Lawsuits filed to end legal marijuana

It’s a first-of-its kind lawsuit from marijuana opponents who are asking a federal judge to close down recreational marijuana in Colorado.

“Safe Streets seeks to vindicate the principle that federal law is the supreme law of the land,” said attorney David Thompson.

Safe Streets Alliance, a non-profit based in Washington D.C., filed the lawsuits in collaboration with a hotel owner in Frisco and the owners of a horse farm from Pueblo County.

“We bought our land in part for those spectacular views, but now they are marred by the marijuana enterprise at our doorstep,” said Hope Reilly.

The lawsuits argue that their property value has been hurt since the 2012 legalization of marijuana.

It’s the first time a state that has legalized marijuana has had a citizen ask the federal government to block the law.

The plaintiffs hope to use federal racketeering laws to win damages from pot businesses that go against federal law.

Marijuana proponents say the law is actually protecting Coloradans.

“Colorado is going more to control marijuana than any other state in the country,” said Mason Tvert. “Hundreds of millions of dollars in marijuana sales are now taking place in licensed businesses instead of the underground market.”