Council wants to wait until next year to vote on recreational pot shops in Pueblo

Pueblo City Council wants to delay a vote on recreational pot shops in the city limits until 2016.

Pueblo City Council voted 6-1 against the vote happening this year on Monday night.

During public forum, no one spoke in favor of having the vote this year.

If the vote were to happen this year, City Attorney Dan Kogovsek said the vote would be a suggestion from the people on what council should do with recreational marijuana shops.

Kogovsek said if people wait until 2016 to vote on the issue, the decision would be final and the only way to change it is by another vote from the people.

George Rivera, who represents Pueblo Voice Your Choice, said this will give people more time to think about what they want.

“This gives the citizens some time to review the issues, to look over, to weigh the pros and the cons and to decide which way they want to do,” he said.

Councilman Bob Schilling voted in favor of voting this year.

“Either collect revenue now or collect revenue later. If you don’t collect revenue now, we are going to pay all the expense and bills for it,” he said.

There is a moratorium on the sale of recreational marijuana in the city limits until the end of this year.

Pot sales are legal in Pueblo County.

The Pueblo County Liquor and Marijuana Licensing Board approved a new medical marijuana business Monday night. The business will be located in the 1800 block of S. Santa Fe Dr. and will grow and sell medical marijuana as well as make medical marijuana infused products.