Weeks after residents voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs, elected leaders are considering putting the issue back on the ballot in April, saying people who voted “yes” could have been mistaken.
The city council is expected to vote at its next meeting Jan. 28 whether to re-refer the issue to the April 1 ballot, when voter turnout is historically lower than general elections, claiming that “confusing” language had muddied the issue.
The move marked a further show of resistance to recreational marijuana in a city whose officials have long argued that it contributes to crime and increased drug use. Colorado Springs is the largest city in Colorado that has refused to allow the sale of recreational marijuana since it became legal in January 2014.
“It boggles my mind that we want to put it on the ballot again,” Councilwoman Yolanda Avila said Tuesday, adding that she would not support pushing the measure to another vote.
“I find that the citizens of Colorado Springs, the constituents, the voters are pretty smart,” she said. “And I think it’s so unfair that, in November was a presidential election when people get up to vote more than any other time, we are going to have the least voter turnout April 1, because we don’t even have the mayor running.”
To read the entire story, visit The Colorado Sun.
More than two dozen residents argued that city council members would be ignoring will of the voters if they put measure on April 1 ballot after it passed by 54% in November 2024. Listen to “Morning Edition” host Michael Lyle, Jr. discuss this story with Colorado Sun reporter Olivia Prentzel and then read The Colorado Sun story at the link below. Read More
