Experimenting with pot: the state of Colorado's legalization of marijuana.

O n November 6, 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington moved to legalize the use and sale of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The passage of Amendment 64, which amended the Colorado constitution, and Initiative 502, which amended the Revised Code of Washington, marked “an electoral first not only for America but the world.”1 In response to the legalization of recreational marijuana, Colorado is taking a proactive approach. We are working as a convener for all interested parties and experts to shape public policy that utilizes the decades of public health lessons gained from regulating alcohol and tobacco. We have applied these lessons to marijuana and are making every effort in our laws, regulations, and revenue allocations to address public health and safety concerns, prevent young people’s use of marijuana, and educate parents and children about the risks of its use. While Colorado and Washington are the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, since the 1970s, the national trend has moved toward decriminalization, increased social acceptance, and legalization for medical use. Today, more than half the states in the United States have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, approved it for medical use, or legalized it completely.2 Numerous other states—both liberal and conservative—are considering legalization, indicating that the recreational use of marijuana is no longer a partisan issue. Colorado and Washington are at the forefront of these national trends, and the establishment of rules, regulations, and a policy framework that protects the public’s health and safety and prevents underage use will set a baseline for other states’ marijuana laws. Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 with 55% of the vote. Although our administration opposed the legalization of adult-use marijuana, we are committed to fulfilling the will of the voters and directing the responsible regulation of this nascent industry. One of our first steps