COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado Springs City Council approved a new marijuana ordinance on Tuesday in a 7-2 vote.
The new ordinance requires that recreational marijuana stores cannot operate within a one-mile buffer zone around schools, child care facilities or alcohol or drug treatment facilities.
Clifton Black is an attorney who represents many marijuana-related businesses in Colorado Springs.
He called the City Council vote a “de facto ban on recreational marijuana.”
“Because these businesses will no longer be allowed citywide,” Black said.
Black said if the ordinance passes, it could lead to an expansion of the black market for marijuana.
“If they try to push everyone onto the black market, the marijuana people are buying is going to be unsafe,” Black said.
Diane Carlson, co-founder of the group One Chance to Grow Up, said she welcomed the new ordinance.
“They are really committed to making sure the community is as safe as possible,” Carlson said.
Carlson said this was due to concerns about marijuana's effects on children's health.
“Anyone who wants to get marijuana can get it, but for young people it's a problem, and we know from research it's a problem,” Carlson said.
When News 5 asked Black what the next steps are for local marijuana dispensaries, Black said he's considering a lawsuit against the ordinance.
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Honor Flight of Southern Colorado is an organization that works to provide veterans in Southern Colorado with an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation's capital, and News5's Brie Groves had the opportunity to tag along on Honor Flight 19 and tell the stories of those who dedicated their lives to service.
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