Pueblo County voters to decide on recreational marijuana sales

Pueblo County Commissioners decided Monday to let the voters take up the issue of whether or not to ban the sale of recreational marijuana in Pueblo.

After months of back and forth, and more than an hour of discussion Monday morning, community members in both Pueblo city and Pueblo County will vote on the anti-pot ballot initiative.

“It is a relief,” Sharon Scutti said.

Scutti spoke out Monday saying she just wants the voters to decide .

“I want to support this going to the ballot in the fall so that everyone, every voter in Pueblo County will have the opportunity to speak to the issue,” Scutti said.

“Whether they are pro-pot or whether they are against marijuana.”

If voters decide in November to ban the sale of recreational marijuana, all stores, grows and infused-product manufacturing would have to close by October 2017.

But the use of recreational marijuana would still be legal.

“Citizens of Pueblo could still leave town, purchase it, leaving Pueblo County tax dollars in other communities,” County Commissioner Sal Pace said.

The only way the decision could be reversed in future voting years is if the Board of County Commissioners referred it to the voters.

“Amendment 64 allows for initiatives to ban marijuana however it does not allow for initiatives to start marijuana licensing,” Pace said.

Whatever the decision, Pace says the commissioners will follow it, which is all Scutti is hoping for.

“I’m glad the commissioners will go ahead and forward that so people can go ahead and vote,” Scutti said.

Pueblo City Council also placed the initiative on the November ballot. Now, it’s a waiting game to see what the fate will be for the sale of recreational marijuana.