Pitfalls Abound as Legal Pot Sales Begin
A look at possibles hiccups for legal marijuana shops.
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Pot Markets Open Up in the U.S. - The nation's first legal recreation pot shops opened up in Colorado and Washington on Jan. 1, 2014, attracting long lines and customers from across America. While marijuana enthusiasts are ecstatic, once the smoke clears there are a lot of factors these marijuana states face to keep shops open. Take a look at the Associated Press's list of pitfalls states will want to avoid as Big Weed goes mainstream.— Associated Press and Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ed Andrieski/AP Photo)
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Youth Use - The U.S. Department of Justice has told the states it won't interfere with state marijuana laws as long as they keep the drug away from those without permission to use it. Top of that list: children. Neither state will allow people under 21 to buy pot.(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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Health - Some doctors warn that increased marijuana use will result in more emergency-room visits. There's not enough data to show if that is happening, though some hospitals have reported spikes in child admissions for pot overdoses. With no Food and Drug Administration oversight, the two states are producing their own product-safety standards to make sure pot is as potent as labeled and doesn't contain harmful molds or other contaminants.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Smuggling - The states have also been told they must keep legal pot out of other states and off federal property. That's no small task in Western states with huge swaths of federal property, such as parks and ski areas. The states will allow visitors to buy pot, but also warn them about where they can and can't take it.(Photo: Ed Andrieski/AP Photo)
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Crime - Legalization opponents say residency requirements won't prevent criminal cartels from setting up straw-man growing operations. The states also have tracking systems to make sure what is grown ends up sold legally. Colorado, however, also allows people to grow pot at home, making it impossible to keep track of where it is coming from and where it's going.(Photo: Elaine Thompson/AP Photo, File)
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