New rules for retail marijuana sales
2025-01-10
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Recreational marijuana is set to be sold across Colorado Springs, but city leaders still have a few details to iron out before the first sale. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the city released its first draft of new regulations for marijuana sales. However, City Council will revisit the proposal for a vote next week.
The Colorado Springs Planning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday, Jan. 8, opposing a City Council ordinance that would have established a one-mile buffer zone between recreational marijuana stores and schools (from elementary to secondary level), residential childcare facilities, and drug or alcohol treatment centers.
In November, Colorado Springs voters approved ballot question 300, which allows current medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for a license to sell recreational marijuana. Ballot question 300 stated the new recreational dispensaries must be outside 1,000 feet of schools, treatment, or care facilities. Before the election, City Council proposed a one-mile buffer zone, which several local medical marijuana dispensaries are against.
“The vote was clear, the language was clear, the results were clear,” said Aaron Blues, Director of Retail Operations for Altitude Organic Cannabis. “I would like to echo Commissioner Martin Rickett’s statement and that was, ‘It seems once City Council heard residents were trying to approve recreational marijuana sales, this was a knee-jerk reaction to that. To say even if that passes, we’re not going to let that happen, we’re going to supersede the will of the people if that’s what they vote for.’ Well, Commissioner Rickett, it does appear that they are in fact attempting to enact this knee-jerk ordinance to subvert the will of the voter.”
The representative of Altitude Organic Cannabis was not alone at Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting as the President of the Colorado Springs Cannabis Association also spoke in opposition of the ordinance.
“I am opposed to the adoption of this proposed ordinance as written as it does not reflect the intent of the voters as was passed with ballot question 300 this past November,” said Tom Scudder, Owner of Emj’s.
Up next, City Council will vote on Tuesday, Jan. 14, following the Planning Commission’s recommendation of a 1,000 feet buffer zone instead of the proposed one-mile limit.
“We urge the city not to thumb your nose at this adopted measure by creating unforeseen obstacles to voters’ decision to authorize recreational marijuana,” Scudder said.
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