Marijuana Now Legal in Colorado

Feeding unsuspecting classmates pot brownies still isn't legal in Colorado, but smoking pot for your own recreational use now is, after Gov. John Hickenlooper today took the purposely low-key procedural step of declaring the voter-approved change part of the state constitution. Hickenlooper, a Democrat, opposed the measure but had no veto power over the voter-approved amendment to the state constitution. He tweeted his declaration today and sent an executive order to reporters by email after the fact.

He said he didn't want to make a big deal about the proclamation, a decision that prevented a countdown to legalization as seen in Washington. He technically had until Jan. 5 to declare marijuana legal, but told reporters he didn't see the point in waiting. "If the voters go out and pass something and they put it in the state constitution, by a significant margin, far be it from myself or any governor to overrule. I mean, this is why it's a democracy, right?" Hickenlooper said. Adults over 21 in Colorado may now possess up to an ounce of marijuana, or six plants. Public use and sale of the drug remain illegal. (More marijuana stories.)