Marijuana industry forms group in Pueblo County
More than a dozen marijuana dispensary owners and growers in Pueblo County have created the Southern Colorado Growers Association, a move that was announced in a release Sunday.
The group’s goals are to push for legislative policies and laws that will bring tougher standards, professionalize the industry and keep cannabis out of the hands of kids.
The president of the group is Tommy Giodone, a restaurant owner and businessman who is building a medical marijuana dispensary next to his restaurant on U.S. Business 50.
“I got into it because some folks in the neighborhood wanted to open up a dispensary and I just felt they were not legitimate businessmen,” he said.
Giodone said the group wants stronger regulations for caregivers — people licensed to grow small amounts of marijuana at home for a limited number of patients. He said Pueblo County has at least 140 caregivers.
“Caregivers — not all of them — are running wild with growing cannabis because there’s nobody regulating, putting standards and procedures in place,” he said. “A legalized dispensary has to pay insurance, licensing fees and is regulated by the state. Everything from seed to product is monitored closely.”
Giodone also said the group wants to educate the public and eliminate persisting misperceptions about the industry.
Public reaction to the new group was mixed.
“Is it a good idea? Well, probably — because people aren’t educated to it in my age group,” said Arlene, who declined to provide her last name and opposes legalized marijuana. “I’m really not educated to marijuana, so I’m probably not making an educated assessment of it.”
Pedro Lopez, who supports medical use of marijuana, discussed whether there’s any reason to be skeptical of the group’s motives.
“(That’s) not really a concern, but it worries me that they’re doing it for the wrong reasons, if they want to make more money off of (marijuana),” he said. “But being more educated on it, for whatever reason, is better for all of us.”
The group is involved with both medical and recreational marijuana. According to the release, the industry provides 1,308 jobs and contributes $122 million to the local economy.
