Pueblo recreational marijuana rules backed

City Council needs to craft some kind of marijuana policy for Pueblo residents, Councilman Steve Nawrocki said again this week.

Steve Nawrocki

Can people smoke marijuana in their own yards or on their own front porch? Can businesses establish a marijuana-smoking area? Nawrocki asked Tuesday. Those are questions we need to answer because I believe there is confusion about what is allowed in the city.

Police Chief Luis Velez took a pretty hard line on the question last December as city police prepared for Jan. 1 and the legalized sale of recreational marijuana in Pueblo County.

Velez said the state constitutional amendment allowing the sale of marijuana banned it from being used publicly, which Velez said he took to mean anywhere outdoors.

I think most city residents would consider their yards and porches to be private property, Nawrocki countered.

Maybe, but city policy thus far has been front yards and porches are public places letter carriers, sales people and other visitors use front yards and porches. Backyards are considered private, however.

So until council tells Velez otherwise, current city policy is no pot smoking in front yards or porches. Take it inside or take it in the backyard.

Velez is scheduled to meet with council next Monday at its work session.

Recreational marijuana poses another challenge to council. While there is a moratorium on the city taking any action on recreational sale until March 31, the city has no policy on zoning, sales tax, or other issues related to recreational marijuana businesses.

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Pueblo recreational marijuana rules backed