ADAMS COUNTY — Formal opposition to a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in Colorado is on the rise in Adams County after two local organizations said they oppose the effort.
On Sept. 10, the Adams County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution opposing Amendment 64, which would allow for recreational use of up to one ounce of marijuana across the state for anyone 21 or older, as well as marijuana retail stores and growing facilities.
Citing potential harm to children, “danger of increased impaired driving” and other conflicts with federal law and workplace safety programs, the board passed the resolution 2-0, which Commissioner W.R. “Skip” Fischer excused from the meeting.
Following the commission’s formal opposition, Adams County Youth Initiative formally opposed Amendment 64 Sept. 14. In a release from interim director Becky Hoffman, the youth initiative cites the effects on local children.
Hoffman cited the youth initiative’s student survey in nothing that about 30 percent of Adams County high school students say they’ve used marijuana and that those students were more prone to truancy, binge drinking, abuse of prescription drugs and other problems in life.
At the state level, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Sept. 12 he opposes Amendment 64.
“Colorado is known for many great things — marijuana should not be one of them,” Hickenlooper said. “Amendment 64 has the potential to increase the number of children using drugs and would detract from efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation. It sends the wrong message to kids that drugs are OK.”
Ballots for the Nov. 6 general election will be mailed sometime next month to registered voters. Early voting centers in Adams County will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Oct. 22 to Nov. 2 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. For the voting center closest to you, visit www.co.adams.co.us and look for the ‘Election Information’ heading.