When Colorado legalized retail marijuana, the state had an expectation that marijuana tourism would play a factor in sales. By some estimates, as much as 70% of marijuana sales are made by vacationers from out of state. While shop owners will insistently tell customers that traveling out of state with marijuana is federally illegal, this hasn’t stopped people from bringing a little back home.
This has led to an increase in marijuana traveling to states bordering Colorado and has Oklahoma and Nebraska Attorney Generals taking notice. Some law enforcement agencies in western Nebraska, along the Colorado border, have complained that marijuana from the neighboring state has drained their resources.
“Oklahoma and states surrounding Colorado are being impacted by Colorado’s decision to legalize and promote the commercialization of marijuana which has injured Oklahoma’s ability to enforce our state’s policies against marijuana,” Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said in a statement.”As the state’s chief legal officer, the attorney general’s office is taking this step to protect the health and safety of Oklahomans.”
The case is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, and may have further implications on the Federal Court view of the prohibition of marijuana.