— from Denise Clark, Lopez Island —
Since the discussion regarding growing marijuana in San Juan County is complicated and multi-faceted, I would like to start a conversation with one concern at this time.
I would like to make a case for considering cannabis as an agricultural crop. Let’s compare APPLES to APPLE (cider), so to speak.
Question: Can you think of a plant that is now legal to be grown, processed and sold in San Juan County in a form that can get you high, and is regulated by the Liquor Control Board (LCB)? Apples, hops, grapes, berries, barley, potatoes, cherries, etc. are all well established as agricultural crops. Along with cannabis they are all processed to make recreationally intoxicating products for grown-ups. Our local distilleries and wineries are praised in the press. Marijuana has the same potential as an apple or a grape.
While cannabis and alcohol both intoxicate, the LCB does not require the same level of security for distilleries or wineries as the newer cannabis operations. Perhaps the centuries have already shown that intoxicants are not going to destroy the moral fabric of our society. Perhaps we still need to learn that it is prohibition that leads to black markets and increased crime.
These are my thoughts, offered to the community to start the conversation. Hopefully a county-wide polite discussion will help set standards we can all live with. Farmers should be involved, since regulations could affect growing practices of many other legal crops.
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Not quite the correct comparison. The fruits and grain crops you cite can be fermented/distilled etc., but have a significant market in their non-intoxicating form. Marijuana is used only to get high; essentially 100% of the people who smoke pot do so to get high. The same cannot be said about alcohol, where many people drink for the taste alone and eschew any buzzed feeling.
As a physician, it is important to be honest about the science around marijuana and to avoid the bias/hype.
While I support the concept of legalization I am adamantly against use. Similarly, I am against helmet laws, but I would never be caught w/o one while riding a motorcycle.
Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it smart. Just because it’s illegal doesn’t make it dumb.
That’s where science comes in to the equation, but of course politically accepting real science (not science designed to support a preferred position eg: the debate on global climate change) is rarely done.
As an agricultural base product, hemp family species have been providing goods in the market place for centuries. Cloth and rope being dominant. Each in it’s way a superior product. Better land use has also been established where this crop is planted extensively. Not needing artificial soil additives to kill weeds, poison the creatures who dwell there or the humans who harvest. It is an ecologically sound and beneficial ingredient in better land use. If there is to be a broad base and open mind dialogue about this testy issue, let’s included all the available and ‘scientific’ knowledge that is already documented in print from many sources. Get rid of the blind emotional arguments and examine the facts.
Wow! I am amazed by the heat contained in and around this issue! Mr. Kaye assumes that anyone interested in cannabis is going to smoke it and that will only be to get “high”! Again, Wow! Personally I use it for pain relief and wouldn’t consider smoking it. It seems to me that the fruit and grain comparison is an excellent one but it does require that we remove fear from the equation. Mr. Kaye insinuates that he might be a physician and he throws the word science around but, unfortunately, doesn’t really shed any light on the issue. I can’t imagine why cannabis would not be considered just another agricultural crop…
Let’s not forget that pot is available not only as unfltered cigarettes but also as cigatettes with a water pipe that filters out carcinogins, as I undersgtand it. The handsome new pot shop at Country Corners also has marijuana as cookies and candies.
I have been to the shop twice, and both times I ran into the same woman, who is about my age. The second time, I said, “How come it is us grandmothers who shop here?” She smiled and said, “Our generation started it all in the ‘sixites.”
To say cannabis is used solely- 100% to “get high” is not an informed or scientific statement. Many very ill people find relief from their suffering using cannabis products, while others use a small amount to “unwind” and others enjoy the high. I imagine you have heard about the medical benefits from some of your patients. Below I have provided a very small sampling of an abundance of scientific evidence, U.S. patents and an Exclusive License Agreement to sell cannabis products given by our own government*.
This conversation is not about whether cannabis should be legal, but what our county council should consider when discussing a moratorium or regulations on growing cannabis.
I maintain that when other agricultural products, such as apples, are fermented to create recreational products they are still agricultural products. Tobacco is an agricultural product which is also smoked. Cannabis is an agricultural product…it starts with a seed, needs light, water and nutrients to grow. Distilling is an agricultural practice- RCW 66.124.145 (5).
Pertinent information the council will be considering are the social, economic, and environmental impacts-outdoor vs. indoor cultivation for example. They will also consider buffers, noise and light pollution, traffic, water and power usage, best management practices, etc..
*Science: A United States funded study at the St. Louis School of Medicine discovered receptors in brain cells that responded to the compounds in marijuana. These cannabinoid receptors are more abundant than any others found in the large family of G-protien receptors. They are found in abundance in the areas of the brain that control movement & muscle coordination, memory and cognitive thought, appetite and emotion but not in the brain stem region that controls breathing and heart beat.
The National Institute of Mental Health then discovered the DNA sequence of these brain receptors and announced their finding on July 18, 1990 to the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine.
Soon afterward, a second similar type of receptor was found to be prevalent in the immune and peripheral nervous system of the body. They were also found in our vital organs, blood vessels, lymph system, endocrine glands and reproductive organs.
Researchers dubbed these two systems as CB1 (brain receptors) and CB2 (body receptors); both trigger a cascade of biological signals that put the brakes on over active nerves when exposed to the compounds in cannabis.
In 1992 the Endocannabinoid System was discovered after scientists came upon it while mapping the cellular pathways of the THC found in marijuana. Collaborating researchers also discovered an internal naturally occurring neurotransmitter that attaches to these CB1 and CB2 receptors and named it “anandamide” (derived from the Sanskrit word for “bliss”).This molecular signaling system is crucial for regulating how we experience life: our sleep, hunger, mood, metabolism, pain, sexual desire, etc. are all under its influence.
Patents: On the one hand, United States federal government officials have consistently denied that marijuana has any medical benefits. On the other, the government actually holds many patents for the medical use of the plant.
For example: US Patent 6630507 titled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” which is assigned to The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The patent claims that – “Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.”
License: July 9, 2012 — KannaLife Sciences, Inc. (“KannaLife”) Signs Exclusive License Agreement with the National Institutes of Health – Office of Technology Transfer (“NIH-OTT”) for the Commercialization of U.S. Patent 6,630,507, “Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants” (the “’507 Patent”).
The ’507 Patent includes among other things, claims directed to a method of treating diseases caused by oxidative stress by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has substantially no binding to the NMDA receptor. Cannabinoids are any of a group of related compounds that include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis (marijuana).
Perhaps some tinkering with state law is in order, as SB 6505, passed in response to I-502, defined marijuana as not being an agricultural product.
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6505.PL.pdf
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=82.04.213
Yes, I am a physician and treat people with drug related issues daily. Yes, I am aware of all of the science quoted by others and I am aware that pot can have pain relieving properties as well as anti-emetic properties. Pot, like many other potentially toxic substances can be medicinal. Frankly, many substances can be recreational at one dose, medicinal at another, and toxic at a third. All psychopharmacologists know this. But, none of the “affect” is achieved without altering mental/cognitive/emotional processing in the brain. Look at FGD PET Scans of people smoking or ingesting pot and you’ll see the changes in the brain. Yes, I have even recommended some patients seek out marijuana. And, remember, I did say it should be legalized, as the costs to society from related crime aren’t worth it. But, the evidence for safety is sadly lacking, in part because it hasn’t been well studied! As for the agricultural argument, poppy is also a plant and would you all favor opening up opiate production/consumption? Pot has hundreds if not thousands of active compounds in it. To look solely at THC is as absurd as looking only at nicotine and tar in tobacco. As for ingesting pot instead of smoking it there is even less data and less quality control so that dosing is a nightmare. In fact, the Colorado data shows that ingested pot is causing the most OD’s, deaths, and traffic accidents. I do understand that many of us who grew up in the 60’s see pot as a panacea and a wonder. But, the pot of the 60’s and today’s pot can’t be compared. The ever increasing potency of modern cultivars, designed expressly for the “high” must be countenanced. Good discussion and clearly a very emotionally charged topic. But remember, WA has already legalized it so the debate is over or as mom said: “that ship sailed a while ago…” The only question remaining is who will profit, and who will pay the price.
Dear Commissioners and others,
Just because some goody two shoes (some of which may be related to you) want to restrict the freedom of others does not mean you should support the minority. Your actions are causing the loss of serious revenue to the state and to San Juan County to a lesser extent. I have stated in an earlier post that I have have used many many illegal drugs and started smoking pot in 1963. I rarely smoke now. I get seven property tax bills. Evidently drug use does not preclude being a contributing to society. I can not believe that a mostly conservative council is turning down a state mandated revenue stream. Next time you are crying for a sales tax bump for criminal justice because your policies are increasing crime, maybe the voters will catch on to your poor stewardship of our lovely county.
Well, Mr. Kaye (or Dr.) in second response admitted the statement he wrote about “100% of Cannabis users are using it to get high” was WRONG. He also stated that the same could not be said about alcohol as many people drink alcohol just for the taste. I burst out laughing at that statement. Sure you can really enjoy a nice glass of Merlot or a Bourbon and water for the “taste” but you are going to get a BUZZ no matter what…a nice warm one. There are many people using pot for medicinal reasons and its use is much less toxic than using heavy duty addictive pain meds, anxiety meds, sleep meds, etc. Alcohol causes millions of dollars each year (a lot of this in tax payer money) in health related problems, alcoholism, violence, domestic violence, murder, drunk driving, etc. while you don’t see those statistics with recreational or medicinal pot use. Kids can and do get alcohol as well as any other drug they may want, it is the nature of many kids and some go on to develop addiction and alcohol problems. I know, I was a teenager at one time. There are also much more dangerous drugs available to kids on these islands which people should be addressing instead of having these negative or accusatory reactions towards cannabis use. Alcohol which to me is the bigger of two “evils”, is legal. Pot is demonized. For people to carry on about a pot green house operation is hypocritical and uninformed….boarding on hysteria if you ask me. There will be no light polluting the “neighborhood”, noise can be and would be mitigated and dealt with and there would be no more “traffic” than any other farming endeavor would cause. A winery or lavender farm generates much more traffic. Let’s get real about this. Prohibition on cannabis and it’s related products such as growing hemp is ignorant, hypocritical and should have been ended in the 30’s. There are new businesses to be created, new tax revenue, new products both medicinal, HABA and hemp related, new jobs and to me serves a better purpose than drinking a bottle or two of fine wine at dinner. Hey, the cops could hang out in front of fancy restaurants around here and probably get a load of money for the county busting patrons as they come out of those restaurants. I know many would not pass the breathalyzer tests yet that is perfectly legal and acceptable. BEH! I encourage concerned people to attend the public meetings being held on San Juan Island on January 12 and 26 in the council chambers at 9:15 about possible regulation of marijuana businesses in the county. Let’s go forward with this issue instead of staying in the Dark Ages!
One other comment about DEATHS in Colorado. There has been ONE death where a college student jumped off a balcony after supposedly ingested a THC infused cookie. There was no mention if he had been drinking large quantities of alcohol either. There have been two dog (pet) deaths in Colorado due to ingesting edibles. I ask how many deaths have there been due to alcohol? How many DUI deaths? How many deaths due to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer due to alcohol abuse? How many deaths due to alcohol related violence? So there is a move to ban all edibles?? How about keeping them out of reach of children and pets like you would do alcohol or other poisonous substances? People have to be responsible with cannabis and edibles just as they have to be with alcohol, medications and poisons. Again, undo concern and paranoia due to not looking at the whole picture.
Patty, I would encourage you to look at my first posting where I deliberately used the modifier “essentially” before the 100%. Please, try to quote me accurately.
I am not attacking pot users in any way, as I made abundantly clear in my lengthy second posting, so your defensiveness is off-putting. As a neuroscientist I will continue to state that you are simply wrong; not everyone who drinks that nice “glass of Merlot” is going to get buzzed (which is a cute euphemism, but buzzed=intoxicated under the legal definition as well as in the medical jargon.) We actually know both medically and legally what blood alcohol level constitutes being impaired and how exactly this affects the brain, the mind, and the body. There is copious data that shows most people can have a glass of wine with no ill effects or mental status changes. We simply lack that data for marijuana, despite the millions of users who all assure us that based on personal experience (what science calls anecdotes) there are no side effects. Anecdotes don’t constitute evidence based medicine.
I have not taken any stance on the safety of marijuana as compared to other drugs, as there is really very little credible data. There are no double-blind, prospective, placebo controlled studies of smoking or ingesting pot using other prescription drugs or alcohol for comparison, so an honest scientist would be correct in saying we don’t know. I understand the pot smoking/eating/ingesting/using community wants to claim is it better/safer/etc. vs. alcohol and uses epidemiologic arguments in support of such a claim. I don’t have an agenda or a dog in the fight. The original article invited discussion and I believe I am adding a viewpoint not often heard, that of a trained physician/scientist who both supports legalization and sale and is against recreational use/abuse. Making my own opinion (some might call it bias) known is appropriate in the scientific community.
I am glad that we agree that alcohol can have serious consequences on both a personal and community/societal level and I suspect we agree that alcohol abuse and dependence constitute serious problems and that we would both encourage people to not abuse/misuse or become dependent on alcohol.
I understand that you support the creation, on a commercial scale, of marijuana growing on Orcas. I expect that you have carefully considered the ramifications of this on the community and feel that it is beneficial endeavor and that this type of agribusiness will improve the quality of life on Orcas. To paraphrase Jefferson, I will support to my death your right to express such an opinion. I look forward to meeting you some day and expect a civil, educated, non-accusatory discussion, especially where we agree on many points.
Pot is being grown commercially already on Orcas, LEGALLY. In addition there are dozens if not hundreds of small grow operations. Some fall under medicinal but many are ILLEGAL. O No The Sky is Falling. Have we learned nothing? YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE MORALITY AND YOU CAN’T KEEP AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT IT. Happy New Years to all.
Harvey, I am fascinated to learn that there are “hundreds” of pot growers on Orcas. Can you clarify more precisely how many and how you know? With about 3,300 households on Orcas and the median of 2-3 people/household, “hundreds” of growers is a rather remarkable “statistic.” Orcas becomes more intriguing the more I learn about it. I agree, you can’t legislate morality, etc.
This is a great thread and I am pleased to see the conversation starting on Orcas. There are several state-licensed growers on Orcas Island. None on Lopez that I know of. There are many issues surfacing around the County’s proposal to impose a moratorium. Even more issues with the aggressive actions being taken by some neighbors on San Juan Island to destroy (and I mean this literally) one particular grower on San Juan. Four lawsuits and counting. For anyone interested in the conversation that has been going on with SJI residents, please join the facebook group: the Committee for Diversified Agriculture. We welcome your input.
And just so you know. Rick Hughes has been a stalwart against the cannabis farm moratorium authored by Bob Jarman. The proposed moratorium language states that there is an “emergency” to justify the moratorium. But the fact is that the total area of licensed cannabis canopy is less than four acres county wide–and one of the growers, the largest of them all, is shutting down because of lawsuits filed by neighbors. Neighbors who can’t even see his less than one acre green houses and grow operation that was just awarded the equivalent of organic certification for its sustainable growing methods. Yay to Rick. Want more information? Go to fb group Committee for Diversified Agriculture.
Neil, I am on the street. I have a number of working class rentals. In a sense I am of the people. I used to own the largest :Hippie” store in America. It was in Chicago in the same complex as Second City. I hung out with John Belushi et al. The majority of this country use drugs. The biggest dealer in America is Big Pharma. The situation today mirrors prohibition. Legalize EVERYTHING and collect the tax. Lord knows we can use the money. It is impossible to save people from themselves. Lets wake up and quit trying.
Neil, I may have exaggerated the numbers for I have no empirical evidence to back up my opinion but growing is happening. Trust me.
The proposed county moratorium was generated as a result of a neighbor of San Juan Sungrown having a problem with the new law. This particular “neighbor” has done everything to obstruct San Juan Sungrown from doing business. The state is firmly behind I-502. They want to see this social experiment succeed. To pass this “moratorium” would fly in the face of the 68% of San Juan County voters (highest percentage in the state!) and the votes they cast. It would be hypocritical to stand in the way of moving this industry forward. As to the social consequences of legal weed… Individual liberty is a cornerstone of our democracy. The history of prohibition and the flourishing of the black market drug trade is indicative of our need to change the laws. When the feds re-schedule cannabis from it’s present place in the drug hierarchy, then real change on a national scale can take place, and prohibition can truly end.
Listen people – the County imposed a noise ordinance, a “peddler’s” ordinance and a sign ordinance – all without a VOTE on a ballot by the people. Regardless of what our views are on marijuana legalization (and personally, I’m for it), I am NOT for the County imposing any more ordinances and moratoriums without the Public’s full input.
The only issue I can see is in ingesting marijuana, because it has very different properties when ingested; it’s much more potent and can affect people negatively. BUT – there are other ways to deal with this besides moratoriums. Education is a big piece, and I am sure that our marijuana stores will have this education available. So many people since the Reagan era were jailed for marijuana – have even lost their homes over a single seed. These measures have been draconian, and Washington State voters have spoken on this issue. Things just need some refinement – not a total moratorium on this very helpful and beneficial plant. The topical creams are especially effective if you suffer arthritis or any other type of chronic pain. It’s about time it was legalized, and it needs to stay legal.
If Rick Hughes is against the moratorium, then Jamie who I thought was the most liberal just lost my next vote.
A resounding vote of support for Gary Bauder’s comment!
My point in the above comment that the few “squeaky wheel” complainer individuals have been making overly restrictive regulations for the many and radically destroyed our small cottage industry entrepreneurial businesses that creative and resourceful people have started. We the Many have spoken through our vote. That should be the end of this discussion.
For those who don’t want “Whateveritiz” in their back yards, consider this: Many of us in the dedicated UGA areas have been forced to have a whole lot of what we never wanted in our back yards, including your stormwater runoff, pollution, high density housing, traffic dangers, and restrictive laws that don’t allow us to have musical events, celebrations, signs to our off the beaten track businesses, etc. The Sungrown business owners have already said that they would do everything possible to assuage the noise and whatever else for the neighbor. Why is the issue of “moratorium” even a viable issue? As far as “odor” goes: ever lived near a pig farm? It’s all relative.
There has to be an end to this kind of bullying and manipulation of small businesses and workers by a few elite complainers with enough money to hire the best lawyers or sue the County. Cottage industries and year- round guest house rentals were killed by this same type of thinking that seemingly can’t stand to see small entrepreneurial businesses flourish. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m sick and tired of it.
@ Sandy Strehlou; Thanks for the info, and thank you Rick Hughes for your stand for the voters of this County and state, and against a moratorium.
What can we do to help the San Juan Island legal Grow Op to stay in business? Let’s do it! The neighbor who filed 4 lawsuits against it must have entirely too much money and boredom on their hands. If they don’t want to be part of our community, perhaps the San Juan Islands are not the best place for them.
I plan to go to the Facebook group you mentioned: Committee for Diversified Agriculture. And I plan to tell everyone I know about the group, and write the other two county commissioners to express my disappointment and utter frustration in their idea that they have a right to impose a moratorium. I hope others follow suit – both in thanking Rick Hughes and in telling the other commissioners that we won’t stand for a moratorium. Writing letters to the local media would also help educate, and bring the issue to more public light.
