Pueblo City Council extends retail marijuana moratorium for third time

Retail marijuana stores won’t be allowed to open in the city anytime soon.

Pueblo City Council voted 6-1 on Monday to once again extend the moratorium on retail pot stores. It lasts until April 27, 2015.

Councilwoman Eva Montoya was the sole no vote. She’s adamantly opposed to any marijuana businesses.

Council is giving the city’s planning and zoning commission more time to set up a zoning map and establish regulations for retail marijuana stores.

But David Lemon, a marijuana advocate who regularly attends council meetings, reminded council that it’s continuing to miss out on tax revenue.

“We’re gonna continue pushing this down the road and wait and wait and wait. All these businesses are gonna take about a year to do a build out and get up and running,” Lemon said.

Councilman John Cordova said he agreed with Lemon and said council needs to make a decision next month and “not keep kicking this can down the road. Do something: either approve it or disapprove it.”

Councilman Bob Schilling said the planning and zoning commission is working hard on regulations and echoed Cordova’s statement.

“I agree with Councilman Cordova. On the 27th, I want to get this done,” Schilling said.

Council first placed a temporary moratorium on implementing Amendment 64 on May 28, 2013. City Council then voted on April 14, 2014 to extend the moratorium for retail marijuana stores. Council voted to extend it a second time on December 22, 2014.