Cannabis clubs coming soon to Colorado?

Pro-cannabis activists in Colorado are calling on the authorities to set up «pot clubs» where smokers can enjoy their purchases.

Colorado law allows the purchase and sale of cannabis use, on the other hand, it is always no smoking in public places. At the moment, a bunch of friends who've just bought their little green heads can't eat there. But where to go when no home is available?

This thorny problem also affects law enforcement agencies. They are faced with a major increase in consumption in public places, with streets, parks and squares invaded by smokers looking for a pleasant place to settle down. Cannabis tourists face the same problems as the locals. With no place to live and most hotels being non-smoking, the joint is smoked between two streets or behind a bar.

That's why NORML, one of the largest cannabis law reform associations, is proposing setting up pot clubs«, a mix between Dutch coffeeshop and the Spanish Cannabis Club.

Read more: 10 things you need to know about Barcelona's Cannabis Social Clubs

For Teresa Wright, a local activist, «people need a place to go. You can go anywhere and you'll see bars where people socialize, relax and drink. But not for cannabis.»

At present, some cannabis clubs exist but are wild and illegal. So they suffer police raids.

Republican Jonathan Singer declares that ’there is no suitable model for cannabis clubs«. According to one Denver resident, cannabis clubs would promote access to drugs for minors. »Marijuana is everywhere, we don't need any more clubs.«

This problem of where to welcome smokers also affects other states where recreational consumption is legal. Alaska's Marijuana Control Board has called for a ban on cannabis clubs, fearing an increase in «cannabis-related traffic accidents», even though the government was in favour.

Pro-social club activists have until mid-August to gather 5,000 signatures from Colorado residents in order to take the issue to the State Council.

Théo Caillart