On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council voted through an ordinance that critics said would essentially ban recreational cannabis in the city before voters weigh in this November.
The ordinance now requires recreational cannabis shops not to be allowed within a one-mile buffer zone from schools, childcare facilities, and alcohol and drug treatment centers.
This comes as voters will weigh in on a pair of conflicting marijuana ballot measures in November; one would allow recreational pot shops and the other would ban them with a stricter city charter amendment.
This zoning ordinance and the ban on recreational cannabis were brought forward by City Councilwoman Lynette Crow-Iverson.
In a July interview with KOAA, she admitted the zoning restriction was a fallback in the case that voters approved recreational cannabis. She also previously said there was “no science” behind the one-mile buffer.
If the citizen-backed initiative is approved by voters in November, it would only allow recreational sales at current medical marijuana shops, which currently have a 1,000-foot buffer.