Earlier this month, the Colorado House of Representatives passed a new bill that would drastically limit the number of marijuana plants that Coloradans can grow at home. The House bill would impose a limit of 16 plants per home, down significantly from the current limit of 99. The purpose of the bill is to enforce the state's growing “gray market,” in which individuals are able to legally grow more pot than they can personally consume, and then sell it illegally.
Following the House vote, a Senate committee has voted 5-0 to set the limit at 12 plants per residential property. Medical marijuana patients and caregivers will be able to register with state and local and authorities to have their limit raised to 24 plants, however. The bill has also been amended to make growing more plants than the limit allows a misdemeanor, not a felony.
No state other than Colorado allows more than 16 plants to be grown per home. “It is time that we fix this before someone comes in and fixes it for us,” said Greenwood Village Police Chief John Jackson, undoubtedly referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' threats to crack down on states that have legalized recreational weed.
The changes imposed by the Senate mean that the bill must now return to the House for another vote.
