Advocating for a brighter, more positive future for our community is the laudatory goal of ProPuebloCO, a newly formed group focused on three local issues – drug culture, vagrancy and crime. Jack Rink, who moderated a press conference introducing the group, specifically mentioned marijuana now that Pueblo and Colorado have some experience with the legalization of both medical and recreational pot.

“And while we think it’s part of the problem, we want to make it clear that we are not an anti-marijuana group,” Rink said to a standing room-only crowd.

Still, the Cannabis Business Alliance, a Denver-based group with Pueblo membership, took exception to what it termed “recent anti-cannabis moves by ProPuebloCO.” We’re sure the pro-Pueblo advocates are cognizant of the lawful right of the cannabis industry to promote and sell a legal product in this state. At the same time, Cannabis Alliance members have to acknowledge there have been negative consequences for social services, health care, education, law enforcement and business from homeless, jobless and often aimless people who flock here for what they perceive as easy access to marijuana.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.