New Orleans, La. - Some say it's high time to legalize marijuana.
Tuesday, voters in Colorado and Washington state did just that. 17 states and the District of Columbia already allow medical marijuana, but Colorado and Washington voters chose to allow it for recreational use as well.
The new laws don't come without problems and, for now, they don't come anywhere close to approval in Louisiana. Right now, Louisiana is not considering any legislation for medical or recreational use of marijuana.
"I don't want to speak for the whole legislature, but I would think that is a very difficult sell," says state Representative Cameron Henry (R-Metairie). "I've never heard a single member discuss such an issue. I think it is a stretch for Louisiana to do something like that at this time."
Over the next year, many will be watching to see how the federal government responds and how the change impacts Colorado and the Evergreen State.
"If you're in a state that has legalized marijuana, but the federal government still says it's illegal... They don't care what the state says," explains FOX 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti.
Both states plan to heavily tax marijuana. Colorado wants to use the money for school construction. Washington plans to send the money to an array of health programs.
