OPINION
Vol. 127, No. 56 Thursday, November 2, 2017
CSU’S RESPONSE TO HATE IS GETTING BETTER PAGE 8
SPORTS
BORDER WAR HISTORY PAGE 10
A&C
OLD TOWN IS LIT PAGE 17
Weediversary Colorado is celebrating its fifth year of marijuana legalization. PHOTO BY OLIVE ANCELL COLLEGIAN
Community reflects five years after legalization of Amendment 64 By Mir-Yashar Seyedbagheri @dudesosad
Rocky Mountain High took on a new meaning Nov. 6, 2012. That is when Colorado legalized recreational marijuana with the passage of Amendment 64. The amendment passed with 55.32 percent of the vote. As a result, people over 21 can possess up to an ounce of recreational marijuana, including edibles. Marijuana has also been legal
medicinally since 2000. On the fifth anniversary of legalization, residents of Fort Collins have their own perspectives. Morgan Iacono, a junior history major at Colorado State University, sees legalization as a positive. “My brother-in-law smokes,” Iacono said. “It is safer for him to do his own thing now.” Iacono said her nephew is attending an elementary
school funded by marijuana revenue. She thinks legalization in Colorado will help shape the national debate around marijuana, possibly leading to decriminalization of the drug. But not everyone is high about legalization. “I think it has a lot more of a negative impact,” said Jordan Stennis, a sophomore civil engineering major. Stennis said that because of taxation, people may be more
inclined to buy through a dealer. Legalization also contributes to underage delinquency because people do not understand the laws. “I do not think it will ever be legalized nationally,” Stennis said. Some students say marijuana has become less of a stigma culturally. “It is more open,” said Adam Phillips, a freshman business administration major. “You see
it more on the street ... you have more pot shops.” Phillips is from Washington state, which also legalized marijuana in 2012. Sarah Wingard, a junior ecosystem sciences major, is from Seattle. She agrees that cultural attitudes toward marijuana have improved. “It has become less of a burnout,” Wingard said. see MAJIRUANA on page 17 >>