Starting tomorrow, Colorado Springs will officially join the ranks of Colorado cities that allow recreational cannabis sales—a significant shift for a city that has long resisted the state’s legalization movement.
This change comes after voters approved Ballot Question 300 in November 2024, allowing existing medical marijuana dispensaries to apply for licenses to sell recreational cannabis. The measure passed with 54.7% of the vote, while a competing initiative to ban recreational sales, Ballot Question 2D, was narrowly defeated.
As of today, 27 dispensaries have received licenses to begin recreational sales, with five more pending approval. The city anticipates that the 5% sales tax on recreational cannabis could generate up to $2 million in its first year, earmarked for public safety, mental health services, and veterans’ programs.
This development marks a significant change in policy for Colorado Springs, which had long prohibited recreational marijuana sales despite statewide legalization in 2012. The move follows years of public debate, competing ballot measures, and legal challenges. After voters approved Ballot Question 300 in November 2024, opponents filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the results. However, a district court judge later dismissed the case, allowing the voter-approved measure to move forward.
