Pueblo’s well-chronicled struggle to find its economic footing after decades of decline has inspired the onetime “Steel City” to cash in on Colorado’s burgeoning cannabis economy. The area boasts one of the largest outdoor marijuana grows in the country and a proliferating retail trade in recreational marijuana. Voters in both Pueblo city and Pueblo County reaffirmed their support for legal pot production and sales by defeating anti-marijuana ballot issues in last November’s election.
What’s next? A museum celebrating marijuana, of course. That milestone — the planned National Marijuana Museum in Pueblo — was announced last November.
And here’s a progress report: Colorado Springs KRDO-TV News Channel 13 reported Monday that the museum’s organizers have begun fund-raising in earnest and have announced the project will be up and running by summer 2018.
The goal seems ambitious. The effort’s Kickstarter campaign so far has netted only one backer, who has pledge $103 toward the museum’s $200,000 funding goal. And there are only 55 days to go until the fund-raising deadline.
The museum project’s Facebook page has 314 likes, and its Twitter profile has all of four followers.
It’s a start, of sorts.
KRDO quotes two of the project’s founders:
“Given that Pueblo County was among the very first to fully legalize cannabis as well as the first to have a local election to maintain legalization ordinances, it is only fitting for the National Marijuana Museum to be located in Pueblo, Colorado” said Board Chairman Branson Haney.
…“This is a grassroots effort by the citizens of the world, for the citizens of the world. We envision a state-of-the art facility dedicated to the rich cultural, scientific and anthropological history of cannabis as it has interacted with human society,” said Jim Parco, a professor of economics and business and founding board member.
The marijuana economy has put down roots in Pueblo. But can the city support a national museum devoted to marijuana? We’ll stay tuned.
credit:coloradopolitics.com