Complete Colorado election results for 2017 cannabis issues
Published: Nov 8, 2017, 5:11 pm • Updated: Nov 8, 2017, 7:11 pm
By Aleta Labak, The Cannabist Staff
A Colorado city known for its cantaloupes will soon be known for its recreational cannabis.
Three cities in southern Colorado — Alamosa, Monte Vista and Rocky Ford, all located south of Pueblo — voted Tuesday on whether to allow sales of medical marijuana, recreational marijuana or both; they also had separate, corresponding tax measures for collecting revenue on prospective cannabis sales.
While the proposed pot-tax measures in the three cities all passed easily, only one approved retail sales: Rocky Ford, famous regionally for its melons.
Elsewhere in Colorado, voters had a handful of local marijuana tax measures to consider on their ballots, including the town of Foxfield, where marijuana sales are currently banned. In 13 out of 14 cities, the tax measures passed — Foxfield’s did not.
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Additionally, Fort Collins voters authorized the City Council to amend the City Code with regard to medical marijuana ordinances without requiring voter approval of each amendment, according to the Colorado Municipal League, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.
State marijuana laws allow municipalities to “opt in” or ban marijuana sales and set local taxes. CML data on local ordinances shows that as of April 2017 about 90 percent of municipalities had taken action to address retail marijuana sales; 69 municipalities had regulations in place to allow sales and 168 had bans or moratoriums.
Here’s a look at the unofficial results in the cities that considered allowing sales and/or instituting local marijuana taxes. Information on the proposed tax rates is provided by Kevin Bommer, CML deputy director. (Voter totals are in parentheses):
Alamosa
Ballot Question 300: Allow medical marijuana stores
Yes: 41% (868)
No: 59% (1,275)
Ballot Question 301: Allow retail marijuana stores
Yes: 37% (794)
No: 63% (1,342)
Issue 2A: 5% sales tax on retail marijuana sales
Yes: 61% (1,313)
No: 39% (823)
Results via Alamosa News
Berthoud
Issue 2A: 7% sales and excise, earmarked for youth activities and services, streets, public safety, parks and rec
Yes: 69% (1,121)
No: 31% (506)
Results via the Reporter-Herald
Commerce City
Issue 2C: 5% excise tax to fund public safety
Yes: 53.09% (3,577)
No: 46.91% (3,160)
Results via Adams County
DeBeque
Issue 2A: 5% sales tax on medical
Yes: 62% (71)
No: 38% (43)
Results via Grand Junction Sentinel
Dinosaur
Measure 2B: 5% sales tax on retail, repeal occupation tax
Yes: 67% (53)
No: 33% (26)
Results via Craig Daily Press
Eagle
Issue 1A: 2.5% sales tax on retail, 2.5% excise, repeal occupation tax
Yes: 74% (8,151)
No: 26% (2,905)
Results via Vail Daily
Federal Heights
Issue 2L: 5% excise tax to fund regulation, drug education, prevention of youth consumption
Yes: 58% (580)
No: 42% (425)
Results via Adams County
Foxfield (sales currently banned)
5% sales tax on retail
Yes: 42% (152)
No: 58% (207)
Results via Town of Foxfield
Log Lane Village
Issue 2D: 3.5% excise tax increase (total of 5%)
Yes: 51.38% (56)
No: 48.62% (53)
Results via Morgan County
Longmont
Issue 2I: 3% sales tax with portion earmarked for affordable housing
Yes: 63% (13,648)
No: 37% (7,965)
Results via Times-Call
Monte Vista
Issue 2B: Allow medical and retail marijuana sales
Yes: 35% (356)
No: 65% (653)
Issue 2A: 18% excise tax on med/retail, 1% earmarked for police, 1% for capital improvement
Yes: 56% (535)
No: 44% (428)
Results via Alamosa News
Rocky Ford
Question 2F: Allow recreational marijuana sales (medical marijuana sales currently allowed)
Yes: 53% (456)
No: 47% (404)
Issue 2E: 6% sales tax on retail marijuana sales
Yes: 71% (610)
No: 29% (250)
Results via Otero County
Sheridan
5% excise tax on marijuana sales for public safety
Yes: 61% (506)
No: 38% (322)
Results via City of Sheridan
Walsenburg
Issue 2A: 5% excise tax to fund wild waters pool, parks, code enforcement, and youth activities
Yes: 55% (507)
No: 45% (419)
Results via Huerfano County
Topics: ballot initiative, Colorado, Colorado taxes, municipal regulations, taxes 
Aleta Labak
This Colorado native joined The Cannabist in January 2014 as a digital producer, after working behind the scenes for The Denver Post since 1999 in News, Features and Sports as a copy editor and designer. These are fascinating times,…
