West Seattle businesses: Medical-marijuana facility for 35th/Roxbury

furor scribendi April 11, 2011 (5:24 pm)

There goes the neighborhood… downhill.

Anon April 11, 2011 (5:32 pm)

“There goes the neighborhood… downhill.” -furor scribendi

How would this be a negative towards the community? Sure is better than the liquor stores all over WS, now lets all remember what ALCOHOL does.

coffee April 11, 2011 (5:38 pm)

Furor scribendi that is really uncalled for. You have no idea what it is like to have a medical condition that requires medical marijuana. Try living every single day of your life in constant pain and not being able to eat because of the pain and medications you are currently on. Medical marijuana can assist greatly for people with these problems. Or what about cancer patients, who need the marijuana? My own father suffered greatly through both chemo and radiation and was not allowed medical marijuana because of where he lives. He lost over 50 pounds and could not get out of bed for 4 months. Thankfully he recovered, but it was pure hell for him.
It is the small minded comments like this that are hurtful to the patients that desperately need this. You really need to do your research before you spout off your mouth.
Now I have a closer place to take my good friend who is fighting a loosing battle with lupus. Oh, and he was a very active productive 50 year old man until about 6 months ago when the lupus took over his life and reduced him to almost nothing.

Westsider April 11, 2011 (5:40 pm)

I would have to argue that a MJ shop is actually a step up from a payday loan place. There are very few businesses for which this is true.

Great April 11, 2011 (5:40 pm)

And just when you think the neighborhood was on an up swing!

Bonnie April 11, 2011 (5:42 pm)

Funny furor I was just going to say the same thing.

MargL April 11, 2011 (5:54 pm)

That is such a large storefront for the dispensing of one product! Will there be a large storage area? Are they growing there? What does it mean to be a “medical-marijuana facility”?
I’m not against the prescription or use of medical marijuana, tho’ I wish if we’re going to go the route of prescribing it as a legal pain-relief drug, they’d just dispense it with all the other prescribed controlled-substances in regular pharmacies.

MB April 11, 2011 (5:55 pm)

Oh ya…there goes the neighborhood. I’m sure all those cancer patients are going to bring your property value waaay down. Oh no!

My Dad caused a he’ll of a lot more trouble in life as an alcoholic than he ever did smoking pot while dying of liver cancer.

Give me a break. I’d be more worried about getting punched in the face by a group of teenagers. Just saying.

MyEye April 11, 2011 (6:01 pm)

I didn’t know there were enough cancer/glaucoma patients to keep three dispensaries afloat in our little neck of woods.

I’m sure that going into an impoverished, struggling area of town has nothing to do with the location these perfectly legitimate, non-predatory businesses chose.

me on 28th Ave SW April 11, 2011 (6:03 pm)

What is the difference between a dispensary and “facility”??

MyEye April 11, 2011 (6:14 pm)

Just a few of the poor souls places like this are helping through their hours of pain.

http://budbook.org/albums

Poor, poor suffering people.

waman April 11, 2011 (6:21 pm)

should be great for the pizza business next door!

elisa April 11, 2011 (6:21 pm)

uneducated haters bring a neighborhood down faster than medical patients treating chronic pain.

Duncan20903 April 11, 2011 (6:36 pm)

The residents of Oaksterdam previous to the arrival of the medical cannabis trade would certainly disagree that medical cannabis facilities are bad for the community.

Duncan20903 April 11, 2011 (6:39 pm)

You know, on further reflection I realize it’s not too likely that anyone who lived in that neighborhood before the arrival of the medical cannabis were able to avoid either being murdered or sent to prison.

It would be more accurate to assert that the residents of Oaksterdam previous to the arrival of the medical cannabis trade, if there are any that were not murdered or incarcerated, would certainly disagree that medical cannabis facilities are bad for the community.

toddinwestwood April 11, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Really? I am all for REAL people who have REAL pain who see REAL doctors for their medical wacky weed. But when I hear about “doctors” giving anyone that walks in the door with some kind of “condition” a presciption, then it kind of looses all validity.

If medical weed is really going to be prescribed by a doctor, then get it at Rite-Aid or Wallgreens.

All this will bring to the neighborhood is strong arm robberies and maybe a shootout or two. Not to mention, this is smack dab right between Roxhill Elementary and Arbor Heights Elementary.

I and others are entitled to our opinions about this. We shouldnt be called haters or antthing else deragatory.

Bonnie April 11, 2011 (6:49 pm)

I understand what you’re saying but do they really need that big of a storefront to dispense marijuana? And it’s the third in West Seattle? Why isn’t this being dispensed at a pharmacy? I understand the need and support those that need it but don’t think there should be a storefront for it. Like it’s a liquor store.

Craig April 11, 2011 (6:59 pm)

What a disgrace! Glad more each day I recently moved out of W Seattle. Any real estate agents out there want to comment candidly on the realities of what this type of business does to property values? What about the houses directly behind the planned dope counter? What’s the planned opening date? I’ll be there, but not to buy weed. Anyone care to join me?

Craig

west sea April 11, 2011 (7:11 pm)

I agree Todd, name calling is not necessary, everyone has a point of view,and I agree with yours. This neighborhood is pretty much crime free right now, but I see that ending.

wseattle April 11, 2011 (7:15 pm)

Hope that Washington learns from some of the mistakes that Montana has made. http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_ff8971e2-570c-11e0-8332-001cc4c002e0.html

Casey April 11, 2011 (7:37 pm)

This neighborhood is not crime free. My cousin and a friend both live a couple blocks away in either direction and recently had their doors kicked in and property stolen. If someone wants it that bad they would not hesitate to strong arm rite-aid for it too. I also am curious what the term “facility” means in comparison to a dispensary.

RJB April 11, 2011 (7:47 pm)

Way to say what I wanted to, Coffee…Craig….stop busting on West Seattle. If you’re glad you moved, then so are we.

Liz April 11, 2011 (7:49 pm)

Is there anyway we can ban this from our neighborhood?????

Duncan20903 April 11, 2011 (7:49 pm)

It is absurd to worry that a dispensary that serves a limited clientele who require special permission to shop there is any threat to the children. But you Know Nothing prohibitionists sure do get a lot of mileage out of the argumentun ad liberi fallacy and I know that your motto is “never let the truth get in the way of an effective piece of hysterical rhetoric.”
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When will people figure out that the reason for the dispensary/recommendation model is because the Feds assign doctors their DEA number which Feds would pull if he wrote a prescription for whole plant cannabis. Pharmacies are also accredited by the Feds, which they would pull if a pharmacy were to fill those prescriptions. Also, a super majority of the people support medicinal cannabis access laws.
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/harrisinteractive/44743/
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Why not take a look at Virgininia’s medicinal cannabis law? What? You didn’t know that Virginia legalized medicinal cannabis over 3 decades ago, and was one of the first States in the nation to do so? Yes, Mr. