On Monday, the City Council voted to make buffer zones smaller for marijuana retail stores. Previously, the state law required a 1,000 foot buffer.
The buffer has been reduced to 500 feet from certain establishments such as daycares, parks, etc. The 1,000 foot buffer between schools and pot shops stays in effect.
The buffer is reduced even further to 250 feet in downtown. This will make it easier for visitors to the city to purchase marijuana instead of trekking to other parts of the city.
We knew the question wouldn’t be asked during the first republican primary debate. There was no way Fox News, who was moderating the event, was going to try and trip up any of their candidates But, with the second debate moderated by CNN, could we finally get a questions about the legalization of marijuana? Sure enough.
“Many people on social media wanted us to ask about marijuana legalization. Senator Paul, Governor Christie recently said, quote, “if you’re getting high in Colorado today,” where marijuana has been legalized, “enjoy it until January 2017, because I will enforce the federal laws against marijuana. Will you?” said Jake Tapper, debate moderator.
Here is the transcript of the debate for those who didn’t catch the candidates responses.
Rand Paul, by far, answered this question the best. Not only because it’s an answer that favored states rights to allow recreational marijuana, but it was also a well thought out answer.
Jeb Bush chimed-in and announced to the world that he ‘inhaled’ 40 years ago. His response was met with some laughter. This probably would have been a bigger deal 10-20 years ago, and may even have been considered political suicide, but nowadays it seems that everyone and their dog has consumed the herb at one time or another.
Chris Christie. Chris, Chris, Chris. Why exactly are you against recreational marijuana? You say marijuana is a gateway drug, but to what? Gateway to our prisons being full of non-violent minority criminals? Gateway for a hard-working american to have a chance to relax themselves after a 10 hour day at work? Gateway to an extension of freedom?
And Carli Fiorina, bless your heart. This was part of her response:
“But we are misleading young people when we tell them that marijuana is just like having a beer.”
Your ignorance shined true, and hopefully it won’t shine your way to the white house. Sure – as a president – you may allow states to determine if they legalize marijuana or not, but you are part of the problem if you continue to think alcohol is okay, and marijuana is not.
Earlier this month, The Seattle Times marked the one-year anniversary of recreational marijuana stores in Washington, with an article that takes a look at their 115 years of marijuana coverage. While the Seattle times may call it ‘coverage,’ some of it seems more like propaganda, or ‘Reefer Madness.’
At the top of the Seattle Times article, is a creepily illustrated image, published in 1928. Just beneath the image the caption reads:
“A Seattle Daily Times reporter writes about a drug that, the article states, is popular in Mexico and among musicians in Chicago, who “sit in the orchestra giggling foolishly and emitting sour notes. When they are reprimanded, they simply giggle.”
If you enlarge the vintage article and read it (or as much of it as possible), you will realize that the caption is quite tame for what the article actually states.
Photo credit: The Seattle Times
For example, the first paragraph alone suggests ‘insanity or death.‘ This is followed by the description of marijuana as a ‘devastating Mexican drug,’ which isn’t the only time it’s referred to as a ‘Mexican drug.’
The vintage article then describes the effects of marijuana, such as laughter and giggling (as if laughter and giggling is a bad thing), and suggests that it may cause ‘temporary and even incurable insanity.’ The article then tells the story of an unnamed widow and her four children who became insane from eating marijuana.
The article is cut off, of course, so we could no longer be entertained. But, let’s go back to the caption underneath the vintage article. The latter part of the caption reads:
“can decrease headaches, violent fits of coughing and pulmonary hemorrhage.”
In other words, marijuana may decrease your headaches, your violent fits of coughing, and pulmonary hemorrhaging, but it may cause incurable insanity or even death. Sounds like an advertisement for a pharmaceutical drug.
Despite the Seattle Times article being written a gazillion years ago, it is interesting – mixed with a little bit of irony – how an entity has no problem covering the current industry, but at one time they were driving fear into reader’s minds.
Oregon kicked off the legalization of marijuana in grand fashion, with the city of Portland leading the way. There was the midnight toke celebration at the Burnside Bridge on Thursday night followed by Weed the People celebration at the MCF Craft Brewing Systems on Friday.
Samantha Webster was in attendance representing Liberty Reach. She and her room mate former Ganja Goddess budtender couldn’t resist this photo op:
Both events had free sampling of cannabis. And if that wasn’t enough, the very next day was the celebration of the country’s independence. Not a cannabis celebration, but I’m sure some of you added that component to the mix.
Read more at HighAbovePortland.com
It’s time for the Creative Brilliance Award for the month of June (handed out the last Friday of every month). For those who are not familiar with this award, it’s a simple shout out that we give to anyone in the industry who comes up with an unique and creative idea. After all, we are a part of a creative industry. Or, at least, it can be.
Last month, the first month of the awards existence, the winner was Trail Blazins’ Street Bag, an Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop exclusive. Again, let’s have another round of applause for those two.
This months winner is Ganja Goddess. Yes, Ganja Goddess is an advertiser on our site, but doesn’t matter. Creative is creative. You do something that’s deserving of the award and you will get the award. Simple as that. Advertiser or not.
The SoDo and Industrial District based recreational marijuana store saw a need. They realized that tourists, who are mainly concentrated around the downtown and Pike Place Market area, had no easy way of visiting the city’s pot shops. So they created a way. They branded a van called the: CannaBus Shuttle. This shuttle picks up tourists near the Pike Place Market on 1st Avenue, and shuttles them to their shop and back – for free!
Brilliant. Just brilliant. Thank you Ganja Goddess for making this industry even better with your creativity.
Looking forward to handing out next month’s Creative Brilliance Award. So, keep being creative, it just makes everything more fun and interesting for everyone.
