Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ballot Question 300, Allow for Retail Marijuana Establishments Initiative (November 2022)

Colorado Springs Ballot Question 300
Election date November 8, 2022
Topic Local marijuana
Status Defeated
Type Initiative

Colorado Springs Ballot Question 300 was on the ballot as an initiative in Colorado Springs on November 8, 2022. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported allowing for retail recreational marijuana establishments in Colorado Springs.

A "no" vote opposed allowing for retail recreational marijuana establishments in Colorado Springs.

Election results

Colorado Springs Ballot Question 300
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		83,926	45.57%
No		100,250	54.43%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Ballot Question 300 was as follows:

“

Shall the ordinances of the City of Colorado Springs be amended to:   • Authorize the regulation of retail/recreational marijuana establishments in the same manner as medical marijuana;  • Repeal the prohibition against retail/recreational establishments; and  • Authorize medical marijuana establishments to also be licensed as retail/recreational marijuana establishments without raising the cap on the number of locations set forth in City Code §2.2.104?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Your Choice Colorado Springs led the campaign in support of Question 300.

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Your Choice Colorado Springs: "It’s a constitutional right in Colorado to possess and consume recreational cannabis. However, when Amendment 64 passed in 2012, it left the choice of whether to allow the sale of recreational cannabis up to the local municipality. In most places in Colorado, elected leaders rightfully put that choice back in the hands of voters. In Colorado Springs, elected officials kept that choice to themselves and away from the voters. Essentially, local politicians believe they know better than the voters who put them in office in the first place.

Folks in our city who consume recreational cannabis have the right to do so. They drive to neighboring municipalities that allow recreational cannabis sales, then bring it back home to Colorado Springs to legally consume. At the end of the day, Colorado Springs residents are the ones losing out in this equation. Tax dollars that belong to our city to fix our problems are willingly forfeited by city leaders who are stuck in the past.

Colorado Springs is at a critical juncture. The population of our city is exploding and it’s critical we have the resources to take on the big challenges that come with rapid growth. These much-needed tax dollars will help put an end to our region’s mental health crisis, provide world class PTSD programs for veterans in our community, and improve our public safety.

It’s common sense: end the prohibition of a product that is constitutionally protected in Colorado. If the citizens in our city are purchasing recreational cannabis and its 100% legal to possess and consume cannabis, let’s make sure those tax dollars stay in Colorado Springs and are not freely forfeited to Manitou, Denver, or Pueblo?

Let’s put Colorado Springs first and ensure what belongs to Colorado Springs stays in Colorado Springs. Vote YES on 300 and 301 to end the senseless prohibition of recreational cannabis sales and bring our tax dollars home."

Opposition

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

John W. Suthers:

“We’re doing fantastic from an economic standpoint in Colorado Springs,” Suthers said. “The cost that’s passed on to the health care system, to our schools, to our correctional facilities … far exceeds any economic benefit from [recreational marijuana.]”

"The fact of the matter is, the military views the availability of drugs, the readily ready access to drugs as contrary to their mission readiness."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Colorado

Proponents of the ballot initiative collected and submitted signatures to place the issue on the ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to vote in Colorado

Poll times

In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.

Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

Residency requirements

Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.

The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of October 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.

“

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

”

• Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2022
• Local marijuana on the ballot

Colorado

• Colorado 2022 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Colorado
• Colorado Springs, Colorado

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas