Is Recreational Pot Really Legal in Colorado? Colorado Pot Laws You Need to Know [VIDEO]

The Nation was watching as Colorado opened the nation's first fully legal marijuana industry. That means no doctor's note required (as in 18 states and Washington, D.C.) and no unregulated production of the drug (as in the Netherlands).

Colorado had 24 shops open Wednesday, most of them located in and around Denver. There were long lines and a few reports of shoppers cited for smoking pot in public. Other than that all is well in Colorado.

Here are some things you need to know about the Pot Laws in Colorado according to USA Today.

From a state law standpoint, it is now legal to buy, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in Colorado.

• Colorado residents must be 21 or older to buy marijuana in Colorado.
• Starting Jan. 1, anybody over the age of 21 (with a valid government-issued photo identification) can walk into a licensed dispensary and purchase marijuana.
• Only licensed retail dispensaries are allowed to sell marijuana in Colorado. Fear not, however, as there are a growing number of these across the state.
• The limit is two ounces for holders of a medical marijuana card. If you aren't, then you're limited to a quarter of an ounce per visit. Given that you could make multiple visits in a single day, in turn, the more pertinent question concerns how much you can legally possess. The answer to this question is one ounce.
• Recreational marijuana will start out selling for between $50 and $60 per eighth of an ounce after taxes.
• As a general rule, you're allowed to consume marijuana on private, but not public, property. Beyond that, it's up to local municipalities to dictate consumption rules.
• Adult residents of Colorado are allowed to grow up to six plants in their home. However, no more than three can be in the flowering stage at any one time, and there can be no more than 12 plants at a single residence, regardless of the number of occupants.

[USA Today]