The immediate effects of Amendment 64 (CO) on the black market

I've been following Amendment 64 (haven't looked into 502 as much) and it's got me a whole new breed of curious as to what will happen December 6th, when the election results are certified by Governor Hickenlooper and the "legalization" part of the law goes into effect.

As you know, the section of the law providing a regulatory framework for marijuana retail stores probably won't be put into place until at least October 2013, the deadline for the Department of Revenue to get a plan together, after which the burden will fall to local governments. That means that the first coffee-shop style storefronts won't open 'til at least early 2014, if of course, any of the regulatory stuff gets off the ground at all.

My big question is: what will the sale, distribution and consumption of marijuana look like in CO after Dec 6th but before the regulations take effect? WA, of course, doesn't matter since the law there doesn't legalize marijuana so much as appoint the state head dealer, but CO allows for growing and even the free exchange of materials - so long as there's no sale.

This seems like a huge grey area. I can think of a couple things this would make legal off the top of my head. You could trade clones, for example, out in the open, without fear of (CO) reprisal. Or even weed for that matter, so long as it's not in over an ounce or in a public place. And it does seem like allowing "trade" but not "sale" allows for some "abuse" this instance (sorry for the scarequotes). Could I just go out, buy a TV, then trade it to some enterprising individual for an ounce?

So I guess what I'm getting at is... anyone in CO wanna trade some devil's cabbage come December? :-P
 

Edwardo Ruffian

Well-Known Member
Under I-502 in Washington after Dec. 6th 2012 (the deadline for the Gov. to ratify the revised code) an ounce of dried cannabis, 72oz of infused liquids and 16 oz of infused cannabis if solid form (food stuffs) will be legal under state law. The Washington State Liquor Control Board has until Dec 2013 to
create the framework for the legal cannabis industry. There will be growers, producers, and retailers. None of these three entities will be owned by the state, instead they (WA state) will issue licenses to grow, produce, and sell cannabis and cannabis products. There will be a 25% tax at each point of sale grower to producer, producer to retailer. Under I-502 the grower can be his own producer eliminating one state of the 25% tax system. While I-502 does not allow home growing, the evidence of the presence of cannabis alone will not be enough probable cause for police to enter your home. In my opinion
this makes it extremely difficult for police to prevent someone from having a modest grow of a few plants. Because a drug dog can't tell the difference between an ounce and 100 lbs as long as you are smart private small scale growing of pot in WA might as well be legal. Also dealing will become much safer as well, if the dealer is smart and only carries an ounce on his/her person.
 
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