Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Jared Schutz PolisMore than 1,000 gather at Colorado racetrack to protest governor's coronavirus orders Over 300 LGBT leaders endorse Biden for president : 'The most pro-equality ticket in US history' Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders MORE (D) on Wednesday signed off on legislation that would allow businesses in the state to apply for licenses for social marijuana use areas.

The measure "authorizes marijuana hospitality spaces in “which marijuana may be consumed on site and retail marijuana hospitality and sales establishments in which retail marijuana, retail marijuana concentrate, and retail marijuana products may be sold and consumed on site in the establishment's hospitality space."

"The bill establishes requirements and prohibitions for the new hospitality spaces and requires the state licensing authority to promulgate rules governing the new hospitality licenses and spaces," the legislation also states.

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Prior to the bill, residents and tourists could legally smoke pot recreationally under the state’s existing law. However, there were few areas where smokers could go in the state to partake in legal marijuana consumption, Westword reports.

"Up until this bill, there's been no way to have safe public consumption," Polis said prior to signing the bill on Wednesday, according to the local paper. "I've smelled it walking my dog. For many of us with kids, we want to make sure we don't have that in our neighborhoods."

According to The Associated Press, the law is scheduled to take effect in 2020, pending approval from voters.