Colorado voters pass Amendment 64, becoming the first state to legalize recreational cannabis

On November 6, 2012, Colorado voters made history by approving Amendment 64 by a vote of 55.32% Yes (1,383,140 votes) to 44.68% No (1,116,894 votes). Along with Washington state on the same ballot, Colorado became one of the first two jurisdictions in the world to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis for adults aged 21 and older.

What Amendment 64 changed for adults in Colorado

Added to the Colorado Constitution as Article XVIII, Section 16, the measure was framed around regulating marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol:

• Personal possession: Adults 21 and older could legally possess up to 1 ounce (28.35 grams) of cannabis and transfer up to 1 ounce to another adult 21+ without payment.
• Home cultivation: Adults could grow up to 6 cannabis plants per person in an enclosed, locked space, with no more than 3 plants flowering at one time.
• Regulated retail stores: The amendment directed the state Department of Revenue to license cultivation facilities, product manufacturers, testing labs, and retail stores, with the first $40 million in annual excise tax revenue dedicated to public school construction.

Key effective dates

• November 6, 2012: Voters approve Amendment 64.
• December 10, 2012: Governor John Hickenlooper signs the proclamation certifying the vote into the state constitution, immediately legalizing personal possession and home cultivation.
• January 1, 2014: The nation’s first licensed recreational cannabis dispensaries open to the public across Colorado on New Year’s Day 2014.