Colorado Springs council votes to oppose recreational cannabis ballot questions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Elected leaders are standing in opposition to the upcoming ballot questions for selling and taxing recreational cannabis in the city of Colorado Springs. 

This November, Colorado Springs voters will have the chance to decide whether or not to legalize recreational cannabis sales in the city and impose a 5 percent sales tax. The revenue from recreational sales would go towards improving public safety, expanding mental health services, and supporting PTSD programs for veterans. 

The ballot questions would permit the existing 114 medicinal cannabis shops in Colorado Springs to revert to recreational shops. The city of Pueblo possesses 8 recreational cannabis locations, while Manitou Springs has 2 dispensaries.

Colorado Springs City Clerk Sarah Johnson says there are a little less than 1,000 liquor and beer licenses in the city. However, many of those are restaurants. Johnson says 119 liquor stores exist in the city of Colorado Springs.

Tuesday, the city council voted 6 to 3 in favor of a resolution standing in opposition to ballot questions 300 (legalize recreational cannabis) and 301 (imposing a sales tax).

The resolution argues that “the legalization of marijuana is destroying the health and social fabric of Colorado.” The council statement goes on to say that recreational cannabis leads to an increase in traffic fatalities, public health services, black market operations, and underage marijuana use. 

Regardless of the city council’s vote on Tuesday’s Resolution, ballot questions 300 and 301 will be voted on for Colorado Springs in November. 

Colorado Springs city council member Dave Donelson voted in favor of the resolution opposing recreational cannabis. He fears the legalization of retail cannabis will jeopardize Colorado Springs’ reputation as a desirable place to live and also the local tourism industry and economy.

“The number of homeless will go up if we have 114 pot shops go up in Colorado Springs,” Donelson told 13 Investigates. “If you’ve been to downtown Denver in the last year or two, I think you have a preview of coming attractions in Colorado Springs.” 

Back in July, the campaign Your Choice Colorado Springs collected more than 20 thousand valid signatures from voters for both ballot questions according to the city clerk's office.

“We’ve had marijuana in the state since 2011, skies haven’t fallen we don’t have a zombie apocalypse,” Colorado Springs city council member Bill Murray told 13 Investigates before he voted no on the resolution. “How do you recommend in a resolution for folks to go down to Manitou and Pueblo and give them their tax dollars and bring back whatever perceived  problems back here.” 

Donelson argues that the tax benefits from recreational cannabis are overblown. 

“In 2020 marijuana tax revenue made up less than one percent of State of Colorado’s Budget,” the resolution stated. “The proponents of the ballot initiative have cited increased tax revenues that would benefit the City of Colorado Springs; however, the cost to our Public Safety departments of enforcement could exceed the revenue collected.” 

Council member Nancy Henjum voted in opposition to Tuesday's resolution pertaining to recreational cannabis, but not because of her opinions on recreational cannabis.

"I believe the voter has a right to decide," Henjum said. "The citizen put it on the ballot and they should have the right to decide that's it."

Tuesday's resolution has no impact on ballot questions 300 and 301 when it comes to getting on the November ballot.