Colorado legalized recreational cannabis in 2014. It has been over a decade since that move changed the nation. Unfortunately for some, the town of Colorado Springs is living behind the times. There are medical dispensaries, but the city has never opted to allow adult-use stores despite advocate efforts.
This election cycle changed things, with 54 percent of voters opting in for a recreational turn of events. Meanwhile, they rejected a city council-backed charter amendment to ban adult-use stores on those same ballots. Councilmembers have voted in favor of a revote in April. This comes much to the chagrin of local advocates who have responded with a lawsuit.
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Voters deemed “confused” on cannabis measure
Council member David Donelson claimed that voters were confused by how the ballot initiative was worded while defending the upcoming countermeasure in KOAA News. Many believe the council hopes to bank off lower voter midterm election turnout. Fellow council member Yolanda Avila does not seem to agree.
“I think council members really do believe that this is not good for the city for a variety of reasons, but that’s not the point,” Avila, who voted against placing the new measure on the April ballot, said in The Gazette. “The point is that our citizens voted for the ballot issue 300, hands down voted for it.”
Now, citizens of the town have filed a lawsuit against the city, citing a rule that any ballot measure banning recreational sales must happen during an even-numbered year. El Paso County Progressive Veterans (EPCPV) and The Epic Remedy dispensary owner are plaintiffs in the suit, arguing the upcoming revote violates this rule.
EPCPV executive director Adam Gillard told CPR News that the goal of the suit was to “keep the issue off of the April ballot.”
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The summons dictates that the city of Colorado Springs has five days after being served to respond, which happens to be today. Many eyes are on this local battle for adult-use access amid seemingly paused momentum on federal reform.
