Eagle County Ballot Issue 1A for mental health services passes in a landslide

Eagle County’s Ballot Issue 1A to tax recreational marijuana sales to fund badly needed mental health and substance abuse services in the Eagle and Roaring Fork River valleys passed by an overwhelming margin of nearly 74 to 26 percent.

Andrew Romanoff

The sweeping victory on Nov. 7 comes despite a late opposition push by a handful of anti-tax crusaders and the chair of the local Republican Party.

The county will now be viewed as one possible model for mental health funding around the state, according to Mental Health Colorado President and CEO Andrew Romanoff, who sent out this email blast on Wednesday morning:

“Democrats and Republicans shared a victory yesterday.

“There’s a sentence you don’t often see. But that’s what happened last night in Eagle County.

“More than 10,000 people in Eagle County experience a mental health or substance use disorder each year, yet the county dedicates no resources to treatment. A bipartisan coalition set out to change that, proposing a tax on the sale and production of recreational marijuana.

“The result: nearly 74% of voters supported Issue 1A.

“We’re proud to have been part of the winning team. But we have far more work to do.

“While Coloradans are voting to boost mental health services, deep cuts loom in Washington. Our task: to build on Eagle County’s success—and to prevent Congress from setting us back.

“Join our cause. Become an advocate. Make a contribution.

“Help us bring high-quality mental health care to every Coloradan.”