History was made late last month when the federal government announced they won’t halt the marijuana legalization in Larimer, Weld and Boulder County, and all throughout Colorado. Marijuana legalization advocates are hailing this as a major victory in ending the prohibition of marijuana. In a memo from U.S. Attorney General James Cole, the federal government did say that they will be watching Colorado very closely, and will step in if the legalization gets out of hand.
Federal Government Will Be Watching Marijuana Legalization in Colorado Closely
The federal government will be watching Colorado very closely, however – if we don’t abide by our state drug laws in Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park regarding marijuana, they will step in. In the memo, the areas they will be watching were outlined. They will be watching that we are:
- Preventing marijuana distribution to minors;
- Preventing money from sales from going to criminal groups;
- Preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal to states where it is illegal;
- Preventing criminal groups from using state laws as cover for trafficking of other illegal drugs;
- Preventing violence and the use of illegal firearms;
- Preventing drugged driving and marijuana-related public health problems;
- Preventing the growing of marijuana on public lands;
- Preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.
In a nutshell, the federal government still believes that pot is a “dangerous drug,” and they want to make sure that its legalization doesn’t result with more children getting addicted to drugs, or an increase in drug-related crime, such as violence, driving under the influence of drugs (DUI), the use of illegal firearms, and money from the distribution and sale of marijuana being used to fund criminal activities. They also want to ensure that marijuana doesn’t get imported into other states where it is currently illegal, and will prohibit the growth or use of marijuana on public lands. Enormous steps have been taken in the fight to legalize marijuana in Larimer, Denver and Broomfield County. This doesn’t mean the federal government won’t prosecute you for possessing marijuana; cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. If you live in federal housing or get federal aid, you could be at risk if you use marijuana.