[Source:
By Erica Meltzer Camera Staff Writer/Dailycamera.com]
Adults will be able to smoke marijuana on
private property in Boulder, even if their neighbors are able to see
them, and people younger than 21 caught with pot will be treated like
underage drinkers.
The Boulder City Council voted unanimously
Tuesday to adopt new marijuana ordinances in light of Amendment 64,
which legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and directed
the state Legislature to come up with a regulatory framework for retail
sales.
Boulder is waiting to develop rules for marijuana stores
until the state decides what its regulations and licensing procedures
will be.
For now, the city is adopting new ordinances saying marijuana cannot be smoked in public or by people under 21.
In
response to earlier concerns about the definitions of public and
private, the ordinance was clarified to say that marijuana can be
consumed on private property, like in a backyard, even if neighbors
might see or smell it.
Amendment 64 applies to people 21 and
older. The ordinances adopted Tuesday will treat underage use of
marijuana similar to underage drinking.
People between ages 18
and 21 will still have the right to use marijuana if they have a medical
card. If someone is accused of underage pot use and intends to present a
medical defense, he or she will be asked to present that before trial
to avoid unnecessary legal costs for the city.
