Recreational marijuana sales legalized in Colorado Springs, results still unofficial
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A decade after Colorado legalized marijuana, it appears the voters of Colorado Springs have approved the sale of recreational marijuana in the city. This comes after Colorado Springs voters answered two dueling ballot questions on marijuana, whether to ban the sale of recreational pot for good or to legalize its sale.
The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder announced they counted all the votes cast in El Paso County at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday.
Unofficial results show ballot question 2D, which would ban the sale of recreational marijuana, failing 49.5% to 50.5%, separated by a little more than 2,000 votes.
A little more than 2,000 votes is the difference.
Colorado Springs City Councilwoman Lynette Crow-Iverson, who pushed forward 2D as a city charter amendment tells KRDO13 that many voters were confused and that's what led to the city-council-backed initiative failing.
"I respect the outcome of the vote, I also heard from many voters who were understandably confused by the presence of two conflicting measures on the ballot: 2D, which sought to ban recreational marijuana sales, and 300, which was presented as a restriction but, in reality, legalized them," Crow-Iverson said. "This confusion clouded the issue and may have impacted the vote."
The Colorado Springs Safe Neighborhood Coalition which backed 2D also released a statement:
"We heard from voters confused by the presence of two competing measures on the ballot: 2D, to ban recreational marijuana sales, and 300, which pretended to restrict recreational marijuana sales but in fact legalized them. The proponents ran a clever campaign, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a future city council decides to ask the question again, on a ballot where there won’t be competing measures and therefore won’t be any confusion."
Ballot Question 300 which aims to allow existing medical marijuana shops to sell recreational marijuana is passing by more than 22,000 votes.
The Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Regulation which pushed for the sale of recreational pot in Colorado Springs said.
"The small businesses who currently sell medical marijuana in Colorado Springs are elated to continue being good stewards of the community, contributing to the thriving economy that is Colorado Springs. We know that those in municipal government will defer to the clearly expressed intent of voters to authorize recreational marijuana, and we look forward to working with city leaders over the coming months to create a responsible regulatory framework," campaign leader Megan Graf said.
Native Roots, the largest funder of the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana sales released a statement Saturday night.
“The voters of Colorado Springs have spoken - they want responsible cannabis sales, not the permanent ban proposed by 2D. The approval of 300 will result in $10-15 million in tax revenue annually to support public safety, mental health, and veteran PTSD programs. We look forward to working with the city on a smooth and efficient implementation of this initiative with recreational cannabis sales beginning on April 15, 2025.”
Click here to see the results of elections in El Paso County now the Clerk and Recorders Office finalized counting the votes.
