Marijuana? The Million-Dollar Mistake? Find Out At The Florence Colorado Enquirer

Is not voting  recreational marijuana into Florence, Colorado-- the million-dollar mistake?

You can find that out, and a whole lot more at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlorenceEnquirer/

This blog post is in NO way a political endorsement. I do not know who Mike Vendetti is--beyond the fact I saw his road signs a few days ago. He is running for the city council position in Ward 3 in Florence. And his signs claim there has been, a million-dollar mistake.

I went to his website at: www.mikevendetti.com and then went to his Facebook page for The Florence Colorado Enquirer.

I'm semi-new to Florence, so I have little to no knowledge who is who in city politics. But I did find Vendetti's website and Facebook page interesting. His love for Florence shines through.

I've been around Florence long enough to know that the city appears to be well-run, but is operating on a tight budget, as are most small towns. I've lived in a small town like Florence in another state and covered local issues for a newspaper--so I know, from the inside, some of the challenges small towns face in attempting to preserve all the things we love about small towns, without bringing in all the things we don't appreciate about major metropolitan areas.

And I have been around Florence long enough to know that most everyone I have met is relatively new to Florence. Most of do not know the politcal or fiscal climate in Florence. I think most people would be surprised just how many "new" people there are here--most of us just absorbing the ambiance and slowly getting acclimated. I think most people would be surprised WHY people move to Florence. I've asked a couple of dozen people, why, because I was in a retail position to be around new people moving into town. Perhaps someday I will write a post about the whys, because many of the answers surprised me.

Vendetti brings up some good points about bringing a recreational marijuana store to Florence.

I've always been against marijuana for recreational purposes.Years ago, I was one of the state's delegates that voted yes on medical and no on recreational. In my opinion, it is a travesty to not let medical marijuana in. And a travesty that the federal government is dragging its heels on more research on medical marijuana.

I still don't like the idea of recreational marijuana. But since my delegate days--I have changed my mind. I don't like the "idea" of it--for me personally. But if it is in the best interest of town like Florence, I am open to seeing the political discussion go forward.

Go and read Vendetti's pages for yourself. So many things made sense. And several things need more facts/research presented, in my opinion.

The Florence Colorado Enquirer had lots of input from people from all over Fremont County. And I learned more about Fremont County, Florence and what people think about recreational marijuana and a multitude of other things--than I have learned from my few short years here.

I hate to admit this, since I am in the antiques trade, but I think Florence is at a fiscal crossroads.

A fiscal crossroad that has to be addressed if the city is going to be able to maintain the services and infrastructure.

When I moved here, I assumed Florence was gaining most of its tax base from the antiques and art galleries. I recently spoke to someone who told me the city gets less that three percent of its tax base from the antiques stores and art galleries. Whether that is true or not, I don't know.

I still have mixed feelings about recreational marijuana. But one thing jumped out at me on The Florence Colorado Enquirer Facebook page. Vendetti suggested the town really finds out what need and demand is here. He totally supports the antiques and arts scene here for the ambience and culture (as I do) but suggested people might want to see if the recreational marijuana store idea filled the bigger need for finances. And if the stronger demand was for antiques or recreational marijuana.


That comment made me recall something that I had forgotten about. I talk to and work with dozens of antique dealers in a variety of stores. I know what they make. They tell me without me asking. I tell them what I make.

And one of them once told me, "I've been in this business for years. I'm barely scraping by. What are we doing wrong? I think we are in the wrong business--and this town needs recreational marijuana stores."

I dismissed that idea, even though I got a kick out of the suggestion that a bunch of antiques dealers start a co-op and get into selling legal pot. I had replied to the dealer, "Well, you should hire me as a manager, because I detest the smell of pot and the whole thing (except medical marijuana) because you would be sure I'd never be tempted to filch any pot. Now, if we were thinking of starting an ice cream or candy store--I'd be tempted to sample a little of our wares."

It is rather sobering to think that I had forgotten about these conversations, and totally dismissed that Florence should consider recreational marijuana stores. And recreational marijuana would no doubt bring a tourist clientele to the area, that would probably stop in the antiques and art galleries and restaurants. I hate to admit it--but I think it's true.

Being relatively new the area, I was not aware that Florence had voted for recreational marijuana. I was not aware that the prisons haven't totally brought in the jobs. I wasn't aware that major industry won't come to Florence because we don't have that much skilled labor.

As I said, I learned more at Vendetti's website and Facebook page in less than an hour, than I did from living here. So, no matter where one comes down on the recreational marijuana issue, his pages are not only an eye-opener--but educational.

Again, this post is NOT a political endorsement or an endorsement of recreational marijuana in Florence. It IS an endorsement of using some of the research Vendetti and others have done to find out what people in Florence really need and want. And finding out what is best to preserve what most of us appreciate about Florence.