Pueblo residents weigh in on anti-pot ballot measure

A measure that could ban the sale of retail marijuana in the city of Pueblo is now in the City Council’s hands.

Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo turned in enough signatures at the city level to place the measure on the November ballot.

Council is set to vote on the ballot language at its regular meeting Monday.

Residents have expressed mixed opinions about the issue.

“It’s a good idea to ban it,” Bill Rosish said.

While, pro-recreational sale supporter Alexander Houser said, “I disagree.”

Those against, say the drugs could be worse.

“It does no harm to them like these other drugs,” Jordan Agguirres said.

Other supporters say it helps those who use marijuana.

“Me being a veteran it does help me with my sleep, depression, anxiety, whatever,” Houser said.

The revenue the city makes off the sales is also necessary, say pro-recreational sales supporters.

“If they ban it, they’re going to have to raise taxes in other places.” Joe Serna said.

But other residents say the loss of revenue is worth it, while the problems that come with the money aren’t.

“If they are smoking around children, that’s not good for them. That can’t be good for their health,” Miriam Thompson said.

Anti-recreational sales supporters also say the budget should just be trimmed.

“Well cut the budget. We’re spending a lot of money we don’t need to spend,” Rosich said. “We have a lot of things we could do less expensively.”

Those for the ban say illegal grows were supposed to decrease when the sale of recreational pot was legalized.

But numbers don’t support that, as Pueblo is in the double digits for illegal grow busts.

“I think the amount of illegal grows that have jumped up in the city of Pueblo is astounding,” Rosich said.

The City Council will vote whether or not to give the decision to the voters at its meeting on Monday.