Colorado Springs Safe Neighborhood Coalition reported spending over one million dollars to stop recreational cannabis. Much of its funding is from what's considered "dark-money."
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In Colorado Springs, the campaign opposing recreational marijuana, led by the Colorado Springs Safe Neighborhood Coalition, has spent significantly more than supporters of the measure, according to recent finance reports. If passed, Question 300 would allow licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis, while Question 2D would enforce a recreational marijuana ban, preventing further citizen initiatives on the matter.
The Coalition, backing 2D and opposing 300, has raised over $1.2 million and spent almost $1.1 million as of Oct. 27. Many of its contributions come from developers, construction firms, and real estate groups. Industry opposition is partly influenced by construction companies’ zero-tolerance marijuana policies for workers, despite Colorado’s legalization laws. A 2015 Colorado Supreme Court ruling upheld that employers’ policies can override state cannabis laws.
Daniel Cole, who leads the Coalition’s anti-300 campaign, framed the donations as reflecting a sense of civic duty among supporters who aim to maintain safety and prosperity in Colorado Springs. Much of the funding, however, has come from Colorado Dawn, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group also linked to Cole’s business operations, contributing $835,000 to the campaign. Because Colorado Dawn does not disclose specific donors, it is considered a “dark-money” organization. The group reported almost $6 million in revenue in 2022, a large increase from the prior year, according to ProPublica’s nonprofit database.
On the other side, Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Regulation, advocating for Question 300, has raised approximately $194,000 and spent $158,000. Their spokesperson, Meghan Graf, criticized the Coalition’s dark-money funding, arguing that Question 300 provides a regulated framework for recreational cannabis without adding new stores. She noted that the measure includes safeguards for youth and funds for public safety and mental health initiatives, including veterans’ PTSD programs. Graf urged voters to focus on the benefits of Question 300 and to seek reliable information beyond the Coalition’s well-funded campaign.
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