D49 School Board considers public opposition to recreational cannabis ballot measure in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Falcon School District 49 School Board is considering a resolution calling on voters to shoot down the November Ballot Measures to legalize and tax recreational cannabis sales within 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.
Back in July, the campaign, Your Choice Colorado Springs, announced they collected more than 98,000 signatures from voters. They only needed needed to collect 19,245 signatures to get the two measures on the ballot.
However, the proposed D49 resolution argues that the ballot measures will not enhance the safety of children in the community.
“Our students’ safety is this board’s top priority and the science indicates that high potency THC impacts the developing brain of our youth and adolescence,” the D49 resolution says.
The proposed resolution says that “according to the science” recreational cannabis could lead to increased risk of psychotic symptoms and or psychotic disorders, IQ point loss, and uncontrolled repetitive vomiting.
“I know personally two former D49 students who went through marijuana-induced psychosis or marijuana-induced schizophrenia,” D49 School Board Secretary Lori Thompson said when she proposed the resolution at Wednesday’s Work Session. “Both of them required mental health treatment. One is still ongoing. So I have seen firsthand the impacts of marijuana on a developing mind. Now, I know that any kid who wants to get it will probably find a way to get it. I just thought that right now in Colorado Springs, we don't have recreational we have medicinal. If we open up to recreational, I just think the prevalence will increase and they're more likely to get involved with this.”
The D49 resolution would also ask for voters to oppose Colorado Proposition 122. Proposition 122 would decriminalize hallucinogenic plants or fungi, also know as “Mushrooms.” The hallucinogenic plants are currently classified as a schedule I controlled substance under Colorado state law.
Board members still need to vote on the resolution at an upcoming regular school board meeting.
