Pueblo County board approves Smoke Signal retail marijuana store with conditions

The Pueblo County Liquor and Marijuana Licensing Board unanimously approved a new retail marijuana store license for Long Gone Farms LLC doing business as Smoke Signal LLC at 74 North McCulloch Boulevard in Pueblo West.

Staff for the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development recommended approval, saying the proposed retail operation sits at the same location as an existing medical store but that applicants demonstrated a plan to separate operations. "There's nothing in here that gives staff pause," the staff member said, and recommended approval with conditions including final inspections and a requirement that the Hoppe Family Trust — the landlord — have no involvement in the licensed business beyond landlord duties.

Applicant Cameron Ellis was sworn and told the board he had been sent to represent the application and that the applicant had provided little information to him in advance. In response to a board question about past compliance history, Ellis acknowledged two prior violations and said, "We've been we've been working our best. We had some other operators in there, and we've taken it all in house. So we've hopefully been able to continue to be compliant, and that's really our number 1 goal, really." Board members asked whether the medical and retail operations would be physically separated; Ellis confirmed they would be in two different rooms.

After discussion, board member Sarah Habib moved to approve the application with the staff-recommended conditions; Brian Casaus seconded. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval.

The chair said approved marijuana applicants' license letters will be uploaded to the online portal by Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025; marijuana licenses will no longer be mailed. Liquor licenses will be uploaded once the licensing division receives the state liquor license.