Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Growing Pueblo's Future continued to urge citizens Monday to vote against Proposition 200, a ballot measure that would ban the sale and production of commercial marijuana in Pueblo County.
The group gathered at Angelo's Pizza for a press conference and small rally where local business owners, elected officials and citizens voiced their opinions on the controversial question before Pueblo County's electorate on Nov. 8.
About 20 local business owners came out against 200 at Monday's event.
Members of Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo brought the anti-commercial marijuana measure forward through a petitioning process over the summer.
The anti-pot group also has conducted campaign events and press conferences.
Last week, local physicians presented their thoughts and statistics on the issue in an effort to educate the public on why they feel the commercial industry is bad for Pueblo County.
The anti-pot group said 237 local physicians have come out to support Proposition 200.
On Monday, speakers presented information of their own, but mostly about the economic impact should the measure pass.
"We want you to vote no on 200, because it is essential to protect the economic vitality that we have here in Pueblo," said Jim Parco, spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future.
"We advocate no on 200 because we as an industry have created 1,300 state licensed above minimum wage paying jobs. This industry has created $3.5 million in annual tax revenue. Those aren't hypothetical numbers. These are real audited numbers."
Parco said 1,300 people would simply lose their jobs if the measure passes.
Nick Gradisar, a Pueblo lawyer and elected member of Pueblo Board of Water Works, said if 200 passes, cannabis will still be in the county.
"I am a Pueblo native. I grew up in the '60s. Cannabis was here when I was growing up. It's going to be here for a long time," Gradisar said.
"What's going to go away if 200 passes is not the cannabis but the money to deal with any problems that we have in this community. Don't be tricked into thinking that if 200 passes all these problems that we have in this county are going to go away because they won't."
Gradisar said Pueblo has always been a tolerant community and 200 is not in keeping with the town's heritage of tolerance.
Parco said the industry is also helping with community projects such as Colorado Safer Streets and is offering scholarships for students through the county's excise tax.
Josette Jaramillo, a county child welfare employee and president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-Council 76, echoed Gradisar in saying cannabis will never go away completely.
"We don't need to cut off our nose to spite our face. Cannabis is legal in Colorado anyway, so Pueblo County should be capitalizing on the revenue that we have coming in now. It seems silly to stop it," Jaramillo said.
As county workers we have really liked the things we have seen in the budget that our county commissioners have been able to do."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pro-Pot Group Urges Puebloans Monday To Vote Against Proposition 200
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
The group gathered at Angelo's Pizza for a press conference and small rally where local business owners, elected officials and citizens voiced their opinions on the controversial question before Pueblo County's electorate on Nov. 8.
About 20 local business owners came out against 200 at Monday's event.
Members of Citizens for a Healthy Pueblo brought the anti-commercial marijuana measure forward through a petitioning process over the summer.
The anti-pot group also has conducted campaign events and press conferences.
Last week, local physicians presented their thoughts and statistics on the issue in an effort to educate the public on why they feel the commercial industry is bad for Pueblo County.
The anti-pot group said 237 local physicians have come out to support Proposition 200.
On Monday, speakers presented information of their own, but mostly about the economic impact should the measure pass.
"We want you to vote no on 200, because it is essential to protect the economic vitality that we have here in Pueblo," said Jim Parco, spokesman for Growing Pueblo's Future.
"We advocate no on 200 because we as an industry have created 1,300 state licensed above minimum wage paying jobs. This industry has created $3.5 million in annual tax revenue. Those aren't hypothetical numbers. These are real audited numbers."
Parco said 1,300 people would simply lose their jobs if the measure passes.
Nick Gradisar, a Pueblo lawyer and elected member of Pueblo Board of Water Works, said if 200 passes, cannabis will still be in the county.
"I am a Pueblo native. I grew up in the '60s. Cannabis was here when I was growing up. It's going to be here for a long time," Gradisar said.
"What's going to go away if 200 passes is not the cannabis but the money to deal with any problems that we have in this community. Don't be tricked into thinking that if 200 passes all these problems that we have in this county are going to go away because they won't."
Gradisar said Pueblo has always been a tolerant community and 200 is not in keeping with the town's heritage of tolerance.
Parco said the industry is also helping with community projects such as Colorado Safer Streets and is offering scholarships for students through the county's excise tax.
Josette Jaramillo, a county child welfare employee and president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-Council 76, echoed Gradisar in saying cannabis will never go away completely.
"We don't need to cut off our nose to spite our face. Cannabis is legal in Colorado anyway, so Pueblo County should be capitalizing on the revenue that we have coming in now. It seems silly to stop it," Jaramillo said.
As county workers we have really liked the things we have seen in the budget that our county commissioners have been able to do."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pro-Pot Group Urges Puebloans Monday To Vote Against Proposition 200
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
