Pueblo County Commissioners considering ballot measure to extend marijuana moratorium

Voters could decide whether to continue temporary prohibition until 2020.

Pueblo County Commissioners are considering adding a Nov. 8 ballot question to extend the moratorium on retail marijuana stores and medical marijuana centers, continuing the temporary ban, which has been in place since 2014, until 2020. The draft resolution was discussed at today’s commissioner work session.

“The commissioners have to figure something out, before January, 2017, when the current moratorium ends, if there should be another moratorium, and they are considering sending it to the voters. What these commissioners have said from the beginning is that we want to take a cautious approach with this industry,” said Pueblo County Attorney Greg Styduhar.

According to the draft language, “Until January 1, 2020, the local licensing authority shall not receive or accept applications for a medical marijuana center license or retail marijuana store license.”

“If we don’t do it now, we will have more retail stores popping up,” said Commissioner Sal Pace.

“I’m of the belief that there are a lot of folks who support legalization. But there are also opinions that we have somewhere between a vast proliferation of stores and closing all of the existing stores.”

The ballot measure would appear along side the current voter question, banning all recreational marijuana stores, grows and infused-product manufacturing.

“They are separate and distinct questions,” said Styduhar. “It’s distinct from an absolute prohibition of retail facilities. The moratorium makes it explicitly clear that those who hold a center license could apply for a store license. Anyone who has an application in can continue with that application.”

Commissioners will formally vote on the ballot language at their Sept. 7 agenda.