Denver (CNN) -- A small group of New Year's Eve revelers here ditched the traditional champagne toast, lighting up joints instead at a newly opened marijuana club.
The members-only Club 64 is the first of its kind to open in Colorado since November when voters approved Amendment 64, which legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use.
The club opened on New Year's Eve at 4:20 p.m. -- another significant number among pro-pot advocates -- to a small, but enthusiastic crowd of about a dozen people, all over the age of 21. Each member paid a $29 fee, allowing them to bring their own weed and smoke anywhere on the premises.
Not all of Colorado's marijuana advocates are celebrating. "Much of our success with Amendment 64 was making the soccer moms comfortable," said one advocate who campaigned to pass the amendment and declined to be named for fear of creating a rift within the marijuana advocacy community. "This is not the fight we want to have right now."
Despite new laws in Colorado and Washington state, federal law still prohibits recreational marijuana use. It's unclear if the federal government will step in and try to stop either state's laws from being enacted.
The advocate expressed concern that unregulated marijuana clubs in Colorado could create a bad impression on voters who supported the measure. "We have not only an opportunity but a responsibility to demonstrate to America this can work."
In a carefully worded statement, the advocacy director of Yes on Amendment 64 said that while Club 64 poses no risk to the community, it does put at risk the advances their cause has made.
"We can best demonstrate that regulation is a much safer approach to marijuana policy than prohibition through the careful and swift creation of regulated businesses," Betty Aldworth said.
Those who showed up at Club 64 Tuesday weren't interested in making sure "soccer moms" would approve of their behavior. They just wanted to celebrate their recent victory at the ballot box by ringing in the new year with their now legal drug of choice.
"The voters of Colorado have said we want cannabis to be legalized and we want a bunch of like-minded adults to be able to get together and exercise their constitutional rights together and that's what Club 64 embodies," said club owner Rob Corry.
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I think that if thats the way they wanted to ring in the new year, then they should be able to. They also have the right to have small amounts. So they opened a club that allows them to smoke it in that club.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Hodek
Per. 3
I disagree with mathew because that is wrong to do and I know that stuff can be very addicting to some people.Some people have noooo common sense these days,why waste your life on MARIJUANA?To me I would rather do something really fun that is not addicting to you but if people want to be like that,they just don't care about their life and they just want to die faster.Sooooooo.....I'm against all of this bad stuff.people are starting to be more stupid now then they used to be.
ReplyDeletechelsey jensen p.7
I think that marijuana should be legalized. It would help our economy tremendously in my opinion. It would create a large amount of revenue and it could help our country get out of debt. If people want to be dumb enough to use it, I don't think that the government should be able to regulate it.
ReplyDeleteJared Streiff p.2
...Really Jared? You think this will help us get out of debt? explain to me how would this get us out of debut. No that won't not help us. Not at all. Only thing I see that would help us is those Hospital owners will be rich from people getting sick/going crazy. You know what Marijuana that people aren't telling you guys? This is from the web site of the dangers of marijuana. "Smoking marijuana regularly (a joint a day) can damage the cells in the bronchial passages which protect the body against inhaled microorganisms and decrease the ability of the immune cells in the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria, and tumor cells. For patients with already weakened immune systems, this means an increase in the possibility of dangerous pulmonary infections, including pneumonia, which often proves fatal in AIDS patients. Studies further suggest that marijuana is a general "immunosuppressant" whose degenerative influence extends beyond the respiratory system. Regular smoking has been shown to materially affect the overall ability of the smoker�s body to defend itself against infection by weakening various natural immune mechanisms, including macrophages (a.k.a. "killer cells")" This is all I gotta to say.
ReplyDeleteTappe P7th
It would help with debt because it would be taxed heavily like cigarettes. Those are a lot more damaging than marijuana, and legal.
DeleteMarijuana is very addictive, but if it is legalized, it will most likely be modified in use.
DeleteThe effects of it is dry mouth, "magical" thinking, the munchies, breathing and heart rate to go up.
If you use the natural stuff with THC in it, the effects are not as bad than if the genetically modified stuff is.
What I thought was quite interesting though, is the effects could last up to weeks!
(I did a little research. I have not smoked it in my life.)
I think that it is very very bad that they are saying it is legal to have marijuana in Colorado.I don't like it because the people can get high off of marijuana.If the people got high they can get into accidents and they can kill people if they were driving.
