Recreational pot isn’t coming to Palmer Lake…yet

Even though voters in Palmer Lake rejected recreational marijuana by 57 votes in April, it was back up for debate again in front of the Town Council.

On the agenda tonight, there was an item for a vote by councilors to repeal the ordinance blocking recreational marijuana sales.

Residents packed town hall and lined up to voice their opinions. Most were frustrated that councilors could cancel out their votes.

“The people have already had their say and voted. It’s kind of insulting to me that maybe I’m not smart enough,” one resident said.

Only one community in El Paso County currently allows recreational marijuana sales: Manitou Springs. Manitou Mayor Marc Snyder was invited to let the crowd know how sales are working in his town. Snyder had nothing but positive news to report.

“A lot of the predictions of increased vagrancy, public consumption, youth possession, none of that has come true,” Snyder said. “In fact, September and August of 2014 compared to September and August of 2013, marijuana related crimes, calls for service are down 16.7%. Marijuana related arrests are down 45%.”

Snyder says some estimates show that Manitou is also set to receive $223,000 in tax revenue for the first two months of sales.

But as many in the crowd in Palmer Lake pointed out…Manitou is not Palmer Lake.

“The Mayor of Manitou paints a rosy picture. It’s all about the money. But quality of life cannot be bought,” one man said.

Palmer Lake Town councilors voted to reject the request to repeal the ordinance rejecting recreational marijuana sales. But voters in the town will head to the ballot box for the second time in six months to decide on the issue again in November. Two questions will be on the ballot. The first question is whether or not recreational sales should be allowed….the second question asking if retail sales should be banned until at least 2017.

Residents say they hope that this time their vote will decide the matter either way.