Will 'Marijuana Tourism' Light Up US Voters? Laura S. Bly - USA Today
go to original November 6, 2012

As pot-smoking, Amsterdam-bound travelers celebrate last week's decision by the incoming Dutch government to ditch a national, residents-only "weed pass," voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington decide today whether to approve ballot measures that would legalize recreational use of the drug.

The three states are among 17, plus the District of Columbia, that already allow medical use of cannabis. But these initiatives would go further, and defy federal efforts to crack down on the industry. California tried to change marijuana prohibition laws in 2010 through Proposition 19, but voters turned it down.

In Colorado — where the ski resort of Breckenridge removed penalties for marijuana possession in 2010 and already has a reputation as the "Amsterdam of the Rockies" — Amendment 64 would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older and would let specially licensed marijuana stores sell to anyone 21 and older who presents "government-issued identification to determine the consumer's age."

Polls show would-be Colorado voters are evenly divided over the measure. The state's nonpartisan voter guide estimates the amendment would produce $5 million to $22 million per year in state sales tax, reports the Denver Post. But opponents, including Gov. John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and the city's tourism bureau, Visit Denver, argue passage would tarnish the state's image.

"Tourism is the second largest industry in both Denver and Colorado. If Colorado receives international media attention as the first state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana in their constitution, Colorado's brand will be damaged and we may attract fewer conventions and see a decline in leisure travel," Visit Denver's Richard Scharf said in a press release.

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