Cannabis sales now legal in Colorado

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 13:29:41 -0500

Effective yesterday, 1 January 2014, Colorado as legalized the sale of cannabis. While I do not agree with the law, I'm interested to see how the military will react to this change in regards to the service members stationed in that State and with their reserve/National Guard service members. Sales of the drug are limited to people over the age of 21 and cannot be transported out of the state.

A link to an article from BBC News is linked below and discuss the reaction of those in Colorado that took part in what was titled "Green Wednesday".

Colorado cannabis customers swarm

Hordes of customers brave bitter cold as the world's first state-licensed marijuana industry opens for business in the US state of Colorado.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 2 at 2014 7:01 PM

SFC James Baber — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:01:28 -0500

Have you seen the video of the cannabis tours for the seller of it in Denver.

I have always felt that out of all the illegal as far as what the government considers illegal this is the one they always made the mistake on. 1st THC is not addictive, alcohol and nicotine are, marijuana is not a gateway drug as professed, most smokers are very relaxed and more concerned with being mellow and having the munchies more than any thing else.

Marijuana users are not known for being violent offenders as many would try and claim, they don't rob, rape, steal or kill to get a fix or get money for their habit. Most grow their own or get it from friends or associates, it is not a major crime wave occurrence.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 2 at 2014 7:32 PM

CMC Robert Young — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:32:10 -0500

Ill advised changes in local laws which are not in accordance with current federal statutes aside, regulations still require adherence to a higher standard. Members of the guard & reserve will still be required to act accordingly, and in the event they fail, then be subjected to appropriate UCMJ or service rules regarding drug use.

Response by SFC Lamont Womack made Jan 3 at 2014 9:02 AM

SFC Lamont Womack — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:02:27 -0500

I think it is a good idea. I think it should be legal in every state. People are going to do it no matter what. At least now it can be controlled and the "right" people can make a profit from it. I'm not sure if the military should change their stance on it if it became legal everywhere though.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jan 3 at 2014 9:16 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:16:41 -0500

As a service member, I know I am not allowed to smoke marijuana and that's fine for I have no desire. With the recent legalization such as in Colorado it will certainly cause some of their state laws to be change or be inactive. I was wondering, will this effect people who are in prison due to marijuana conviction? Far as the legalization goes I have already heard others say, "buts it's a federal offense". I want to remind others that it's a federal offense when it's in federal jurisdiction except for individuals subjected to UCMJ such as soldiers.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jan 3 at 2014 10:54 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:54:51 -0500

I will take the tour next time I visit my in-laws in Colorado Springs...but then I am retired soooooooooo YAY ME!! Lol!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2014 3:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:36:17 -0500

Simply put= UCMJ SAYS NOPE TO DOPE

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2014 7:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 19:18:00 -0500

That change wouldn't affect the AD personnel, we will still be held accountable under the Army policy.

Response by 1SG Jeffery Bertram made Jan 3 at 2014 8:55 PM

1SG Jeffery Bertram — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:55:30 -0500

I would love to be working MPI in Colorado today. Business will be booming! Look, it's a violation of the UCMJ and smoking pot violates the orders of the Commander. National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers will have to exercise the same military discipline they do to pass the PT test and maintain height/weight standards and stay away from the "gonje".

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Jan 3 at 2014 8:57 PM

SGT Suraj Dave — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:57:44 -0500

It is still a illegal substance in the UCMJ. No matter where in the world you are, if you are a service member you are still subject to UCMJ. Could it change? That's a tough one. Our military is liberalizing at a very rapid rate (DADT Re-Appeal, Gay Marriage, Females in Combat Arms etc...) it would not be surprising if it was legalized, but it wouldn't be OK in the UCMJ until it was OK Federally. I have my reservation's on this one though, mostly because by legalizing this in UCMJ your opening a Pandora's Box with the military ...

Response by Thomas Socci made Jan 3 at 2014 9:32 PM

Thomas Socci — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:32:17 -0500

As a civilian supporter, I have a feeling the military will not change based on this new law in Colorado. The way I see it, you precious few are tasked with a thing called procedure, as well as uniformity. Leadership is probably going to ramp up searches though as well as drugtesting to make sure none of their soldier, marines, airmen, or any other military personnel in the area, are under the influence. It may be legal in the state of Colorado, but it still goes against the UCMJ.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Jan 3 at 2014 10:50 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:50:45 -0500

What's there to react to? It's still illegal as far as federal law is concerned which trumps state law. So if you're in and you pop even if you're in Colorado or Washington state you're done.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2014 12:25 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:25:46 -0500

This profession require you act accordingly, your body is as government property that under any circumstance that ingest any substance mention prohibited list of drug test, should be treated as damage or misuse of government property.

Federal or State punishment should follow.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2014 10:06 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:06:16 -0500

I find the fact that the Federal Government has not decided to enforce Federal laws in regards CO and WA legalizing marijuana for recreation purposes to be a very large issue.

There is something that I am not certain most were aware of until certain new stories broke this week: the bordering states will likely see an increase in marijuana possession/transportation type crimes. NW Oklahoma has already made a few arrests of those who have gone to CO to purchase marijuana and then crossed into Oklahoma.

