Colorado Senate OKs cannabis clubs; governor threatens veto

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The Colorado Senate approved a bill Thursday that would allow bring-your-own marijuana clubs in the state, a move that would be a first for the nation.

According to the Associated Press, local jurisdictions would be allowed to permit cannabis clubs, provided the establishments don’t sell alcohol or food beyond light snacks.

However, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has threatened to veto the bill if it doesn’t ban indoor smoking of marijuana.

“Smoking is bad for you,” Hickenlooper said, according to the AP. “I’m not sure that’s a great thing to be encouraging.”

Hickenlooper also fears a possible federal crackdown on the marijuana industry. According to the AP, he believes now is not the time to “make dramatic statements about marijuana.”

Colorado’s liquor laws ban businesses from selling both alcohol and cannabis.

The AP reported that proponents of the bill say Colorado already has a number of unregulated marijuana clubs and that new regulated clubs could help alleviate complaints about people consuming cannabis in public places like city sidewalks.