Colorado Being Sued For 'Leaking' Legalized Pot
Staging a legal challenge against Colorado's legalization of marijuana, attorneys general of Nebraska and Oklahoma sued the state alleging that the Colorado-legalized marijuana is illegally leaking to neighbouring states.
The two states have also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the law. The suit states that Colorado's decision to legalize the drug has been "particularly burdensome".
"In passing and enforcing Amendment 64, the state of Colorado has created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system enacted by the United States Congress. Marijuana flows from this gap into neighboring states, undermining plaintiff states' own marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on their criminal justice systems," says the lawsuit.
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said, "This contraband has been heavily trafficked into our state. While Colorado reaps millions from the sale of pot, Nebraska taxpayers have to bear the cost," Bruning said at a news conference in Lincoln, NBC News reports.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt states that the lawsuit differentiates between legalized marijuana and the extensive commercialization that Colorado permits. Pruitt said that the most crucial issue is with the licensing scheme, the commercialization, for which the neighbouring states of Oklahoma and Nebraska are paying heavy price.
"This is not just simply that Colorado has legalized the use and possession ... there are illegal products that are being trafficked across state lines. Clearly we've been injured," Pruitt said, USA Today reports.
On the other hand, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said that he wasn't "entirely surprised" by the accusations. However, he added that the state will "vigorously defend" their stand in the Supreme Court.
