax but oppose the 10% sales tax as unreasonable and unnecessary, arguing that the proposed marijuana taxes could amount to an effective tax rate of 30-40% and be more than twice the equivalent taxes on alcohol, that there would be adequate funds to effectively regulate recreational marijuana if the measure failed, and that excessive taxation would have the potential effect of keeping a black market alive. The Denver Post disagreed, citing the insufficiency of licensing fees to previously regulate medical marijuana and rejecting the notion that the taxes would drive pot back to the black market.[36]
On September 9, 2013, the Colorado Department of Revenue adopted final regulations for recreational marijuana establishments, implementing the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code (HB 13-1317).[37] The first stores are expected to open around January 1, 2014.
On September 16, 2013, the Denver City Council adopted an ordinance for retail marijuana establishments.[38] These licensing requirements are in addition to the state licensing requirements. As of September 2013, the Denver sales tax was an additional 3.62%.[39]
See also
- Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States
- Legal history of cannabis in the United States
- Legal issues of cannabis
- List of Colorado ballot measures
- Drug policy of Colorado
- Cannabis Law Reform
- Civil liberties
- Prohibition of drugs
- Washington Initiative 502
References
- ^ a b Gessler, Scott (February 27, 2012). "Statement of Sufficiency" (PDF). Proposed Initiative 2011-12 #30. Department of State, State of Colorado. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ "Ballot Measures: A Liberal Drift". The Economist. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ Ingold, John (06/11/2012). "Colorado marijuana measure's backers, foes buoyed by out-of-state support". The Denver Post. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Amendment 64: (3).b
- ^ Amendment 64: (3).a
- ^ Amendment 64:(3).a, 64:(3).b, and 64:(3).c
- ^ Amendment 64:(1).b-III and 64:(6).b
- ^ Amendment 64:(7)
- ^ Amendment 64:(2).d
- ^ Amendment 64:(1).c and 64:(5).j
- ^ Amendment 64:(4)
- ^ Obama leads by 4 in Colorado. October 25, 2012.
- ^ Miron, J. 2004. Liberal Versus Libertarian Views on Drug Legalization. The New Prohibition: Voices of Dissent Challenge the Drug War. (Sheriff Bill Masters, Ed.).: Accurate Press
- ^ "POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Marijuana legalization amendment". Gazette.com. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ Roberts, Michael (2012-10-17). "Marijuana: Amendment 64 supported, attacked by religious leaders in ongoing endorsement war - Denver - News - The Latest Word". Blogs.westword.com. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ a b "Bolster Colorado's Economy | Yes on Amendment 64: The Colorado Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol". Regulatemarijuana.org. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ a b Section 16. Personal use and regulation of marijuana. June 3, 2011.
- ^ a b "Miron, J. 2004. The Economics of Illicit Drugs: Harm from Prohibition versus Harm from Drugs. Economics Uncut: A Complete Guide to Life,Death, and Misadventure. (Simon Bowmaker, Ed.).: Edward Elgar".
- ^ "Regulating Marijuana Works! | Yes on Amendment 64: The Colorado Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol". Regulatemarijuana.org. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ a b c Posted: 09/07/2012 3:37 pm Updated: 09/07/2012 4:17 pm. "Marijuana Usage Down Among Colorado Teens, Up Nationally: Study Shows". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "CDC - YRBSS - Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System - Adolescent and School Health". Cdc.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Editorial: Amendment 64 is the wrong way to legalize marijuana". Denver Post. October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- ^ Amendment 64:(9)
- ^ Scott Bomboy (2013-01-05). "Pot luck? States push Obama for legal marijuana ruling". Blog.constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ Blog Post. "Colorado governor to potheads: 'Don't break out the Cheetos' - U.S. News". Usnews.nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ "The Will of the Voters | Washington Office on Latin America". Wola.org. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ "El Congreso mexicano recibe una iniciativa para legalizar la marihuana - Nacional - CNNMéxico.com". Mexico.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ Gov. Hickenlooper signs Amendment 64 proclamation, creates task force to recommend needed legislative actions, Governor of Colorado, December 10, 2012
- ^ Lopez, Tyler (March 13, 2013). "Colorado marijuana task force issues 58 recommendations on how pot should be grown, sold and taxed". 7 News. KMGH-TV.
- ^ Flatow, Nicole (28 May 2013). "Six Ways Colorado Will Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol". Think Progress.
- ^ "Gov. Signs Marijuana Bills Into Law". KKTV. AP. 29 May 2013.
- ^ Kall, David M. (28 May 2013). "Legislature approves historic marijuana sales and excise taxes in Colorado".
- ^ HB 13-1317 Implement Amendment 64 Majority Recommendation; HB 13-1318 Retail Marijuana Taxes; SB 13-283 Implement Amendment 64 Consensus Recommendations; HB 13-1325 Inferences For Marijuana And Driving Offenses; SB 13-250 Drug Sentencing Changes
- ^ Roberts, Michael (13 September 2013). "Marijuana: Colorado NORML board opposes recreational pot tax measure". Denver Westword.
- ^ The Denver Post Editorial Board (18 September 2013). "NORML needs to get on board on Colorado pot taxes". The Denver Post.
- ^ Ingold, John (10 September 2013). "Colorado first state in country to finalize rules for recreational pot". The Denver Post.
- ^ Meyer, Jeremy P. (17 September 2013). "Denver council passes historic retail marijuana rules and regulations". The Denver Post.
- ^ "Sales Tax Rates Denver Treasury Division". Retrieved 19 September 2013.