City Council tilts toward pot retailing (Colorado Springs)

[kentuck]

http://gazette.com/city-council-tilts-toward-pot-retailing/article/1501486

<snip>
Despite Mayor Steve Bach's opposition to retail marijuana stores, the Colorado Springs City Council may be leaning toward approval, provided the "freshmen six" stick to their campaign promises.

The six new council members, along with three returning council members, will decide over the summer whether to allow retail pot stores in Colorado Springs.

They've already heard public comments from proponents who say the city needs to follow the will of voters who approved Amendment 64 in November, allowing retail marijuana sales in Colorado. They've also heard from retired generals and university officials who say selling pot in retail stores is bad for the community and will hurt economic development.

.....

But the freshmen six had their own opinions during the campaign, with three saying they were willing to permit regulated retail sales. Two favored a ban, and one - District 1 Councilman Don Knight - was undecided. Based on interviews last week, it seems they haven't changed their minds.

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[Eleanors38]

1. Interesting time to establish a working business model from

the ground floor; later when the government wants to finalize a business model, who ya gonna call to establish regulations? Local business recycling was way ahead of gov in Austin and is driving the sluggish, slow debate at the policy level years later.

[customerserviceguy]

2. Thanks for posting this

The significance of Colorado Springs is that the leading drug right now is fundie Christianity. It will be interesting to see the two things struggle for dominance.

[kentuck]

3. It is a perception, no doubt.

I think there are religious organizations headquartered in Colorado Springs than anywhere in the nation? That may or may not be true but it is interesting to see how government works at the local level.

The City Council, usually the lowest ring on the government ladder, is so important to people's lives and people's freedom. Also, very interesting to see that the Colorado Springs City Council has 6 new members this term and they vowed to uphold the vote and will of the people.

The Mayor jumped out in front of the issue by saying that he did not want recreational marijuana in Colorado Springs because of various reasons, including its possible impact upon the military men that are stationed in Colorado Springs. Also, he was concerned about its effect on businesses locating to the Springs. Legitimate concerns, I suppose. But I do wonder why he would think a little marijuana might be harmful to a young man coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan, some with missing limbs, after having seen the violence and the killing of recent war?