Colorado Springs Hears From Public Regarding Retail Sales of Pot

According to The Gazette, roughly 60 people appeared last night at the Colorado Springs City Council Town Hall meeting to discuss whether that city should opt-in or opt-out of retail sales of marijuana. After Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 last November, local municipalities and counties were given the option to decide whether or not retail sales of marijuana would be allowed.

Manitou Springs city officials have gone on record as preferring a wait-and-see approach to how Colorado Springs deals with retail marijuana sales before voting a ban or approval of retail sales of marijuana. Manitou Springs city administrator Jack Benson, according to the Pikes Peak Bulletin, believes a temporary moratorium is the solution. "I think getting pushed into regulating something ahead of time before we know the answers doesn't seem prudent."

Mayor Marc Snyder has complained about the possibility Manitou Springs could be the only city with retail sales of marijuana in El Paso county. Snyder has cited concerns of Manitou being "overrun by a dozen retail centers and become a mecca for marijuana activity."

Colorado's Amendment 64 was touted by supporters and activists as a way to "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol" and was approved by a majority of Manitou voters. Recent research indicates there are at least 30 liquor licenses operating in Manitou Springs.

No word yet whether Snyder believes the city is a mecca for alcoholic activity.

"There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns; there are things we do not know we don't know." - former US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield

Colorado Springs city council is expected to vote on the issue of retail marijuana sales within that city's limits on July 23.

- June 28, 2013