Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
The future of recreational marijuana in both Pueblo and the surrounding county is on the line this November, with both camps raising money for advertising campaigns to woo voters.
In the middle of that heated debate, City Council will roll out its own ballot question Monday night on whether to license recreational pot stores within the city.
President Steve Nawrocki argues that when council was poised to license retail stores last year, a vocal group of opponents, including Councilman Chris Nicoll, urged council to let voters decide that question this year. And council agreed.
"So that's a commitment we made a long time ago, before these other campaigns even began," he said Monday.
But the city's ballot question looks like it will likely be an orphan in the political storm. After all, council is barred by law from spending money to support or oppose ballot issues.
"Our obligation is just put it out there for voters to consider," Nawrocki said.
Like flying a kite in a hurricane.
"Our goal, of course, is to stop the proposed repeal of recreational licenses," said Kyle Forti, a spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future, the pro-marijuana group. Being diplomatic, he said, "But we naturally align with supporters who'd like retail stores in the city."
Naturally "aligning" doesn't necessarily mean doing any advertising, he noted.
In fact, the pro-pot group is sharply focused on stopping Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo, the anti-recreational pot organization. And one local advocate for city stores, who asked not to be identified, said any advertising campaign that tried to do both - battle the repeal effort while also endorsing city stores - would become too complicated.
"As a message, it would be much tougher to get across to voters," he warned.
And the opponents of recreational pot don't want the city question either.
"We still hope council won't put that on the ballot," said Charlene Graham, a leader of the group. "We think it will just add confusion and when voters feel confused, they tend to just vote 'no' on everything."
Graham said the Citizens group's ballot question - repealing all recreational pot licenses and barring any future ones - will give council the answer it's looking for on pot stores.
But not quite.
Council has been considering licensing recreational stores in the city for several years. If voters turn down the anti-pot campaign in November, council could declare that result to be voter authorization for recreational stores.
But council has come a long way down the political road to letting city voters decide the pot store question.
"It's not like it's been a secret for the past year, " Nawrocki said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: City Pot Question Is A Kite In A Hurricane
Author: Peter Roper
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu
Website: The Pueblo Chieftan
In the middle of that heated debate, City Council will roll out its own ballot question Monday night on whether to license recreational pot stores within the city.
President Steve Nawrocki argues that when council was poised to license retail stores last year, a vocal group of opponents, including Councilman Chris Nicoll, urged council to let voters decide that question this year. And council agreed.
"So that's a commitment we made a long time ago, before these other campaigns even began," he said Monday.
But the city's ballot question looks like it will likely be an orphan in the political storm. After all, council is barred by law from spending money to support or oppose ballot issues.
"Our obligation is just put it out there for voters to consider," Nawrocki said.
Like flying a kite in a hurricane.
"Our goal, of course, is to stop the proposed repeal of recreational licenses," said Kyle Forti, a spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future, the pro-marijuana group. Being diplomatic, he said, "But we naturally align with supporters who'd like retail stores in the city."
Naturally "aligning" doesn't necessarily mean doing any advertising, he noted.
In fact, the pro-pot group is sharply focused on stopping Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo, the anti-recreational pot organization. And one local advocate for city stores, who asked not to be identified, said any advertising campaign that tried to do both - battle the repeal effort while also endorsing city stores - would become too complicated.
"As a message, it would be much tougher to get across to voters," he warned.
And the opponents of recreational pot don't want the city question either.
"We still hope council won't put that on the ballot," said Charlene Graham, a leader of the group. "We think it will just add confusion and when voters feel confused, they tend to just vote 'no' on everything."
Graham said the Citizens group's ballot question - repealing all recreational pot licenses and barring any future ones - will give council the answer it's looking for on pot stores.
But not quite.
Council has been considering licensing recreational stores in the city for several years. If voters turn down the anti-pot campaign in November, council could declare that result to be voter authorization for recreational stores.
But council has come a long way down the political road to letting city voters decide the pot store question.
"It's not like it's been a secret for the past year, " Nawrocki said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: City Pot Question Is A Kite In A Hurricane
Author: Peter Roper
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu
Website: The Pueblo Chieftan
