Latest news with #BallotQuestion300
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about recreational marijuana in COS
(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 marijuana 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: 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marijuana repeal will not appear on April ballot
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — In accordance with decisions by both the Colorado Supreme Court and a district court in El Paso County, a controversial repeal of recreational marijuana in Colorado Springs will not appear on the April 2025 municipal election ballot. On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Colorado Supreme Court declined to exercise jurisdiction over the matter, and the district court in El Paso County sided with the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the City of Colorado Springs. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: April military and overseas ballots potentially delayed by marijuana repeal In its decision, the district court stated 'the City shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the Referred Ballot Question does not appear on ballots to avoid disenfranchising and confusing the electorate.' The City confirmed that the repeal of Ballot Question 300 would not appear on the April 2025 ballot, though the deadline for printing and mailing overseas and active-duty military ballots has been pushed back. Ballots will now be mailed overseas on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
April military and overseas ballots potentially delayed by marijuana repeal
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — On Wednesday, Feb. 12, a district court judge granted an Emergency Motion to Stay Order filed by the City of Colorado Springs, which, depending on an appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, would keep a marijuana repeal question on the April 2025 municipal election ballot. According to a spokesperson, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the City filed with the District Court an Emergency Motion to Stay Order Pending Appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, in an effort to keep a repeal of Ballot Question 300 on the April municipal ballot. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Judge finds repeal of marijuana question unconstitutional Ballot Question 300 was approved in November by voters, allowing recreational marijuana to be sold by existing medical dispensaries after an application process. However, some City Councilmembers argued that the question's wording may have been confusing to voters, and therefore the repeal in April was necessary to determine the true will of the people. Council voted on Jan. 28 in favor of placing the repeal on the April ballot. A judge blocked that repeal on Feb. 10, however, ruling that the City Council's vote to place the question on the municipal ballot violated the Colorado Constitution. Then on Wednesday, Feb. 12, a judge granted the City's stay order, stipulating that the wording of the April ballot question must be changed. According to the city, the judge's order was not received by the City's 2 p.m. deadline on Wednesday for printing of ballots for overseas U.S. citizens and active-duty military. The printing deadline ensured ballots would be mailed by the City Code-mandated deadline of Friday, Feb. 14. 'As a result of receiving the judge's order on the stay past the City's printing deadline and the uncertainty of the form of the ballot language amid pending litigation, the City will not be able to mail overseas U.S. citizens and active-duty military ballots on Friday,' the city said in a statement. 'The City does not want to treat its 4,848 overseas active-duty military and overseas citizens differently than its domestic electorate. It is important for them to have the same clarity and content on their ballot. The City is working as quickly as possible within the court system to resolve this issue.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge finds repeal of marijuana question unconstitutional
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — After Colorado Springs City Council voted in January to place a question on the April 2025 municipal ballot repealing Ballot Question 300, a district court judge has ruled the move violates Colorado's constitution. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, City Council voted 7-2 to place the question on the April ballot, with Councilmembers Nancy Henjum and Yolanda Avila dissenting. Ballot Question 300 was approved in November by voters, allowing recreational marijuana to be sold by existing medical dispensaries after an application process and directing the tax dollars toward public safety programs and PTSD treatment for veterans. Councilmember Dave Donelson said the wording of the original ballot question may have been confusing, and argued that City Council should approve a second question on the April ballot to ensure the will of the people is accurately reflected, though many argued the results would not be an accurate reflection of the people's choice, as the turnouts for municipal elections are statistically lower than presidential elections. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lawsuit: City Council marijuana decision 'unconstitutional' A lawsuit filed at the end of January against City Council argued just that. According to the Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Regulation group, Amendment 64 of the Colorado Constitution – which legalized recreational marijuana – allows local governments to prohibit sales within their borders but any ballot measure that does so must 'appear on a general election ballot during an even-numbered year.' The April 1, 2025, municipal election does not fit that definition, the group said. On Monday, Feb. 10, the Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Regulation said a district court judge ruled City Council's vote to place the question on the municipal ballot did in fact violate the Colorado Constitution. 'The city council was in such a rush to overturn the will of Colorado Springs' voters that it just ignored state law. Now, the court has held the council accountable for its outrageous and unconstitutional actions,' said Adam Gillard, a plaintiff in the case and a military veteran who served 20 years with the U.S. Air Force. 'We hope city council members received the judge's message that they do not have absolute authority over their residents. We also hope they won't disregard the law again.' In its decision, the court determined that the repeal of Ballot Question 300 qualified as a prohibition as it would immediately restrict recreational marijuana. 'The Court finds that the Referred Ballot Question is an election to prohibit the operation of retail marijuana stores in the City of Colorado Springs,' the decision reads. 'Therefore, referral of the prohibition measure to the April 1, 2025, general municipal election violates the Colorado Constitution. Such question must appear on a general election ballot during an even numbered year.' The City of Colorado Springs said it will not comment on pending litigation as the 'legal process has not yet been exhausted.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City Council may give recreational marijuana measure 'final opportunity'
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The City Council may be giving voters one more opportunity to vote on recreational marijuana this upcoming April. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the City Council will vote on a new measure that could be added to the April 2025 ballot and would repeal Ballot Question 300, which voters approved in November. The approval of Question 300 allowed current medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for a license to sell recreational marijuana. However, any new recreational dispensaries must be 1,000 feet away from schools, treatments, or care facilities. Springs City Council votes on retail marijuana Question 300 appeared with Ballot Question 2D in the November election, which asked to amend the Charter of the City to prohibit retail marijuana establishments within City limits. Some councilmembers said the conflicting ballot measures during the previous election were too confusing. Councilmember Dave Donelson said the opportunity would 'give voters a final opportunity to make it clear what they want,' while Councilmember Yolanda Avila said that 'it would be a travesty to subvert' the majority of the people. The City Council will vote on the measure on Tuesday. This article will be updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
