Upper School students react to the legalization of marijuana

These+marijuana+plants+are+being+grown+for+consumption.+The+marijuana+debate+has+been+hotly+contested+in+California

Colleen Danger

These marijuana plants are being grown for consumption. The marijuana debate has been hotly contested in California

The line of people swung around the corner and snaked through the sidewalk, dotted with brightly colored gloves, hats, and scarves, shielding buyers from the Colorado chill.

More than a hundred buyers formed a queue outside a Denver marijuana store on Wednesday, Jan. 1, after Colorado became the first state to legalize the purchase of marijuana for ages 21 and over.

While (according to USAToday) the laws do not allow for public consumption, the opening of marijuana stores in Washington and Colorado on the new year marked a decisive change in history.

Read more about the limitations and misconceptions of Colorado’s marijuana laws: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/01/02/marijuana-pot-legal-colorado-questions/4288289/

In reaction, Upper School students expressed concern about public safety, government interference, and the law’s effect on high school students.

Sanjana Kaundinya (11) cited economic stimulation as one of the most important reasons to legalize marijuana.

“I feel like it would help bring in more state revenue [in California], just like it did in Colorado,” she said. “Like, the first day they legalized it, they had more than one million dollars in sales and it would help balance our budget in California.”

Other students felt that the change in legislation would have little long term impact on consumer behavior.

“People who will go for an illegal way to buy it, right now, they will still continue doing that,“ Sandra Yin (12) said. “I think we [as a state] can consider doing the same thing as Colorado did at the time.”

Others expressed concerns that the legalization of marijuana would be detrimental to the state.

“If California legalizes marijuana, then there is a higher probability of high schoolers in California going to drugs because if they are sold in stores, it’s much easier to get it,” Misha Ivkov (9) said. “I think it is not a good idea for Colorado to legalize it, because it encourages other states to do the same.”