Tuesday, November 25, at 7 p.m. at the San Juan Island Grange Hall, 152 First Street North, Friday Harbor
— from Boyd Pratt —
San Juan Island Grange #966 is hosting an informational forum on The Proposed Moratorium on Marijuana Production, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the Grange Hall. The program will include presentations from differing perspectives and a moderated question and answer session. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
In November 2012 the voters of Washington State passed Initiative 502, The Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational Use. Several businesses have been licensed by the State to grow marijuana in San Juan County. Concerns regarding the impact of these operations on land use have led to a proposed moratorium on marijuana production, which is being considered for adoption by the San Juan County Council, in order for the Council to further consider regulations related to marijuana production. San Juan Island Grange #966 has been asked to take a position on this issue, and is therefore hosting this informational forum.
The forum will be introduced by Roger Ellison, Grange Master, and moderated by Steve Porten, Grange Executive Board member; presenters are Brent Snow, speaking in support of the proposed moratorium, and Sandy Strehlou, Committee for Diversified Agriculture, speaking in opposition to the proposed moratorium.
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Support for 502 was well above average in San Juan County with over 68% voting for it. Let’s not take a step backwards. Marijuana is a crop that makes sense in the San Juans given it’s higher value. Let the farming develop naturally and deal with any issues that come up rather than killing it wholesale in a county that is whole heartedly in support of the legal growing and selling of marijuana. This move seems reactionary before there is anything to react to.
Martin
The following was posted by me on November 18th. I have a tendency to shoot from the lip as I do not live my life worrying about the approval of others.
“Is this “The Women’s Christian Temperance Union” all over again? If the growing of pot is illegal than the growing and sale of pot will continue as did bootlegging enriching a few with no tax revenue for the many. Oh I forgot, Republicans don’t believe in taxes. Maybe we should just decriminalize it. Get the government out of it including the government in Friday Harbor and leave people alone to do what they want in “The Land Of The Free and The Home of the Brave”. I started smoking pot in 1963. I rarely smoke anymore. In the sixties, I took every imaginable drug from horse tranquilizer’s to LSD well over 100 times. If you believe government dogma, I shouldn’t be able to be writing this to you. I learned along time ago that you can’t regulate morality or behavior. It is impossible to regulate morality and behavior and yet too many of us have learned nothing from the past.”
One more thing. If pot and other drugs are only available through a “black market” than more of your homes and businesses will continue to be robbed because ……..”
BY THE WAY, MY 21 YEAR OLD SON WAS RECENTLY HIRED TO PLAY CELLO WITH THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
One more thing, If the commissioners vote for a moratorium, I doubt they will get reelected. 68% for legalization and the commission is going against the will of the people. Get real and respect the voters.