Colorado was so close on Wednesday, August 10, when the Colorado lawmakers relinquished sole ownership of rainwater & made it legal to collect it. They failed miserably because their benevolence comes with multiple caveats. They have strict rules pertaining to how much rainwater you can collect on your private property and what you can use it for. You are only allowed own two 55-gallon barrels of water and the water is only for outdoor use. The water cannot be used for human or animal consumption and only certain types of homes can collect the water. How they plan on enforcing this is yet to be seen.
Colorado has been reluctantly taking steps towards freedom in a few areas while leaping backwards in others. In 2014 Colorado legalized the recreational use of marijuana (with lots of restrictions of course). States that legalize the use of medicinal marijuana have seen a 25% decline in prescription drug deaths. Colorado lawmakers are still above the law of us commoners when it comes to DUI laws. They voted to exempt themselves from the prosecution of DUI laws. In 2014 Colorado also passed multiple atrocious gun laws, outlawing high capacity magazines and mandating background checks for private gun sales.
But for now, rainwater and plants are legal for Colorado residents and by legal I mean still highly regulated. This is the modus operandi of all governments, taking our rights away and giving bits and pieces back bound to multiple regulations and taxes.