VOA标准英语2014--Colorado's Marijuana Regulations Strive to Balance Freedom, Responsibility 科罗拉多州的大麻合法化规定努力平衡自由与责任

 

Colorado's Marijuana Regulations Strive to Balance Freedom, Responsibility 科罗拉多州的大麻合法化规定努力平衡自由与责任

DENVER — When the U.S. state of Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational purposes this year, it also imposed tighter restrictions¹ and regulations on the drug, compared to those it has on tobacco and alcohol. 

Amendment² 64, the Colorado law that legalized the sale and possession of marijuana for personal use, is groundbreaking.

It creates for the first time an overarching regulatory structure on the industry and imposes strict limits on usage.

The regulations are based on three guiding principles, says Barbara Brohl, executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue.

“We want to keep it out of the hands of kids.  We want to keep it out of the hands of criminals and we want to keep it out of the hands of people who are not supposed to have it, so people from other states.  So we don't want it leaving our state," said Brohl.

Colorado requires growers to register and tag with electronic chips all plants to ensure that marijuana is legally produced.  And all products must be tested for drug potency³ and for harmful mold or pesticides⁴.

Retail⁵ marijuana stores must check IDs to ensure customers are over 21-years-old.  There is no smoking of the drug allowed where it is sold or in any public areas.  So visitors won't find any pot bars or cannabis clubs open to the public.

Lieutenant⁶ Matt Murray with the Denver Police Department says officers still arrest people for driving while intoxicated⁷ but it is not as simple as it was in the past.  

“Before if you smelled marijuana when you stopped a car, that was reasonable suspicion to develop probable cause to make a search.  Well not anymore.  So it actually makes our jobs somewhat more complicated," said Murray.

The law defines marijuana intoxication⁸ as five or more nanograms of THC - the active ingredient in marijuana - in a person’s blood stream.  But marijuana advocates point out that unlike alcohol, THC can stay in the blood for weeks.

Denver airport officials say no added security is needed to screen for passengers who may be trying to carry marijuana out of Colorado.  But police are reporting a rise in marijuana leaving the state by land.

“States around us are dealing⁹ with huge amounts of marijuana crossing the border because marijuana in Colorado that might cost $1,500 is worth $5,000 or $7,000 in New York City," said Murray.

 

Murray says while regulation and interdiction¹⁰ efforts cannot stop all illegal activities, so far there has not been any significant rise or drop in crime since marijuana became legal.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 potency   

n. 效力，潜能

参考例句：

• Alcohol increases the drug's potency.酒精能增加这种毒品的效力。
• Sunscreen can lose its potency if left over winter in the bathroom cabinet.如果把防晒霜在盥洗室的壁橱里放一个冬天，就有可能失效。

4 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

7 intoxicated   

喝醉的，极其兴奋的

参考例句：

• She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
• They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉，东南西北全然不辨。

8 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 interdiction   

n.禁止；封锁

参考例句：

• the Customs Service's drug interdiction programs 海关的毒品查禁方案
• In addition to patrol duty, blastboats are dispatched for planetary defense and interdiction missions. 除了例行巡逻，炮艇还被赋予行星防御和封锁的任务。