When the votes were counted last November, I may have been the only mom in Colorado who was surprised. Or maybe not.
In any case, despite my teenage son’s claims that pot would soon be legal in Colorado (he got his information from the school newspaper), I didn’t think it would happen.
When the referendum passed, the first thing I thought of was skiing. What impact would the new law have on skiing?
“Aspendam”
Immediately, my mind shot to the worst-case scenario, which in my world, involved middle-aged skiers from points east and west descending on Colorado to get high and ski, in that order.
I pictured pot-powered gapers flying out of control down the ski slopes, endangering all those around them, especially children. I pictured Reefer Madness on the National Forest.
The social media reaction to the new law didn’t help.
“DUDE! Can’t wait to go to Aspendam this winter!” tweeted one person. “Ski vacation will be more epic than ever with new pot laws!” tweeted another.
I don’t know these people, but even among my friends on Facebook, the reaction ran pretty much like this:
“Colorado really is the Mile High State! Can anyone buy pot there? Can’t wait to ski!”
What’s a mom, however brave, to do?
I Am a Mother Of Teenagers
Now depending upon your situation in life, your reaction may be similar to mine or completely different. So, please, before you leave me an exasperated comment or call me a buzz kill, remember, I am a mother of teenagers.
My job is to keep them safe and their brains intact, at least until they get to college. But I also remember being the mother of little ones. Then, my job was to keep them safe and their brains intact (although the threats were different), at least until they get to college.
If asked to explain my position on marijuana legalization (you did ask, didn’t you?), it would be thus:
Yes, legalization makes some sense, but only if done on a national level. Otherwise, we risk creating places (like Amsterdam) where amateurs come to party.
And yes, I also know that there are plenty of people who already ski and ride while impaired. I was just afraid that the new law would bring more of them.
That’s my position. Here’s my state’s position.
The New Colorado Pot Laws
- Beginning around January 1, 2014, marijuana will be sold in specially licensed shops.
- The amount out-of-state visitors can purchase is significantly less than what residents can purchase.
- Voters will choose in November whether to impose taxes on marijuana. A portion of the taxes will pay for school construction.
- You cannot smoke pot in public. Amsterdam-type coffee shops, collectives, and smoking in bars and stores are banned.
- Drivers are subject to a stoned-driving limit. Anything above the limit means the driver is too high to drive and will be prosecuted.
My Verdict
In the end, I really don’t think the new laws are going to change much, as least with regard to skiing and snowboarding.
Marijuana remains illegal on federal lands, which includes most ski areas, campgrounds, national parks, and BLM mountain biking trails. It remains illegal to smoke pot on a chairlift, although that has never been much of a deterrent, has it?
And, since it is illegal to smoke in public, any fears I had of “coffee shops” replacing my favorite mountain town restaurants can be put to rest.
So, skiing families, take heart! You don’t have to avoid Colorado out of fears for your safety or fears of contaminating your children’s minds (and lungs).
Yes, I overreacted. But then, that’s my job, as a mom.
What do you think? As a parent, do you think these new laws will have an impact on your child’s safety while skiing or snowboarding?
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HI Brave Ski Mom,
Hope your warm season is going well!
Anyway, pretty decent take on the change in pot laws in your state. What you say are the things I picked up on as well, the law does not permit people to smoke the hippy hay in public, that they need to be in private in order to do so and of course most ski resorts are in part or wholely on federal land where federal rules and laws apply. Which pretty much means not a whole lot is changing other than the fact it will be easier for people to obtain. I suspect there will not be a huge increase in stoned skiers and snowboarders (with the later group it is hard to increase when you are already at 100%, hehehehe).
A year or two ago I ran across this article: http://www.westword.com/2012-03-01/news/mountain-smoke-shacks/
Cheers!
Hey Wisconsin Skier, thanks for the comment and the link, I haven’t read it yet, but I am going there next. Funny, but even our little local resort has some smoke shacks hidden in the trees–and these way predate the new laws.
Do I detect a humorous bias against snowboarders?
Cheers!
This is a great post! As a mom (to four teens) who lives in Colorado, I had been trying to sort out what the new law would mean to our family. This helped a LOT! Thanks for taking the time to write it all out. There is so much ‘chatter’ in their world, it’s nice to be able to get the truth from another mom. Thanks!!
Thank you Judy! I am glad this helped. As for teens, what we’ve noticed is tons of misinformation in their chatter…and a tendency to forget that pot remains illegal if one is under age 21. It is a full-time job getting teens to adulthood. Good luck!
Dude, I like so todally agree with… would you say that again, dude?
Nice column, once more.
— jules
Dude – I so would have replied earlier, but I’ve been, like, on vacation, you know, dude?
Seriously Jules, thanks!
A similar law was recently passed in Washington State. At Crystal Mountain, where I work as a ski patroller, we saw an uptick in public smoking as well as smoking pot on chairlifts. Even though we operate entirely on Forest Service land (marijuana is still illegal on Federal land), many of our users didn’t realize there was a distinction. Smoking of any kind is outlawed on chairlifts and in the gondola, but that doesn’t stop anyone. I jumped in a gondola cabin just before the doors closed one day this winter and the riders asked if I minded if they lit up. I said, “yes I mind!” It’s illegal on this property, in this cabin, blah, blah, blah. One of them said, “it’s not like you own this place.” I was about to open my mouth (I wasn’t wearing my patrol uniform that day) and tell them I’m a patroller, etc. Then one of the others spoke up and said, “that’s because she does own this place.” I just smiled. I prefer to be identified as a ski patroller rather than the owner’s wife, but that’s not always how our guests see me. Even though I voted in favor of legalizing marijuana, I still hope that most users remember the importance of discretion. But that’s probably too much to ask.
It just gets better and better.
Great blog, great reply.
— jules
Thanks so much Kim for sharing your perspective! You are so right that discretion is key to the success of these initiatives. Hopefully, most citizens of Colorado and Washington will show some discretion and prove that legalization can be successful. I am curious, when you’re patrolling, how often does your work involve skiers and riders who are impaired?
Alcohol is much more of a danger than weed whilst skiing. It makes you more fearless, show-off and ride faster than conditions or your ability would normally allow. Saying that I don’t think smoking weed and skiing go hand in hand. I live in Fernie, BC and there are a lot of smokers out here yet in all my time here I’ve never heard of an accident related to weed on the hills or in the backcountry. While I appreciate your concern for your kids while skiing, alcohol is the more dangerous of the two. Also one last point, some of the comments about who smokes weed are straight out of left field, weed is not just the preserve of hippies and stoner kids.
Thanks Mike! Alcohol is definitely an issue, as well. Over on my Facebook page, someone left a comment about “performance-degrading” drugs, alcohol and pot included. And your point is well-taken, people of all shapes, sizes, political persuasions, ages and other affiliations smoke pot. The stereotypes are easy to fall back upon, but not necessarily accurate.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate it.
Great post Brave Ski Mom!
Thanks Jamie! How’s my favorite ski industry rebel? Cheers!