Where NOT to Consume Cannabis in Colorado
Colorado has long been known for being a cannabis tourist’s paradise.
Since Colorado was the first state to regulate and license recreational marijuana stores in the U.S. in 2014, cannabis connoisseurs from far and wide have been traveling to the Centennial State to see what types of fine cannabis goodies they can buy legally.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find out where exactly you are allowed to consume cannabis after you purchase it in a dispensary. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the best and worst places to consume your marijuana and marijuana products. Today we are going to take a look at the latter.
Worst Places to Consume Cannabis
Let’s get the bad out of the way first. Here are some of the worst places you could choose to partake:
National Parks & Lands
People come from all across the country and even the world to see Colorado’s pristine natural beauty in our noteworthy national parks, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and Great Sand Dunes National Park.
What many cannabis tourists don’t realize is that since national parks are federal property, marijuana possession and consumption isn’t allowed inside them. The same goes for National Monuments or any other area that’s on federal land or considered federal property.
If caught consuming inside a national park, cannabis consumers can face steep fines and even minor jail time. Over the past decade, over 25,000 people nationwide have been cited for possessing cannabis on federal land or property. The citation is punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and up to six months in jail.
Skiing or Snowboarding Resorts
Don’t be fooled; while it may still not be uncommon to see skiers and snowboarders lighting up outside at ski resorts, while on chairlifts, and even on the slopes, cannabis consumption while skiing and snowboarding is actually highly regulated. Despite the availability of marijuana to tourists in Colorado, it can still only be consumed in a private residence or a licensed marijuana consumption facility.
That means consuming marijuana isn’t allowed outside or in public, and this includes on the ski slopes, chairlifts, and bars and restaurants at the ski resorts and lodges. These companies don’t want to be liable to a possible negligence lawsuit if a customer is hurt while skiing or snowboarding after consuming cannabis or cannabis products.
It may come as a surprise, but many ski resorts and areas across Colorado are on federal land too, meaning cannabis possession is even prohibited in many ski areas. Even if a ski resort is on state property, smoking cannabis is still prohibited due to the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act, which doesn’t allow combustion indoors.
As you can see, it is always best to check if you are allowed to consume or even possess cannabis at a place you are planning to visit to avoid any trouble with the law and enjoy your cannabis experience in Colorado.
In our next article we will talk about the best places to consume cannabis in Colorado.
Written by Lindsay Aronson, Director of Licensing & Compliance for Silver Stem Fine Cannabis
