When a juvenile is arrested in Colorado, the child may be released to a parent or responsible adult, referred for detention screening, or held for a prompt detention hearing. If the child remains in custody, the hearing generally must occur within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The district attorney then decides whether to file a delinquency petition, offer diversion, or decline to prosecute formally. Decisions made during
In 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington made history by voting to pass initiatives that made the recreational use and sale of marijuana legal. These were huge victories for marijuana legalization advocates in these states and across the country, but whether or not the rest of the 48 states will follow Colorado and Washington’s lead remains to be seen.
Today, federal law still considers marijuana—both for recreational and medical
