Colorado Springs voters will decide whether the city should allow recreational marijuana sales — or eliminate the possibility altogether.

Why it matters: The decision could boost the struggling cannabis industry, or close the door on recreational sales for good in Colorado's second-largest city.

Context: A decade after Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana sales, residents in the Springs are still debating the issue because it's banned in the city limits. 

State of play: Ballot Question 300 would allow the city's roughly 90 existing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell cannabis recreationally, while Ballot Question 2D would change the city charter to ban recreational sales.

Zoom in: The city, long heralded as a conservative haven, has rejected measures similar to Ballot Question 300 in the past, most recently in 2022, when voters overwhelmingly voted against allowing recreational sales.

• Opponents of this year's measure say prohibiting recreational sales is key to ensuring the city maintains its military outposts.
• Some residents are concerned about young people using cannabis, as THC levels in marijuana have significantly increased over the past 20 years. 

The intrigue: Colorado Springs City Council passed a law last month severely limiting where recreational marijuana dispensaries can open.

• Councilmember Nancy Henjum, who opposed the law, called it an "overreach." 
• Councilmember Dave Donelson, who initially supported the law, told FOX21 News last month the council should have waited before enacting it: "I thought we were jumping the gun," he said.

What's next: In the unlikely event that the opposing measures both pass, city attorneys say the question of changing the city charter would take precedence, according to the Gazette.

Colorado College students Liam Cardenas Ferguson, Polina Panasenko, Sydney Perincheril and Johanna Westphal contributed to this report.

The alarm bells about marijuana-related disorders are getting louder as more states legalize cannabis and users tap into high-potency products.

Why it matters: Disjointed marijuana policies are leading to misinformation on the health impacts, and no states, including Colorado, adequately monitor the potential dangers, according to an investigation by the New York Times.

By the numbers: 18 million people — a third of users ages 18 and up — have reported symptoms related to cannabis use disorder.

• This is especially evident among 18- to 25-year-olds. A shocking 81% of the 4.5 million daily users meet the criteria for the disorder. 

What they're saying: "Until we do research on the drastically transformed cannabis in all its forms, I think putting them under the umbrella of a safe, legal drug is wrong," Yasmin Hurd, a neuroscientist who has studied the issue, told the Times.

The big picture: Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in 24 states, creating a $33 billion industry with millions of American users, the Times found. Yet only two states — not Colorado — cap THC levels, and health experts warn that highly potent cannabis poses the greatest health risks. 

• In Colorado, 51.5% of adults use marijuana daily, but 15.4% understand the risks, according to a survey. 
• The Biden administration, meanwhile, is moving to ease federal restrictions on marijuana usage.

Zoom in: Heavy, prolonged cannabis use is increasingly diagnosed as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

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This story was written by Colorado College students Havalin Haskell, Ava McCormick and Bella Houck.

A cold front moves through the Denver metro today, a possible harbinger of the season's first snow.

State of play: As the front arrives, the temperature will plummet from yesterday's near-high to below-freezing lows later today. 

• Snow showers expected tomorrow could start as a slushy mix given the highs in the mid-40s.

Yes, But: To register as the city's first snowfall, it needs to hit 0.1 inches.

Zoom out: The mountains expect a significant snowstorm with winter weather advisories warning of accumulations near a foot in the southern and central range.

🚲 The last Denver e-bike rebates of the year go live at 11am today and are expected to be claimed in a flash. (Denverite) 

🍔 McDonald's has resumed selling its Quarter Pounders after Colorado health officials determined they weren't the source of an E. coli outbreak. (Axios)

🐉 Green Dragon, one of Colorado's largest cannabis companies, is closing 17 dispensaries and its grow operation by the end of the year. (BusinessDen 🔑) 

Colorado Springs continues to pop off with new places to eat, drink, shop and play.

Here are some new spots not to miss: 

👕 Vintage & Vinyl opened over the summer in the trendy downtown food hall CO.A.T.I. The funky thrift shop sells upcycled clothing, jewelry and vinyl records, and is open Thursday through Sunday. 

🎵 Lulu's Downtown, which relocated from Manitou Springs to the heart of the city in February, is quickly becoming a top spot for live music. The intimate space creates an inviting atmosphere, embracing up-and-coming musicians and comedians. 

🍴 Ówàḿbẹ̀, which calls itself Colorado's first Nigerian restaurant, debuted downtown last week. Its menu showcases African dishes like Jollof rice and plantains, and city leaders are celebrating its opening for enriching the city's cultural diversity..

🌿 Evergreen is a European-style cafe nestled among Colorado College's campus that opened this summer. The nature-filled space offers a tranquil atmosphere with lush greenery and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a focus on French pastries.

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This story was written by Colorado College students Theo Cherry, Ayala Rysbek and Ashley Stewart.

Big thanks to the Colorado College all-star students who helped with today's edition and their instructor Corey Hutchins!

The bottom line: The future of journalism is in great hands.