It’s a new era, as Colorado legalizes the sale of recreational marijuana, so says an advocate from Wisconsin.
Colorado is now the first state in the nation to license retail sales of marijuana. It’s a “great moment,” according to Gary Storck, director of communications of Is My Medicine Legal Yet (IMMY?).
Storck says, “It’s certainly something Wisconsin can’t escape from. Attitudes are changing here, whether our lawmakers are gonna be immediately following suit or not.”
It’s “an amazing thought,” he says, that you can hop on a plane and be in Denver in a couple hours and legally buy cannabis without fear of breaking the law. He’s not even pushing recreational pot, just the legal use of medicinal marijuana.
Storck says “it’s a no-brainer,” adding, “It’s getting to the point where medical use is pretty much becoming mainstream, particularly with developments last year like Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, actually apologizing for his role is subverting medical cannabis in the years prior.”
Considering he has roots in Wisconsin, Storck doesn’t plan on moving to Colorado to make use of the new law. He says he’ll keep fighting for the legalization of cannabis in the Badger State. Storck has been through a lot, including health issues of his own, and says he’s sticking it out here in Wisconsin.
Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) had promised to continue reintroducing medicinal marijuana legislation as long as it takes to change state law, though Storck does’t think such a change will happen any time soon.
“You know even in other states Republicans are passing medical cannabis laws. So it’s not really a partisan issue, unless they wanna make it one.”
Storck referenced Republican Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan, who this week approved medical grade cannabis legislation.
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Marijuana use had been legal for one year, but starting today (New Year’s Day), pot can be legally sold to anyone over 21 at specially licensed stores. Though pot is legal in Colorado, its use, possession, and sale is still against federal law.
The Denver Post answers all the questions you’ve ever thought of asking regarding pot in Colorado, its use, and the laws.