This will increase law enforcement and court-related expenses for these bordering states that have not legalized it. To me, this is just one reason why Federal law should always be enforced.

Further, I also feel like permitting states to develop laws that contradict federal laws can become a slippery slope as states could now utilize case law precedence in order to fight other legal issue which they find federal laws to be more restrictive than they would like for the state's citizens.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2014 10:26 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:26:25 -0500

About time they legalized marijuana in colorado. Now tax it, and get our country out of debt

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2014 10:39 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:39:45 -0500

I think a more interesting discussion should be once it is fully legalized, how should/would DoD respond?

Personally i would believe that it should be treated like alcohol. If you are intoxicated on duty then all the same punishments should be in place.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2014 11:11 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 11:11:17 -0500

I don't think this will increase the numbers of Soldiers using drugs a lot over the long term (they never had a hard time finding it in the past).

Personally I think All drugs should be legal (not under UCMJ).

When it comes to the Drug War, the cure is worse than the disease. We have spent tons of money on raids prisons and lost countless lives to fight crime that is CAUSED by the prohibition of these drugs.

Drug abuse should be treated as a medical issue not a criminal one.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2014 12:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 12:46:51 -0500

Does anyone have any Doritos or Oreos? I'm hungry.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2014 4:05 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:05:25 -0500

This comic is from John Holmes, AKA Power Point Ranger:

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 8 at 2014 3:24 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 15:24:47 -0500

I seriously can't even believe you asked this question.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Jan 8 at 2014 4:06 PM

CPT Mike M. — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:06:34 -0500

I see an increase in testing in the future. For married servicemembers, I think the military has to allow family members to do what they're now legally allowed to do, especially in the privacy of their own home. If that means a Soldier has plants in his or her house but they continually pass a urine test, so be it. Not to mention, urine tests have to be at randon, 100% of the unit, or have probable cause. Once a Soldier's chain of command find out he (legally) has plants in his house, they can surprise test him any time they want to ensure they're doing the right thing. It's going to be a headache but doable.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 5:21 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:21:59 -0500

This is literally feel good legislation for Congress. I know the corollary issues like enforcement costs and so forth, but I suspect they want to tax it. In other words the state are the new cartels.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 8 at 2014 8:40 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 20:40:43 -0500

The following email was sent yesterday (7 Jan) to all NORAD - USNORTHCOM personnel:  > Classification: UNCLASSIFIED > =============================================== > Broadcast Message approved by NORAD and USNORTHCOM Deputy Chief of Staff. ============================================== > > Marijuana Use Remains Illegal for DoD and other Federal Government Personnel > > Although the use of marijuana in the state of Colorado became legal on 1 Jan > 2014, the use of marijuana by DoD and other Federal Government personnel > remains illegal. This applies to all military, civilian and contractor > personnel. > > Failure to comply with the prohibition on the ingestion of marijuana or > products made with hemp seed oil will result in suspension of your security > clearance and likely subsequent release from government service.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 8 at 2014 8:48 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 20:48:38 -0500

I'm not sure how this will play out, but I recommend telling our youth that if they plan to join the military...to not use marijuana, even if legal.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 9:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 21:15:57 -0500

I think family members would be allowed to own, grow, and use as they are not subject to UCMJ.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 11:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 23:03:37 -0500

I think this is a great question, in light of the state of Colorado legalizing it somewhat.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 11:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 23:03:42 -0500

I think this is a great question, in light of the state of Colorado legalizing it somewhat.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 11:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 23:03:43 -0500

I think this is a great question, in light of the state of Colorado legalizing it somewhat.

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 10 at 2014 3:13 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:13:44 -0500

Here's another email to all NORAD USNORTHCOM Personnel concerning use, possession and distribution of marijuana:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

=======================================================================
Broadcast Message approved by NORAD and USNORTHCOM Deputy Chief of Staff.
Please do not reply to this message.
=======================================================================
Best viewed in HTML
1. With the legalization of the sale of and recreational use of marijuana
in the State of Colorado, government employees must be aware that the use of
marijuana could have serious adverse consequences.

2. For members of the armed forces, the rules on the use and possession of
marijuana remain the same. Marijuana use, possession and/or distribution is
still a crime and marijuana is still defined as a controlled substance under
Article 112a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Accordingly,
violation of these prohibitions remains punishable pursuant to the UCMJ.

3. For civilian employees in a designated drug testing position, testing
positive for marijuana use will subject the employee to adverse employment
action.

4. For all individuals who possess an active U.S. security clearance, the
use, possession and/or distribution of marijuana will subject the individual
to an adverse action regarding the individual's security clearance and could
affect the individual's employment because it could impact suitability for a
clearance.

5. The prohibitions and regulations regarding the use, possession and/or
distribution of marijuana on Peterson AFB, in any federal facility on any
federal installation remain the same.

6. If individuals have specific questions about the new Colorado laws
concerning marijuana, please contact the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Office of the
Staff Judge Advocate at 554-9193.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 11 at 2014 3:00 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:00:19 -0400

....and the price of Twinkies has quadrupled almost overnight.