Judge: Colorado Springs can't sidestep voters on recreational marijuana

A district court judge has blocked the city of Colorado Springs from asking voters to repeal recreational marijuana sales they approved in November.An injunction issued Monday by 4th Judicial District Court Judge Hilary Gurney prohibits the city from asking voters to repeal Question 300, a measure that 54% of voters approved in November that permits the sale of recreational marijuana in Colorado Springs.

ADVERTISEMENT Gurney determined the action was unconstitutional, Colorado Sun reported.Also on that November ballot, voters in Colorado’s second-most-populous city rejected Question 2D, which would have completely banned adult-use sales.

According to the Sun, Gurney issued the injunction after two Colorado Springs residents sued the city for ignoring Amendment 64 of the Colorado Constitution, the state law that allows the cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana.Amendment 64 states that local ballot measures prohibiting the licensed recreational marijuana businesses can be placed on ballots only in general elections.

“The City Council was in such a rush to overturn the will of Colorado Springs’ voters that it just ignored state law,” U.S.Air Force veteran Adam Gillard, a plaintiff in the case, said in a statement.

“Now, the court has held the council accountable for its outrageous and unconstitutional actions.“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.” ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, existing medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado Springs on Monday were able to begin submitting applications for adult-use licenses, the Sun reported.After the city’s 60-day application-review process, licensed dispensaries could begin selling recreational cannabis as soon as April 10.

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