Are Marijuana Bars The Answer?

When it comes to this issue I’ve discovered that people dislike to smoke with heavy marijuana users in public smoking areas. Some argue that it’s not a big deal others say that it is because people can be easily influenced, what I mean by that is there are people who never smoked cannabis before only cigarettes. Often when people are around users with marijuana they feel like they are forced to smoke other things besides tobacco. I’m most surprised to learn that some marijuana bars have been opened in Colorado. It would be better for the community and adolescents to see that there is walled in place for marijuana users to smoke. Rather than heavy cannabis smokers to be outside and encouraging their habit, they can be inside other smoker not effecting their surroundings. Now I just wonder if more will start opening up in other places in Colorado or decide to take a different approach. In The Denver Post it describes how a place has opened up for smoking marijuana. The reason being was because proponents were wanting a place to gather and smoke. Giving the idea that Colorado was treating marijuana like alcohol this was finally a big step towards a designated area to smoke. Could this be the foundation for public smoking?

My thinking has evolved into more mature state. I have realized that there are places that have opened up for cannabis smokers. In these bars people can walk in and feel conformable smoking in front of other people. They don’t have anyone looking down on them or judging them based on their actions. People such as young adults, middle aged adults and some older people are affected by marijuana bars. For instance young adults 21 and older can now go to a place where marijuana is enjoyed by many, they feel as if their at home but with other cannabis enthusiast instead. However I still wonder if this is where Colorado will stop with marijuana or will they soon be open to smoking marijuana in public such as parks and any outside facilities. 

Smoking Marijuana In Public

Since my last blog post #2 I have been thinking about how if any of these people’s opinions are actually having an effect on legislation of public smoking in Denver. I’ve also been thinking if whether this could be a good or a bad thing for our community to have because no one is going to be polite about smoking marijuana. In my third source from “The Denver Post” it describes about how a man lit up a joint at a Rockies game. In retro spec I feel as if it was a bad idea from the start because of it being a major public place where families come to enjoy themselves. A lot of activist are trying to push the idea of public marijuana smoking but could acts like these potentially ruin that chance?

Further in the article they state that they know a vast majority of pot smokers will follow the law when it comes to smoking. However, I can’t help but to disagree with that idea. In my previous sources it’s brought to the attention that a lot of people feel as if they have to break the law just to smoke marijuana, especially when it comes to tourists. I can understand how a game would be an inappropriate place for pot smoking. On the other hand these acts should raise their attention to think about alternatives for smoking marijuana in public rather than ruining their chances.

Legalization In Public Areas

Since my last post I read an article from Colorado Public Radio called "Denver tackles pot tourists biggest problem where smoke it" by Ben Markus. He describes most common marijuana smokers and their feud against smoking in public. Although legal recreational marijuana has been implemented in Colorado, smoking in general areas is illegal. Markus then continues with several situations about tourists struggling with finding an appropriate place to smoke marijuana. He then continues with a local bud-tender notifying tourists that they are not allowed to smoke in public places. This leaves them with no where to smoke and confused if they should break the law or not.

The previous article I wrote about has similar and not so similar topics. For example in the first article it only discusses the issue at hand, rather than what they are planning to do about the issue. With the other article they inform the public with petitions and collecting signatures so they can have the idea of smoking in public on a ballot. However, the bill did not pass because there were a lot of restaurant owners concerned with adolescents being influenced by pot smokers. However, couldn’t this also be an economical benefit for those who own business? Despite their efforts and what the first article has stated, they both connect with ending results of being shut down.  

where should it be smoked

Marijuana in public places

      The topic I will focus my research on will be whether marijuana should be smoked in public facilities or areas. I am interested in this topic because it has recently become legal to smoke marijuana in Colorado; however, it is still illegal to smoke in public areas. This issue matters because there could be economical benefits for certain communities by allowing people to smoke in their establishments. However, there is also a risk for those communities who are being exposed to marijuana. My intended local audience would be the Colorado state legislator so both smokers and non-smokers can determine an appropriate area for marijuana smoking.

      In the Los Angeles Times  it talks about how in Colorado they were trying to determine what was the definition of public since they banned smoking marijuana in public. It continues to describe the many attempts of cannabis events being turned down by Denver officials. one of them being the Colorado symphony allowing guests to smoke marijuana on a private patio. Along with that an attorney states that by shutting down those events "Authorities are merely capturing an accurate definition of public.” As a result of all this confusion some of the people in the community are trying to find ways around this so called definition and plan to continue to fight back these restrictions.

     Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.