The city of Manitou Springs voted on second reading Tuesday night to slash its special marijuana sales tax amount from 10% to 5%, a move that may foretell financial difficulties to come for the historic city west of Colorado Springs.

The move was prompted by a successful ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs for existing medical marijuana businesses.

The Manitou Springs City Council voted unanimously and without debate on the measure. Bill Conkling, founder of Manitou Springs dispensary Maggie's Farm, was the only audience voice on the action.

"I am thankful even for your consideration of this," he said to council members.

Manitou Springs was the first municipality in El Paso County to legalize recreational sales in 2014. It remained until this year

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