Perhaps the citizens of San Juan County should file a class action counter lawsuit against the “neighbor” for denying us access to San Juan Sungrown’s legal agricultural product!
I like the idea! We are getting an awful lot of folks here who think they want to live here but then want to change the Islands into something that suits them better. Live and let live seems to be a dying thought… even when a law is passed… Merry
The County Council will hear public comments about the proposed moratorium on January 12th, 9am, in the Council Chambers. It would be great to have residents from Orcas and Lopez there as this is a county-wide issue. Know also that some neighbors living around a licensed grow farm on Orcas have also written letters to the Council in opposition to that farm. This is their right as residents of the County, and I don’t know any of the details, but this issue will affect Orcas as much as San Juan Island. If you cannot make it to the meeting, watch online–the county broadcasts the meetings live–go to their website to watch. Lastly, members of the Committee for Diversified Agriculture met with Jamie Stephens before Christmas. He stated no opposition to cannabis farming, but rather has concerns about the spread of large greenhouses throughout the county on prime farmland. He seemed very interested in directing efforts to study this particular impact and other agricultural issues as part of an already scheduled ARC (Agricultural Resources Committee) and SJC CP&D (planning and building department) task forces scheduled to begin meeting in January 2015. CDA has given full support to this effort–as opposed to the poorly conceived moratorium. Let Jamie know that you support this–and his interest in resolving many agricultural issues. And please, for more information join the FB group Committee for Agricultural Diversity.
“Some of my finest hours have been spent on my veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”– Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson grew hemp. And he grew agricultural crops for the recreational enjoyment of his family, neighbors, friends and himself. I cannot imagine that they worried about villains stealing his crops.
The arguments given by our local prohibitionists regarding the potential crime associated with ‘high monetary value’ crops are unfounded.
1) The Liquor Control Board has already placed very stringent security regulations upon grow operations, as is their responsibility.
2) In Colorado the crime rates have dropped 15% since cannabis has been legal. Murder rates dropped by 42%. Legalized marijuana may not be the reason crime has fallen, but demonstrates that, in reality, prohibitionist irrational fears of crime don’t hold up.
3) I would guess our grocery stores and many restaurants have the equivalent ‘high monetary value’ of liquor, wine and beer under their roof. These intoxicants have a history of relative safety in our society, which cannabis will attain in due time- again.
County Council-what would Thomas Jefferson say?
What would Carl Sagan , Steve Jobs, Michael Pollan, Michael Bloomberg, Maya Angelou, Bill Gates, Rush Limbaugh, Martha Stewart, and yes, Sarah Palin say? All inhaled, and only Martha Stewart is a convicted criminal.
It seems that the legislature has done everything in its power to frustrate the clear intent of the voters that marijuana be legalized. Not artificially tied up in knots. The ploy of defining cannabis as NOT agricultural was transparently manipulative. We allow agriculture to operate outside many land use and other restrictions. Cannabis growth is agriculture.
At the same time, the County had two years to focus on the issue and develop any necessary rules to protect neighbors from bona fide nuisances related to large cannabis production operations. Yet nothing was done.
The active controversy involves one family that invested heavily in a growing operation based on its understanding of the state rules. The County said nothing about the operation until it was well underway, when the neighbors began to realize the scope of the project.
Once again, the County’s failure to act, or to act properly, has pitted neighbor against neighbor. We’ve seen this all too often in the past. No one wins. Many people lose.
In sum, our government at work, NOT working.
No other Orcas issue (to coin a phrase) has ever gathered so many comments by so many different people.
You’d think that the issue was truly important, for instance like taxes, or a crime wave, or the incompetence of Big Government.
Politicians are afraid of marijuana because none of them have ever really used it very much.
Politicians historically prefer to drink alcohol, until now a more socially acceptable drug.
So they want to outlaw pot, while promoting…and heavily taxing…alcoholic beverages.
You want pot?
