Pot on sale in Colorado

Colorado citizens voted 'yes' to Amendment 64 in December 2012, which made it legal for anyone over the age of 21 to use or possess up to one ounce of marijuana for any purpose.

First in line, looking very pleased with himself

Dozens of people lined up to buy 1 ounce (28 grams) of marijuana legally in Colorado for the first time yesterday.  The writing is now on the wall, pot will eventually become legal everywhere because state governments get to reap big rewards.  Colorado will recoup $US67 million in tax revenue this year. "It's just another item of commerce" someone said "like going to a liquor store."

There have been 348 marijuana business licenses already approved across the state but councils still have the power to block approval for shops opening within their area.  It's a law that's chock-a-block full of contradictions - you can now legally buy the drug, but smoking it in public is still against the law, as is driving, taking it out of state or giving it to someone under 21.

We can only imagine how much the war against drugs is costing western countries.  Police chasing kids with minuscule amounts of pot stashed under the car seat instead of catching real criminals is a shocking waste of resources and sending someone to jail for pot possession is ridiculous.

On the other hand, making marijuana legal is saying it's okay when we know for sure that it's not.  Too many lives have been ruined by this seemingly harmless drug and only a fool would deny it.

We see Highway Patrol cops testing drivers for drugs and alcohol all the time and have learnt that if a driver smoked pot 24 hours ago, he's still affected and shouldn't be behind the wheel of a car. He's as dangerous as a drunk driver.

Addiction counselors and doctors are saying it's a crazy idea, they are seeing more and more marijuana addiction and that wider availability will only make things worse.

For those suffering unbearable pain from illness, most of Colorado's legal medical marijuana shops haven't applied to sell recreational pot, but those who have plan to sell both.

Yesterday the price gradually rose to $500 but it's too early to say if that will hold.

Something tells me this new law isn't a good idea for the mental health of future generations, but the die is now cast and there's no going back.