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Neighboring States Sue Colorado pver Pot Legalization

Nebraska and Oklahoma say legalization undermines their own marijuana bans and costs them public money.

Two neighboring states are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Colorado's laws legalizing recreational marijuana.

Nebraska and Oklahoma filed the lawsuit directly with the nation's highest court on Thursday. The two states argue that, "the State of Colorado has created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system."

"Marijuana flows from this gap into neighboring states, undermining Plaintiff States' own marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on their criminal justice systems," the lawsuit states.

DOCUMENT: Read the lawsuit by Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said in a statement that he will defend the state's legalization of marijuana.

"Because neighboring states have expressed concern about Colorado-grown marijuana coming into their states, we are not entirely surprised by this action," Suthers said. "However, it appears the plaintiffs' primary grievance stems from non-enforcement of federal laws regarding marijuana, as opposed to choices made by the voters of Colorado. We believe this suit is without merit and we will vigorously defend against it in the U.S. Supreme Court."

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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