(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Licensed stores could begin selling recreational marijuana after Monday, April 14, in Colorado Springs, but what does that mean for the city and for those who are licensed?
In November, voters passed Ballot Question 300, a measure that would authorize existing medical marij
uana licensees to apply and become licensed as retail/recreational businesses.
The measure faced some pushback over confusion with Ballot Question 2D, which would ban recreational marijuana stores in Colorado Springs through the city charter. However, Question 2D was opposed with 121,714 votes, and Ballot Question 300 passed with 130,677 votes. Question 300 was almost taken out once more when the City Council tried to pass a measure that would put the decision on the ballot again. The action was then deemed unconstitutional by a district court judge.
Now that retail marijuana has been approved, medical licensees must follow/be compliant with the following regulations:
prohibit any retail/recreational marijuana businesses within 1,000 feet of a public or private daycare, preschool, or K-12 school. The map below shows where marijuana dispensaries would not be able to operate:
Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs
prohibit the sale or transfer of retail/recreational marijuana to anyone under 21.
prohibit the sale or transfer of retail/recreational marijuana acquired in another political subdivision to a person under 21
prohibit possession of retail/recreational marijuana by any person at any public or private school, daycare, or preschool
Tuesday, April 15, marks the first day that stores could sell recreational marijuana.
As of Tuesday, 34 medical marijuana stores in Colorado Springs had received a license for recreational marijuana and were active, according to the City's business licensing records. Although retail marijuana is now legal, the City of Colorado Springs cannot accept any new Medical Marijuana Store applications. ...read more read less
