Legalized weed in Colorado - impact on campgrounds

[patperry2766]

Obviously with the legalization of recreational weed in Colorado, will it be allowed to be used openly in state and federal campgrounds?

I personally don't care what consenting adults do behind their closed doors, but how will the laws be enforced within these campgrounds? I've booked a week at Ridgeway this summer and I don't want to have to worry about my family being impacted by a bunch of potential stoners camping around me. I highly doubt it will be a issue, but I just kinda want to know what to expect.

[Old-Biscuit]

Wish I was closer to CO. I hate hanging out on the corner waiting.
Although cost is a bit higher the quality has to be better than the shake that has been around lately.

Dang it.there goes the drunk neighbors again!

[2oldman]

smarty wrote:
What a hilarious group of posts.

Why don't you point out why you think they're hilarious.

[smarty]

What a hilarious group of posts. I take it all of you just burned one?

[dan-nickie]

Yes, the OP's question "will it be allowed to be used openly in state and federal campgrounds?" was answered quickly in the first few posts.

As usual many give their opinions on pretty much any question asked.

I must say that this thread has been very informative on our RV.net members opinions on the subject and I was surprised so many were 'unopposed'.

[SkiingSixPack]

OK, back on-topic..... The OP asked about and got answers for the basic question; will pot smoking be allowed in CO state & national parks / campgrounds / RV parks. The answer really has not changed before or after the change in laws in CO ... Pot smoking (and open alcohol consumption) is not allowed. You cannot consume in public. I think most users and non-users would agree that this is for the benefit of the public in general. We don't need to see people walking around drinking or smoking/vaporizing weed, especially when packed in to a contained environment like many campgrounds tend to be.

Now, I will tell you that if you have spent any time at all in campgrounds, both in CO and all other states, you have been camping next to people that consumed pot ... probably without you even noticing. Sure, some of you have/will smell the odor of people burning the weed... but in most circumstances, you have not and will not detect your fellow campers that choose to consume. Especially with the increased use of vaporizers.

My personal beliefs aside, public consumption has not been and will continue to not be a problem. Especially in most campgrounds. As far as the actions of fellow campers that are stoned, drunk, both, neither...most of the behavioral issues will come from alcohol. Yes many people will consume both alcohol and pot at the same time, which does pose some issues, but the real problem is with the drunks. They are the overly loud ones. The ones that are baked just sit around the firepit staring into the fire. They will also be the first to jump up and help you if you need help... IMHO

🙂

[shakyjay]

patperry2766 wrote:
Obviously with the legalization of recreational weed in Colorado, will it be allowed to be used openly in state and federal campgrounds?

I personally don't care what consenting adults do behind their closed doors, but how will the laws be enforced within these campgrounds? I've booked a week at Ridgeway this summer and I don't want to have to worry about my family being impacted by a bunch of potential stoners camping around me. I highly doubt it will be a issue, but I just kinda want to know what to expect.

Ok back on topic.

Personally I doubt that it is going to be an issue. At least not anymore than it already is. Because of the publicity being generated I think many will just now be more aware of it. In some ways because of the desire of the community to keep and expand legalization the open use of pot is going to be, not just a legal issue but, one that the pot community themselves will frown upon. Remember this is somewhat of an experiment. One that many in the "pot" community really would like to see succeed.

Not all pot smokers are stoners. Before I go any further let me clarify, I am not a smoker. I know some, I know some that a lot of people would be surprised about. Kind of the same way I know people who drink. Some drink responsibly and some don't. Well some of the pot smokers I know do it responsibly and some don't. From my observations the irresponsible drinkers are generally much more dangerous than the irresponsible pot smokers. Not only does the alcohol cause poor judgement it can also bring out violent behavior in some individuals. Don't see so much of that with pot. While their judgement might be impaired they tend to be a little more mellow.

For the few that seem to be unaware, pot use in Federal Campgrounds has been going on for years. Park Rangers are very aware of this. They are too busy with bigger issues to be overly concerned with a person smoking a joint in their RV or tent. Handle it pretty much like drinking. As long as no one is blatantly flaunting it and causing a ruckus it is pretty much overlooked. A bigger problem in many areas is the growers who set up on State and Federal lands. I would be more concerned if I were hiking in some of the back country about coming upon someone's "farm". Perhaps legalization will eventually help with this issue.

There was a post about people flocking in from other states to buy pot. While that is certainly occurring for the roll out of the shops I think it is more of a short term novelty thing. In the long run why bother? the cost of the pot itself with the taxes can be substantial. If you consider the travel expenses to go there and buy it the cost becomes outrageous. Combine that with the fact that transporting across borders can create a whole new set of legal issues and it is not really too attractive. So bottom line is why bother? Most will just stay home and procure and use it as they have been, in many cases for years. Much cheaper and probably safer. If things work out in Colorado and Washington the legalization elsewhere is probably going to be inevitable.

[Francesca_Knowl]

answerswillvary wrote:

Gotcha....

O.P. asked about legalized weed's effect on campgrounds, so here's my take:

There will be many more open spots for drive-ups due to people either forgetting they made reservations or being too stoned to hook up the trailer.

:W

[Sue_Bee]

One of the biggest problems for rangers on public lands is pot grows like this one. Not only do the growers tend to be very destructive and great sources of pollution from the fertilizers and bug killers used on plants, but growers often booby trap grows, and have reportedly killed innocent folks who stumbled onto the grow accidentally (or folks who were looking for pot), or law enforement, or even gotten killed by their own booby traps.

So, really, if pot were legal across the country, and folks could grow pot legally for profit, this is another aspect of an upside of legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana.

I suspect that, much like the Netherlands, there will be a boom of tourism for a while, then it will level off.

[monkey44]

Dog Folks wrote:

mockturtle wrote:
The link refutes the allegation that MJ kills brain cells. It is a medical fact that alcohol kills brain cells.

Kills the brain cells? Don't care. Have you ever tried to talk to a person that smokes pot everyday? Not all, ff course, but a lot can not even carry on a decent conversation much less debate an issue. They just "out of it." They certainly carry on as if there were some brain damage.

Before flaming me, this is my personal experience only. I'm sure there are lots that smoke that are brilliant.

Dog folks -- those people that carry on weird conversations probably do that with or without pot in the system. Some folks are just plain weird without any stimulants, it the nature of how our brains develop.

[answerswillvary]

[Dog_Folks]

mockturtle wrote:
The link refutes the allegation that MJ kills brain cells. It is a medical fact that alcohol kills brain cells.

Kills the brain cells? Don't care. Have you ever tried to talk to a person that smokes pot everyday? Not all, ff course, but a lot can not even carry on a decent conversation much less debate an issue. They just "out of it." They certainly carry on as if there were some brain damage.

Before flaming me, this is my personal experience only. I'm sure there are lots that smoke that are brilliant.

[2oldman]

mustangglp wrote:
Did you click the link?

Ahh.. touche. I did not. Good one.

[mockturtle]

The link refutes the allegation that MJ kills brain cells. It is a medical fact that alcohol kills brain cells.

[mustangglp]

2oldman wrote:

mustangglp wrote:
This stuff kills brain cells the government proved this back in the 70S!

It's irrelevant, and even if it were true, the government has posted so much nonsense about weed that they're out of any credibility.

A lot of things you do to yourself are not good for you, but to think that making those things illegal will stop them (or even control them) is nonsense. In a perfect world, nobody would smoke, overeat, get abortions, gamble or take drugs. We don't live in that world.

Did you click the link?