To say that 2020 is one for the history books is an understatement, but we like to celebrate the small wins, too — even if it’s a town of 3,000 voting to allow medical and recreational marijuana sales in their community. Welcome to Weedville, folks!
With a few exceptions, these are the Colorado towns that voted on (and approved) to allow marijuana sales in their municipality.
BroomfieldResult: Tax approved for recreational marijuana productsAfter the Broomfield City Council allowed a ban on recreational marijuana stores and grows to expire earlier in the year, next on the to-do list for community members was to decide on a marijuana tax. Unofficial results showed that over 58.5 percent of voters approved the 4 percent tax on recreational marijuana products.
Buena VistaResult: Recreational marijuana sales allowedAccording to Chaffee County’s unofficial results, 55 percent of voters approved an ordinance permitting recreational marijuana stores.
A second ballot issue proposing a 5 percent marijuana sales tax received 66 percent approval from voters. It is estimated that Buena Vista will receive about $125,000 in annual revenue by allowing for and taxing local dispensaries. Buena Vista, a popular mountain town destination, currently only allows for medical marijuana sales.
CedaredgeResult: Approved medical and recreational marijuana salesCedaredge is a farming community, so it would make sense that marijuana would make an excellent addition to the economy. With a 5 percent sales tax approved, Cedaredge voted in medical and recreational marijuana businesses with 56 percent in favor.
DinosaurResult: Approved an increase in sales tax on marijuanaWhile the town of Dinosaur already allows for the sales of recreational marijuana, voters felt they could make the town a little more money by increasing the weed sales tax. Fifty-eight percent of voters approved a sales tax increase from 5 percent to 10 percent.
EckleyResult: Rejected marijuana salesSixty percent of Eckley voters decided against repealing a ban on marijuana retail and commercial businesses operating within the town.
Fort LuptonResult: Approved medical and recreational pot salesWeld County is about to have its second town with marijuana retail stores — Fort Lupton.
During the election, 59 percent of voters supported welcoming pot shops as well as a 3.1 percent sales tax on all marijuana products.
KiowaResult: Rejected marijuana salesKiowa was one of two towns on the 2020 ballot to resist bringing in marijuana as a revenue driver. More than 62 percent of voters in Elbert County voted against the measure, according to unofficial election results.
Not even a sales tax was approved by voters this time around.
LakewoodResult: Approved recreational marijuana salesIt’s been high time Lakewood added recreational marijuana into the mix.
According to unofficial results, 66 percent of voters were all for approving businesses to apply for recreational marijuana licenses after 10 years of only medical marijuana dispensaries being allowed to operate within the city.
LittletonResult: Approved recreational marijuana salesLittleton was among the Colorado towns that approved recreational marijuana sales, but with a catch — only the town’s three existing medical marijuana shops are allowed to apply for recreational licenses.
PaoniaResult: Approved marijuana sales and a sales taxJoining Cedaredge, Paonia is the second town in Delta County to approve the sale of medical and recreational marijuana. Paonia voters also voted for a 5 percent tax for all marijuana sales which will reap an estimated $100,000 in tax revenue during its first year of implementation.
RomeoResult: Approved marijuana salesIt was a close call in Romeo as to whether or not to allow for marijuana sales within the small town.
In fact, the deciding factor to approve the addition was won by a mere three votes — 73 in favor and 70 in opposition.
Winter ParkResult: Sales tax approved but not marijuana retail storesYou sure can’t purchase weed at a dispensary in Winter Park but, if it’s ever approved, you can be sure there will be a 5 percent tax on it thanks to voters in this 2020 election. While marijuana retail stores aren’t allowed to operate within the city, according to the Sky-Hi News, the city council plans to discuss the future of marijuana sales in Winter Park.
Amanda Push
