During the Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) work session on January 2, 2025, significant concerns were raised regarding the struggling cannabis industry in the area. A representative from Heartland Cannabis Products highlighted alarming drops in sales and tax revenue, revealing that their business is currently operating at only 40% of last year's sales, which itself was down 30% from the year before.

The representative detailed the dire state of the market, noting that the cost of cannabis production has skyrocketed, with prices reaching $225 per pound. This increase has made it nearly impossible for local producers to operate profitably. The speaker emphasized the urgent need for a stakeholders meeting to discuss these challenges and requested a pause on any decisions made by the commissioners until the industry's current status could be fully communicated.

The representative shared a personal account of the struggles faced by their business, including significant layoffs that reduced their workforce from 50 to just 7 employees at one point. Despite recent improvements that brought their employee count back up to 35, the owners have not paid themselves or taken any distributions from the business, prioritizing the financial stability of their employees instead.

This testimony underscores the broader economic challenges facing the cannabis sector in Pueblo County, prompting a call for collaboration between local businesses and government officials to address these pressing issues. The meeting highlighted the need for ongoing dialogue to support the local economy and ensure the sustainability of the cannabis industry, which has become a vital part of the community's economic landscape.