Denver makes history: first city in US to allow marijuana in bars and restaurants

Denver (Colorado) is the first city in America to allow social marijuana use in clubs, bars and restaurants.

On November 2012, voters in Colorado passed the popular initiative ballot measure “Amendment 64” – with a strong majority in Denver -, to permit the recreational use of cannabis. Four years later, the city has approved the measure called “Proposition 300” – with a smaller margin -, which allows recreational pot in clubs, bars and restaurants.

The measure permits private businesses to apply marijuana use. In this way, customers – who must bring their own weed -, will be able to use pot inside as long as it is not smoked. Smoking will, however, be permitted in outdoor areas.

Businesses in Denver could start opening their doors to marijuana consumers as soon as late January. “This is a victory for cannabis consumers who, like alcohol consumers, simply want the option to enjoy cannabis in a social setting,” a Denver businessman said

Recreational cannabis in Colorado

Recreational marijuana was legalised in 2012 by the states of Colorado and Washington; later, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia followed suit. And recently, California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine elected to legalise recreational cannabis too.

Colorado´s “Amendment 64” addresses personal use and regulation of marijuana for adults 21 and over, commercial cultivation, manufacture and sale; regulating recreational cannabis in a similar way to alcohol. Citizens can grow up to 6 plants, legally possess marijuana from the plants they grow, and may carry up to one ounce while travelling.

The state of Colorado has accumulated a large surplus of tax from cannabis commercialisation. Last year the amount reached 66 million dollars, so citizens were consulted by the government to decide what to do with the money.  As a result, part of the marijuana tax will now be used to create a bullying prevention program.