Amy Lathen

Amendment 64, which Colorado voters approved in November, decriminalizes the consumption and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana by adults ages 21 and up.

The amendment states that the first $40 million annually from a new excise tax on marijuana sales would be devoted to education capital construction. But the excise tax must be approved by the voters, and it takes a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to get such a measure onto the ballot. That means that the $40 million may never be realized if voters turn down the tax question next year, according to statehouse reporter John Schroyer.

During Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting, Chairwoman Amy Lathen said a “huge portion” of the campaign in support of Amendment 64 was “just a complete lie” to voters.

“I have no problem in saying that,” she said. “Telling people that we’re going to get have these great taxes for schools when it takes another very arduous process to do so, I think, is deceptive. There’s no question that that was deceptive in the campaign.”