Colorado
In 1975, Colorado made possession under a one ounce of cannabis a petty offense punishable by a $100 fine; stricter punishments exist for possession over an ounce, sale, cultivation, or use or display in public.
In the November 2000 general election, Coloradans passed Amendment 20, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) was tasked with implementing and administering the Medical Marijuana Registry program. In March 2001, the State of Colorado Board of Health approved the Rules and Regulations pertaining to the administration of the program, and on June 1, 2001, the Registry began accepting and processing applications for Registry Identification cards. For years, patients could get small amounts of medical marijuana from "caregivers," the term used for growers and dispensers who could each supply only five patients. However, in 2007, a court lifted that limit and thus began what Coloradoans are referring to as the "Green Rush"—a medical marijuana business boom. Between 2000 and 2008, the state issued only about 2,000 medical marijuana cards to patients. By 2009, that number skyrocketed to more than 60,000 due to the unlimited amount of patients the dispensaries are now able to provide care for.
On November 1, 2005, Denver passed the Denver Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative, by a vote of 54-46 percent. This initiative repealed municipal penalties for possession of one ounce of cannabis, but only for persons age 21 and older. However, this conflicts with state law, so police can still arrest for possession of cannabis because Colorado state and federal penalties remain in effect. For more info see Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation.
On November 7, 2007, Denver passed an initiative to make cannabis the "lowest law enforcement priority". This was the third cannabis initiative sponsored by Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation. However, officials seemed to disregard the "lowest law enforcement priority" law and arrests increased the following years. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/denver-officials-ignore-marijuana-votes/
On November 2, 2009, in the Summit County elections, the voters of Breckenridge approved Question 2F, decriminalizing possession of 1 oz. or less of marijuana and related paraphernalia for persons 21 years of age or older.
On November 6, 2012, Colorado Amendment 64 (2012) passed by initiative, legalizing recreational use.
Read more about this topic: Places That Have Decriminalized Non-medical Cannabis In The United States
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“I am persuaded that the people of the world have no grievances, one against the other. The hopes and desires of a man who tills the soil are about the same whether he lives on the banks of the Colorado or on the banks of the Danube.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)