Petition to ban retail marijuana in Pueblo County submitted

Two people who live in Pueblo County have filed a petition with the county clerk to ban retail marijuana sales county-wide.

The proposal would revoke the licenses of existing shops and prohibit the establishment of new retail marijuana stores.

The county has five days to review the petition.

Pueblo County commissioners have already come out in opposition to the plan.

They argue that residents will be forced to purchase their marijuana from the black market if retail stores are forced to close. They also say that the county would take a severe economic hit and face a severe budget crunch if legal marijuana stores are banned.

Commissioner Sal Pace released the following statement:

“I’m saddened that a vocal minority is willing to tear apart our community when the voters of Pueblo have already spoken loud and clear. The result will be the same…again… except the community will be divided unnecessarily for the next seven months.

The folks running the measure need to explain to the hundreds of people working in Pueblo’s cannabis, construction, and real estate industries how they will put food on the table if this measure is successful.

Finally, if this passes what do we say to Pueblo County high school students promised scholarships, to the Colorado State Fair, Colorado State University-Pueblo, North Mesa and South Mesa Elementary, Beulah School, Runyon Field, Rye Mountain Park, and many other programs anticipating funds approved by the voters this past November from the 1B excise tax measure?”

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office has been vocal about its opposition to allowing retail marijuana shops in the county. Undersheriff J.R. Hall says that Sheriff Kirk Taylor believes the voters always need a voice.

55.6% of Pueblo County voters supported Amendment 64 in 2012.