I would like to address the May 16 online story “Lease falls through for Battle Ground pot retailer,” regarding one of the first legalized, licensed marijuana licensed retail stores in Clark County. Although I am in support of the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana consumption and sale, I cannot help but voice some concerns.
It’s mentioned that this will be one of the only legal marijuana shops in the area as of now. Although I think it’s extremely wise to limit the amount of cannabis licenses issued in a particular area, I cannot help but be concerned for the possibility of a monopoly on the sale of this product. This is a relatively new kind of retail, and allowing for only specific individuals to acquire a retail license limits the freedoms of other equally qualified potential vendors. Of course we cannot issue retail licenses en masse, but I do believe that there should be fairer regulations placed on this new enterprise.
I am also concerned with the public image a marijuana shop will display. I cannot imagine the cultural reaction that might come from the installation of a public marijuana shop. Before steps are taken to allow for the installations of these new shops, there must be community impact studies conducted to indicate the public’s feelings concerning a cannabis shop in their neighborhood.
Seth Cooper-Font
Vancouver
