Gov. John Hickenlooper made it official Monday: Pot is now legal in the state of Colorado, according to the state constitution.

Hickenlooper, a Democrat, signed the proclamation that places Amendment 64 into the constitution. And he announced the creation of a task force to attempt to work out the many legal and logistical details that must accompany the amendment, which makes the use, 1-ounce possession and limited home-growing of marijuana legal for anyone age 21 and older.

Neither the law nor the constitution requires the governor to sign a proclamation, but state law and the constitution say the measure takes effect 30 days after the votes have been canvassed, regardless of whether the governor has signed it.

The governor said he was carrying out the wishes of Coloradans, who approved the amendment with 55 percent of the vote.

“Obviously, I didn’t support it,” Hickenlooper said. “Our voters very clearly said they thought this was a step forward. I think our job now is to do the very best job we can to respect the will of those voters and to make that step forward as thoughtful and constructive as we possibly can.”

To help do that, the governor on Monday signed an executive order creating a task force on implementation. The 24-member body, composed of lawmakers, cabinet officials, civic leaders and officials with groups representing employers and marijuana advocates, will be co-chaired by Jack Finlaw, the governor’s chief legal counsel, and Barbara Brohl, executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Hickenlooper said the panel was supposed to make its recommendations by Feb. 28.

Mason Tvert, who served as co-director of the campaign in support of the Amendment 64, said Monday was a “truly historic” day.

“From this day forward, adults in Colorado will no longer be punished for the simple use and possession of marijuana,” Tvert said. “We applaud Gov. Hickenlooper for issuing this declaration in a timely fashion, so that adult possession arrests end across the state immediately.”

Amendment 64 also allows specially licensed stores to sell marijuana starting in 2014. In addition, Coloradans can own up to six marijuana plants, three of which may be flowering at any given time.

It is not legal to smoke or use cannabis in public under state law, and until the state passes and implements laws regulating the sale of marijuana, it’s still illegal to buy or sell recreational pot.

Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626, thoover@denverpost.com or twitter.com/timhoover

Members of the task force

Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, appointed by the incoming speaker of the House;

Sen. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge, appointed by the incoming president of the Senate;

Rep.-elect Dan Nordberg, R-Colorado Springs, appointed by the incoming House minority leader;

Sen.-elect Vicki Marble, R-Fort Collins, appointed by the incoming Senate minority leader;

David Blake, representing the Colorado attorney general;

Kevin Bommer, representing the Colorado Municipal League;

Eric Bergman, representing Colorado Counties Inc.;

Chris Urbina, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment;

James Davis, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety;

John Salazar, Colorado commissioner of agriculture;

Ron Kammerzell, senior director responsible for the Colorado Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division;

Christian Sederberg, representing the campaign to pass Amendment 64;

Meg Sanders, representing the medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation industry;

Craig Small, representing marijuana consumers;

Sam Kamin, a person with expertise in legal issues related to the legalization of marijuana;

Dr. Christian Thurstone, a person with expertise in the treatment of marijuana addiction;

Charles Garcia, representing the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;

Larry Abrahamson, representing the Colorado District Attorneys Council;

Brian Connors, representing the Colorado state public defender;

Daniel Zook, an at-large member from outside of the Denver area;

Tamra Ward, representing the interests of employers; and

Mike Cerbo, representing the interests of employees.