Colorado is not only known for its beautiful scenery, epic skiing and snowboarding hills/mountains, and countless outdoor sports/activities, but as of 2014, they’ve been known as a huge marijuana hub for Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors alike. Although Colorado voters approved a recreational marijuana law in 2014, cities like Colorado Springs hasn’t allowed any retail marijuana businesses within city limits, according to Westword.
Colorado’s recreational marijuana program has been very successful over the past three years, but this hasn’t convinced Colorado Springs business owners and city council members to approve of recreational dispensaries opening within the city. Find out why they’ve been so resistant, and why Colorado residents are fighting to change this for 2018.
Table of Contents
Why Does Colorado Springs OpposeOpening New Marijuana Businesses?
Denver and Colorado Springs, two of Colorado’s largest cities, have always had some strong differences in political leanings, and the recreational marijuana law is definitely one of them. Although marijuana is recreationally legal throughout the state, once you cross into Colorado Springs, you won’t be able to find any dispensaries to purchase marijuana from. According to the DenverPost, because of Amendment 64, individual cities were given the power to decide whether marijuana businesses would be allowed to open and operate in that area.
In particular, Vail is known to be a marvelous location for skiing and other outdoor winter sports/activities, and due to Vail’s specific brand, the mayor and other business owners have expressed their skepticism about allowing marijuana businesses to open nearby. However, times have been changing, and Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors are interested in consuming marijuana while spending time in Vail. The only option to purchase recreational marijuana near Vail is to drive a few miles west on Interstate 70 into unincorporated Eagle County, which is home to many different pot shops.
Vail’s Unwillingness to Risk Damaging Their Brand:
Dave Chapin, Vail’s mayor, expressed his unwillingness to allow recreational dispensaries to open up in the city, and in a DenverPost article, he explained the following about the marijuana ban: “The driving force behind the ban was the recognition that protection of Vail’s brand as a worldwide ski vacation destination had to be paramount.” He went on to say that the town council discussed the recreational marijuana law and tax revenue potential, but they still decided to outlaw pot shops.
Although the Vail brand is quite valuable, and a lot of the brand consists of families, according to the mayor, he and the city council weighed the value of potential tax revenue and chose the value of the Vail brand above everything else. Some people may agree with this move, but many others are confused as to why this is still the case three years after Colorado legalized recreational marijuana.
Why Colorado Springs Should Allow Marijuana Dispensaries to Operate in the City
As stated by Mike Elliot, the executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group,“Although the symbiosis between small town and large city may appear to be a win-win for both communities, the places with the most restrictions in place come out at the losing end.” This is very true, especially because people will always want the opportunity to purchase legal marijuana, and if they can’t do that in Vail or Colorado Springs, then they’ll take their business elsewhere. If Colorado Springs went about this the right way, they could benefit off of tourists/out-of-state visitors who are interested in purchasing marijuana while on their vacation.
Photo by: Syda Productions/ShutterstockAdditionally, Mike Elliot explained that the recreational marijuana bans are more harmful than they are helpful. “Recreational marijuana bans denote a ‘head-in-the-sand mentality’ that allows the black market in cannabis to flourish while the city forfeits sales tax revenues that could benefit the community,” Ellliot told the DenverPost. For this reason and many more, Colorado residents are fighting for a change that would remove the bans on recreational marijuana in Colorado Springs in 2018.
Colorado Springs Isn’t Anti-Marijuana
Although Denver has the largest number of both recreational dispensaries and cultivators in the state, Colorado Springs residents aren’t necessarily against the recreational marijuana law. A cannabis study conducted by Consumer Research showed that in both Denver and Colorado Springs, the majority of residents are in favor of legal marijuana, including the majority of Colorado Springs liberals and independents. However, barely over a third of the city’s conservative population agrees.
Based on the same study, most of the differences between Denver and Colorado Springs residents in terms of marijuana usage consists of users’ reasons for consuming marijuana.
Overall, advocates have been fighting for recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs for a while, and the goal is to get the proposal on the city’s 2018 ballot. Fortunately, people with medical marijuana cards can go to Grant Pharms, a medical dispensary that’s located in Colorado Springs. They’re known for their quality, compassionate, and consistent products, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in town.
DISCLAIMER:
Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease.
Information and statements regarding cannabis and hemp products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Leafbuyer.com assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.
Save money, subscribe.
Get Exclusive Local Cannabis Deals delivered to your phone and email!!
By checking the box and signing up, you consent to receive cannabis-related informational and marketing text messages from - including texts sent using an autodialer - to the wireless number you provided above. Your consent is not required to make a purchase. You also agree to receive promotional emails.
By checking the box and signing up, you agree to the and - which includes an Arbitration Agreement and Class Action Waiver.
To opt-out of texts, reply STOP. To opt-out of emails, use one of the methods described in our Privacy Policy.
This advertisement is for customer reference only and has no value and is not intended to be exchanged for any product. Leafbuyer (Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc) is not responsible for the content of any advertisement. All advertisements are the sole responsibility of the vendor publishing the advertisement. If an advertisement is not valid, please contact the vendor directly as errors may have been made in the creation of the advertisement. This advertisement is only intended to be viewed by those of legal age and in the state/local area where the product is legally open for sale. Additionally, all state and local laws and restrictions apply to all advertisements. Void where prohibited.
This advertisement is for customer reference only and has no value and is not intended to be exchanged for any product. Leafbuyer (Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc) is not responsible for the content of any advertisement. All advertisements are the sole responsibility of the vendor publishing the advertisement. If an advertisement is not valid, please contact the vendor directly as errors may have been made in the creation of the advertisement. This advertisement is only intended to be viewed by those of legal age and in the state/local area where the product is legally open for sale. Additionally, all state and local laws and restrictions apply to all advertisements. Void where prohibited.
(scroll to see the rest of the message)
Text this deal to me!
Text This Deal To Me
Enter your phone number below to receive this deal via text message.
To get a text with this deal from , please sign up below.
By checking the box and signing up, you consent to receive informational and marketing text messages from or on behalf of - including texts sent using an autodialer - to the wireless number you provided above. Your consent is not required to make a purchase.
By checking the box and signing up, you agree to the and - which include an Arbitration Agreement and Class Action Waiver.
To opt-out of texts, reply STOP. To opt-out of emails, use one of the methods described in our Privacy Policy.
