Now the state is moving towards embracing cannabis consumption clubs, home delivery services, and more.

Last year alone, Colorado saw more than $1.3 billion in cannabis sales. For their first year they saw sales around $699 million, in year 2 it was about $996 million, and now year three (the $1.3 billion) has clearly surpassed that. They certainly have been experiencing a 'green rush' over the last few years, with the cannabis market there exploding.

Data that has since come out following legalization, has indicated that things didn't take a turn for the worse like many anti-cannabis advocates believed they would. Instead, it looks like legalization is helping with opioid addiction, leading to safer roads, and according to a recent study it hasn't been seen to promote any increased consumption with users.

The percentage of those in Colorado who report using cannabis, has for the most part remained unchanged following the move to embrace legalization. Researchers with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have acknowledged that with both adults and youth, that cannabis use doesn't appear to be increasing. The data on the rate of consumption, was recently published in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Other states which have made the move to embrace legalization too, like Washington, have also reported similar findings in regards to the rate of consumption.

Legalization in Colorado has brought with it thousands of new jobs. But, despite it being fairly easy to access now in the state for both tourists and locals, it's still heavily regulated. There is also consideration for a new bill that would crackdown on home-growers. As far as whether or not people are happy about the changes, it's somewhat divided. Survey research has found that an estimated 53 percent of Colorado voters see the changes as positive, while about 39 see them as being something bad.

Regardless, the situation has given rise to an increased amount of research on cannabis and available data that can help to demonstrate that the outcome of allowing people access to this plant, isn't the hurricane of trouble and destruction that anti-cannabis advocates paint it to be.

Banner thanks to @son-of-satire

Pics:

Leafly

ABC News

Sources:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/09/colorado-marijuana-sales-2016/73415/

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2017/70210/study-marijuana-use-stable-in-colorado-post-legalization/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28232101

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/colorado/articles/2017-03-06/colorado-mulls-marijuana-crackdown-ending-co-op-growing

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/21/from-colorado-glimpse-life-after-marijuana-legalization/rcccuzhMDWV74UC4IxXIYJ/story.html

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