The town of Walsenberg sits in a southern Colorado county with 6,400 residents, and despite it's size, is about to “protect the public” from businesses engaging in false advertising by SUING several Drug Companies.
I passed through Walsenberg on 10/23/17 and snapped a few photos.
According to Sunday's Article in the Denver Post:
The lawsuit seeks class-action status in U.S. District Court in Denver against pharmaceutical companies and distributors including McKesson Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Purdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and numerous subsidiaries.
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/01/29/tiny-colorado-county-sues-giant-opioid-makers-millions/
Huerfano County is suing the Pharma Giants for at least $750,000 in economic damages and $1.5 million in future damages. These damages would constitute a small drop from a very large bucket as one of the Companies named in the suit recently settled a case with the DEA for $150 Million.
A recent article in the Center Post Dispatch details a troubling epidemic:
https://centerpostdispatch.com/article/pharmaceutical-company-exposed-as-slv-opioid-supplier
McKesson Corporation raked in billions distributing addictive opioids over the years, the segment’s producers noted... Rather than fine the company a billion dollars, revoke their license to distribute products and jail their chief executive, which DEA agents had hoped to do, agents were forced to settle the case with a $150 million fine, for a company that reportedly makes $100 million a week.
On a completely separate note, the town of Walsenberg is also switching gears and getting ready to REALLY turn itself around by accelerating Cannibis production, which has been decriminalized in Colorado for more than 4 years. Since 2015 the town has been building on the edge of town a large facility for large scale Cannabis companies.
Martra Holdings Details Massive Cannabis Project in Walsenburg, Colorado:
Walsenburg has embraced the project, which started construction in early November, and sees the greenhouse campus as a way to revitalize the town’s economy. Where other cities like Denver have acted to place strict regulations on marijuana grows, Walsenburg has made the decision to deregulate the process.
I know I'll be keeping an eye on this town very closely in 2018.
~Quixotic