ReplyDeleteAshleyOtto p2
The problem I see with this is that there's really no way to regulate how much marijuana people are smoking. The law says a small amount, but that could be different for each and every person. Like with drinking, how one person can get drunk on only a small amount of alcohol and another can drink a lot without having any adverse side effects. Except probably liver problems... and all the other lovely side effects that come with drinking a lot. So one person's small dosage of marijuana might actually be a lot, but who's going to go around and say "Oh, you have too much, now it's illegal"?
ReplyDeleteAbby Johnson
Period 3
I disagree with Ashley because people had more deaths from cigarettes than marijuana. There is nothing wrong with marijuana besides the fact that it makes you dumb and kills your brain cells. That's why people smoke it every day for the joy of their high no one smokes marijuana for pain relief or medical conditions.
ReplyDeleteDavid Hoang p3
Like for example, if they were to set a limit to only 2.5 ounces a week or a day or whatever(is marijuana measured in ounces? I'm practically illiterate when it comes to drugs...) but someone had 2.6 ounces or 2.7 or 2.8... who is going to go around weighing their little bag to see if they have too much? I'm sure it'd be pretty easy to make it look like a small amount when it actually is a lot bigger than allowed.
ReplyDeleteAbby Johnson
Period 3
I just want to know how the authorities would know if the people who have the drug actually have only a small amount. They could still hide the stuff so they have more than the allowed amount, and drug dogs could tell you if they have marijuana but not how much they have. Also David Hoang, how do you know that marijuana isn't more dangerous than cigarettes? It's illegal in the United States so you can't tell, except by looking at the countries who allow marijuana. Usually when the Health Department bans something, it isn't just because they felt lke banning some random substance.
ReplyDeleteIf the people want to do that, fine by me, (though I really disapprove). Just keep them off the roads or out of other situations where they could hurt other civilians.
Alyssa Crowe
3rd hour
I think the legalization of marijuana in Colorado is not such a bad thing. Although I don't agree with having a marijuana club to smoke is the kind of idea that people wanted. I say marijuana should be legalized if things such as tobacco are allowed in the U.S. If marijuana helps patients with such things as depression and other problems, it should be legalized. They may have to put a restriction on the amount of marijuana given out per person so we dont have people getting to addictd though.
ReplyDeleteJared Bethune
Period 2
I think that states legalizing marijuana walks a very fine line. I say this because of the fact that just because the states says it is fine the federal gov't still has it illegalized. This means that in Washington or Colorado the federal gov't still can come in and take these people to a federal prison. If it is going to be legalized it has to be on a federal bases not just on a states bases.
ReplyDeleteBrian Snyder
Period 3
I'm so against drugs. Drugs is just like alcohol. When it gets into your system it will damage everything inside and outside of your body, it impairs your ability to do simple and complex things in your everyday life.
ReplyDeleteMcKenna Butler
Period 2
In my personal opinion marijuana should be legalized by the federal govt. because even though it is bad for you, the user should be able to choose what goes into their body. Some of the risks of prescription drugs are much worse than the risks of using marijuana. Along with other things such as alcohol and cigarettes. All things that are perfectly legal. I also believe that if marijuana was legalized and it was easier for people to get ahold of it, less people would use other types of drugs that are potentially life threatening and you can O.D. on. A lot of the time people are introduced to worse drugs when buying marijuana from their dealers, therefore giving marijuana the title of a gateway drug. If marijuana was sold in stores legally people would not have to go to shady drug dealers in order to get marijuana. If someone wants to smoke pot, they will get pot. And there is no point in it being illegal.
ReplyDeleteCailee Mesler 3rd hour
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThere is a club to smoke marijuana? Really it's just like a bar. Stupid places to do stupid things. In this case the goverment is right will keeping it illegal through all the arguements for legalizing it.They are trying to protect our country to fall into a state of high. Millions of people dying because of the effects marijuana on our bodies. I'd rather live healthy, thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteCassie Pelland, Per.3
I agree with both Jareds. Marijuana would be a good way the creat a imcome to the government because of how many peaople use it illegaly. The government could place a tax on it as high as they wanted to, but it should be regulated on how much you can buy at a time. Weed can help people with emotional and medical problems, so i think that marijuana should be legalized in America.
