On the morning of Nov. 7, those of us who did not stay up to see the results of the election saw historic news. Marijuana had been legalized for recreational use in both Colorado and Washington.
But for those of you planning on packing your belongings and buying a plane ticket to Denver or Seattle, you might want to be aware of what actually happened on Nov. 6 when voters agreed to legalize the college frat boy’s favorite herb.
While both states legalized the drug for recreational use, Colorado and Washington have different sets of rules. You can compare the guidelines for yourself below and decide to which state you would rather move.
Colorado:
-Smoking inside your home is legal now, but you cannot smoke cannabis in public.
-Get out those gardening gloves and Miracle-Gro, because you may now grow kush in your very own backyard. Residents are now legally allowed to grow six baby plants inside their homes but no more than three mature plants. Most importantly, these plants cannot be in view of the public.
-No driving while high, so sorry, no late-night Taco Bell runs. Order a pizza instead.
Washington:
-No unauthorized selling. Residents must either grow the weed themselves or buy from a licensed dealer.
-The law takes effect on Dec. 6 of this year.
-Washington, similar to Colorado is treating the Marijuana legalization like alcohol. You must be 21 or older to buy it. However, unlike Colorado, in Washington you must buy the weed at a specifically marijuana-only store. There will also be a 25% sales tax on weed purchases. Also, like Colorado, you cannot drive while high.
So, with all of the facts together, there are two main points you need to consider before actually moving to either of these states. Yes pot is legal, but employers can still legally drug test and fire workers if they test positive for marijuana. And most importantly, marijuana is still against federal law, which means that the federal government can overthrow the states’ current laws regarding the legality of marijuana.
While weed may be legal right now, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has a message for current and future Colorado residents. “This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through,” he said. “That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or goldfish too quickly.”