OK, the method is simple: Tell the politicians in the County Council that they should leave marijuana alone.
Tell them that if they don’t, we’ll either recall them, or we’ll vote them out of office at the next election.
That’s how the people get to speak, and to control their servants in county government.
I drew the correlation between hemp and marijuana because both were expunged for political reasons only. And they are both agricultural products. It’s bizarre to contemplate that the public cannot grow hemp, and now it can only be grown for research. Research?! These plants have a 7,000 year old history.
Cannabis (pot or hemp) has never been an evil, dangerous plant. However, when people in power (such as Harry J. Anslinger, William Randolph Hearst and now Bob Jarman) dictate their own reality, it somehow becomes real. The newspaper said so, right?
Prepare to be disturbed… https://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/
The correlation between alcoholic beverages and cannabis is hard to argue… except cannabis is better for those who prefer it.
How about a discussion on the benefits of growing cannabis as an agricultural product?
— As with hemp, marijuana requires no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides when grown well. Cannabis purchased through recreational shops is required to be tested for these contaminants before going to market. Sadly, most of the food we feed our children is not.
–The percentage of acreage given in San Juan County to cannabis production is .004%. If San Juan County grew all of the cannabis allowed in the entire state it would cover a measly 46 acres. There are more than 46 acres committed to raising pigs just on little Lopez… and they really stink!
Let’s discuss without prejudice: noise and light pollution, buffers, water and power usage, and the social, economic, and environmental impacts and benefits of growing amazing plants.
Great comments here, glad to see many voices resounding in support of a viable agricultural crop! The pro/con debate has raged on for ages, I hope we are soon confident that common sense dictates pot is not evil.
Consider then, the elected county’s behavior in response to cannabis farms on the island – rewarding permits and withdrawing support in such a fashion that growers must defend themselves to, and beyond, the brink of extinction.
Now that San Juan Sun Grown has officially withdrawn, Jenny Rice is forced to answer, without counsel, to lawsuits from neighbors who claim to seek relief for unjust profiteering of road and utility easements. Is this not the county’s area of expertise, and part of the permit review process? What right do we have to assuage a percieved threat of property devaulation by making claims against the viability of cannabis as an agricultural crop or condemning the efforts of its growers to model sustainable practices, effectively abusing the law in a self-serving attempt to force their financial ruin and defend an insecurity?
Jenny Rice is facing the re-zoning of her 76 acres of agricultural land due to this abuse as neighbors seek to prohibit any future commercial activity with a barrage of legal claims, conveniently materialized only after cannabis was chosen as the agricultural product. This land has been in the program since 1974 and continually reaped to no ill effect for hay and livestock since then.
Is this how our county defends our right to farm? Our state?
Please, share your opinion on this matter freely.
San Juan Sun Grown has officially withdrawn? Does that mean that they have stopped operations, or surrendered their licenses?
Dear All,
I have read each and every comment in this thread with hope igniting in my heart for the New Year, whatever it may bring. I have hesitated to post a comment until now due to my current position, finding myself facing lawsuits without council, and the fear that anything I say or do in public will be used against me in the court of law… which I have no doubt that it will! Regardless, and towards whatever risk, I feel it’s time to step in to clarify that the owner of San Juan Sungrown has indeed decided to cease active operations on San Juan Island. To quote from a letter enclosed with the paychecks for the company’s employees:
“Vigorous opposition from those against marijuana production near them, or on San Juan Island period, mixed with the local business environment simply proved too much to overcome. The burden of these continuing challenges unfortunately left no other choice.”
That being said… it is my hope that this will not stop those who have taken a stance on these issues to continue to do so. It is perhaps more important now than ever that we work to protect farmers and their ability to use their farmland. We all know the Right to Farm is a slippery slope… and it’s proving to be an ongoing battle here at Fieldstone Farms as we enter 2015.
Sincerely,
Jenny Rice
Fieldstone Farms, LLC
How sad! Do we need to go to bat to protect the grower/s on Orcas Island? Merry