Stakeholder #3

The 3rd stakeholder that I think it is really important to focus on is the people of Colorado. They are the ones who voted in the Amendment, but they are also the ones who have really seen the effects of the legalization of marijuana.

1.
Coloradan: a person from the state of Colorado who knows the true meaning of "bipolar weather" and who walks around in flip flops even when there is snow on the ground. A true Coloradan loves the outdoors and will take any adventure. If you used to think of Colorado, you once thought of beautiful hiking and breath taking mountain adventures, now if you think of Colorado, you think of marijuana. The people have colorado have certainly seen a change since the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2012, and with the opening of retail pot shops in 2014.

2.
In February, a Quinnipiac poll found that 58 percent of state voters supported marijuana legalization, although 51 percent said that legalization was "bad" for the state's wholesome reputation.
When looking at a forum to ask people to say how they felt about weed, an anonymous person said am in favor of legalization " The economic impact is too large to ignore and the current punishment for possession does not fit the crime. I think as a nation we have been hypocritical long enough and its time to look at the facts of what it truly is. Out of all illegal substances it is the mildest. It is even milder than alcohol which is legal. Out of all overdoses in the US it doesn't even make the list. I don't see any justification on it remaining illegal. For what?"
According to a Quinnipiac poll conducted in early 2014 "Slightly more than half of Coloradans say they've smoked marijuana at some time in their life, but only 10 percent admit to taking a legal toke since January 1," said Tim Malloy (assistant director of Quinnipiac).

3.
Because the claims were polls of the people of Colorado and conducted by highly esteemed Quinnipiac polling institution, I would have to say they are a pretty accurate representation of Coloradans views. However, because they aren't views of individual people, it is hard to get a sense of where they actually stand. I know that a huge problem that the people of Colorado have with the legalization is the new reputation that it has given Colorado. I think for the most part, people like how much money it is bringing into the state, but it is very hard to have everyone know your state as 'the pot state' because it doesn't sound very good.

4.
These claims are very similar to those of the government's because they enjoy the money that it has brought in but they don't like the reputation it has created. They are also very similar to those of the schools because the people of Colorado want the money to be raised to fix the school systems for their children. Some people who are very against the legalization of pot have more similarities with medical facilities views on the legalization because they they think it is dangerous and it will now be easily available to minors. However, the people who are for the legalization share very similar views with businesses, schools, and government because they know how much money it is bringing in. The people of Colorado who smokes weed are very happy that they can now buy weed legally, and that their taxes are funding the public school system.

Fowler, John. "Red Mountain Reflected in Crystal Lake" 07/11/2012 via Wikimedia Commons

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