Colorado's Marijuana Task Force issued its final recommendations for how the state ought to implement Amendment 64, though the actual regulations will be made by state lawmakers.
The 165-page report released Wednesday included 58 recommendations to be reviewed by the governor and state legislators.
Task Force Co-Chair Jack Finlaw, the Governor's Chief Legal Counsel, called the report "very comprehensive" and said that it laid the groundwork for regulation.
"The Task Force recommendations will now need to be perfected through the legislative process and rulemakings by various state agencies," Finlaw said in a statement.
Task force leaders agreed that legislators will have to put a "Marijuana Products Sales Tax" initiative on the November ballot, but left the taxation rate to legislators.
According to a 7News report, some in the task force recommended a 25 percent sales tax, but others were concerned that it would continue to perpetuate the underground market for cheap pot.
The task force also recommended that during the first year of licensing "only entities with valid medical marijuana licenses should be able to obtain licenses to grow, process and sell adult-use cannabis."
Smoking marijuana in bars should be banned in establishments covered by the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act as well as other places where tabacco smoke is tolerated, the report says.
Consistent with alcohol rules, the task force also recommends that the Legislature prohibit open packages of marijuana in vehicles.
"This was ground-breaking work and the Task Force process went very well," task force co-chair Barbara Brohl said. "It was supported by many committed and astute individuals who took the Governor's charge very seriously. Task force members represented differing viewpoints, they addressed all issues in a well-thought-out manner and worked hard to develop sound solutions. The Task Force did all the 'heavy lifting," but now a lot of follow up work has to be done in the coming months."
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