ReplyDeleteLuke Jaycox
Period 2
Just because marijuana is illegal doesn't mean people aren't going to do it. I don't understand why it was illegal in the first place. I mean in my own opinion there's more deaths from alcohol and more potent drugs then pot. I feel it was a smart idea for govt to legalize because they can tax it like everything else and make good money off of it. If you can drink in a bar I feel like it should be fair to smoke pot in a club without getting in trouble for it.
ReplyDeleteMarlee Flick 3rd hour.
I agree with Luke. The government should make marijuana legal. It would help our country's economy in these times. Also, people are still doing it even though its illegal. If people are going to do it, might as well lower our debt with the money from it. Although, I do not agree with smoking clubs.
ReplyDeleteAlex Burke
Period 7
I believe that it was ok to legalize marijuana in Colorado. Right now marijuana is probably better for people than tobacco because of all the extra chemicals companies are putting in tobacco products. I think that it should be legalized in the U.S., people have been using marijuana for many years and instead of trying to catch and jail people for using a drug that has (kind of) similar effects of tobacco and alcohol, the government should focus on catching criminals and killers. Club 64 is just like a normal bar or club and people have a choice to go in and out of those establishments. It's not my job to judge people; and if it's legal in Colorado, so be it.
ReplyDeleteMolly M.
Per. 3
My opinion on marijuana being legalized..I'm not totally for it because there are harmful things that are involved in the recreational use of smoking it. At the same time I agree with the other's, there could be a profit made with the legalization of it. Hence bringing in more money for our government. To the person who wants that drug its not going to matter if its legalized or not. Obviously they know how to get it illegally and they will do so if need be. Yes its stupid but its not me and if that's the way you've planned your life to be.. go for it I guess.
ReplyDeleteMolly B 7th Hour
Personally, I would rather have marajuana as a drug than alcohol.
ReplyDeleteI would never smoke it myself, mind you but I'd rather have a bunch of happy high people than a bunch of angry drunks.
I think that it was really cool that people in Colorado got to smoke a little marajuana. It's not that big of a deal. I personally think alcohol is worse then marajuana because when your drunk you can't do anything. With marajuana you just get high. You might not be able to much but atleast you wont pass out from it.
ReplyDeleteMason M. 3rd hour
I really don't care that if marajuana is legalized or not. If people want to smoke marajuana let them, it is their body. If people want marajuana, they will get it. If it is in the streets or in stores. I have no power on what other people are going to do. I don't understand why they would want to though! Any type of alcohol or drug is bad for you and you shouldn't do them.You are just hurting yourself. If Colorado is going to legalize marajuana, so be it. I know that I will be smart and not try marajuana or any other type of drug.
ReplyDeleteSuzie D. 2nd hour
Honestly, marijuana is a bad drug and it can have some severe drawbacks but it isn't as bad as the things people put in themselves now. There are people smoking weed everywhere if it's legal or not, they don't care. If it's legalized they just get to do it in public it's not a big deal if they legalize it or not. It may even be better than getting drunk in a health situation. I know someone who's dad had bad cancer and when he beat it he had really bad depression and marijuana really helped him calm down and feel like life was a little easier. Nothing special would happen if we legalized it in Minnesota; all you'd see is a couple people smoking a joint on the sidewalk. Smoking pot is bad and I'm all against it but I tried to take it into a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteThanks bro,
Anthony Paradis 3rd hour
There are people that think this could be the worst thing in the world and others that don't see what the big deal is. I'm kind of in the middle. I don't use it, and even though I may know some people that do, it doesn't directly effect me too much. I realize that's not the case for everyone. Legalizing things usually makes people want to do something less. Like for teenagers, sometimes, turning 21 isn't as much fun because you won't be such a "rebel" anymore. Some things just aren't as fun to do if you're allowed to do it. I don't see why it's legalized though because it's just another form of intoxication. People are gonna get behind the wheel when they're high now and drive like they do when they get drunk. People probably already do, but... idk. There are a lot of things wrong with modern laws and we coudl spend many many months trying to figure out just exactly how it should be, but we all know that wouldn't get us anywhere. We can learn to deal with it, or we can put our beliefs into action... the problem is that America's population all have very different ideas about what's right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that they legalized marajuana is not a good thing in my opinion. Plus, it's very addictive and could ruin many lives and relationships. But even if it wasn't legalized, people who want to do drugs are going to do them, legal or not.
ReplyDelete-Andrea Warkentin 2nd hour