Colorado governor vetoes marijuana ‘tasting rooms’ proposal

Colorado’s governor has vetoed a bill to allow marijuana retailers to set up “tasting rooms” where consumers could legally vape or eat edible pot products.

Gov. John Hickenlooper’s decision Monday dashed supporters’ hopes that Colorado would become the first state to adopt a system letting consumers use marijuana in public spaces.

Colorado and other states with legal marijuana generally bar people from smoking or consuming marijuana in public, limiting use to private homes and creating confusion for tourists or renters.

In California, some cities allow marijuana use inside designated clubs or lounges but there is no statewide policy on permitted public use.

Hickenlooper has objected to similar bills, arguing it could prompt a federal crackdown. He stayed quiet on the issue this year but wasn’t satisfied with the scaled-back proposal.