Two States Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use
By: CNN
Updated: November 7, 2012
Voters in Colorado and Washington state have decided to legalize the
recreational use of marijuana.
CNN projects both measures green-lighting the legalization of marijuana passed Tuesday.
The initiatives regulate the production, possession, and distribution of marijuana for people 21 and older.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who opposed the measure, released a statement saying, quote, "don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."
Hickenlooper says "federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug" but his office intends "to follow through" with the will of voters.
The Washington referendum called for a 25-percent tax rate imposed on the product three times:
when the grower sells it to the processor, when the processor sells it to the retailer, and when the retailer sells it to the customer.
The state of Oregon had a similar measure on its ballot and it failed.
CNN projects both measures green-lighting the legalization of marijuana passed Tuesday.
The initiatives regulate the production, possession, and distribution of marijuana for people 21 and older.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who opposed the measure, released a statement saying, quote, "don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."
Hickenlooper says "federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug" but his office intends "to follow through" with the will of voters.
The Washington referendum called for a 25-percent tax rate imposed on the product three times:
when the grower sells it to the processor, when the processor sells it to the retailer, and when the retailer sells it to the customer.
The state of Oregon had a similar measure on its ballot and it failed.
