Colorado just marked six months since the launch of legal recreational marijuana sales. Washington, for its part, is set to follow suit on July 8. But the state may experience some growing pains. Of the 335 retail dispensaries awaiting approval in Washington, only about twenty are expected to obtain licenses by the state on July 7– leaving the new shops just one day to stock and prepare for the weed-hungry stampede anticipated the next day.
This small glimmer of sunlight for stoners comes after a long course of delays in the enactment of State Initiative 502 — the bill legalizing retail marijuana in Washington. However, many industry and regulation authorities expect high bud prices and shortages during the beginning of retail sales, similar to what Colorado went through earlier this year.

Backers of Initiative 71, which would legalize the possession and use of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and up in our nation’s capitol, say they are just a few days from submitting 60,000 signatures to get their proposal on the November ballot.
That is, if the U.S. Congress lets them.

Marijuana smoking is not legal in public in Colorado, despite laws passed in 2012 legalizing the use and possession of limited amounts for adults 21 and up. But – right or wrong — with the relaxed pot laws comes an expectation that consumption should be tolerated. Just don’t expect that tolerance from the Denver police.
So far this year, Denver police have written 351 tickets for toking in public, a $150 fine. Of that many, 130 were at the annual 4/20 rally in Denver’s Civic Center Park.

New Approach Oregon, a group looking to legalize limited amounts of herb for adults 21 and up, will submit 145,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State today, 57,000 more than required.
If the signatures are approved, it will mean that the Control, Regulate and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act will be on the November ballot. Adults 21 and up would be able to purchase cannabis at retail stores as well as grow their own at home so long as there aren’t more than four pot plants growing at a time and no more than eight ounces of herb on site. Homegrowers would also be able to keep up to sixteen ounces of infused products like edibles, oils and butter.
Regulation would be left up to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

Yesterday, we told you that the Minnesota NORML, for the first time, plans to push legislation next session that would legalize marijuana in Minnesota. Marcus Harcus, the new associate director of MN NORML,says the organization is targeting pro-legalization Rep. Rena Moran (D-St. Paul) as the possible author of the bill in the House. Moran, you’ll recall, recently told a pro-medical marijuana rally, “Let’s create a system where we can tax and regulate the sale, so we can invest more wisely in all of us.”
But despite those comments, Moran said yesterday she won’t serve as the sponsor MN NORML is seeking next session. Minneapolis City Pages has the full story.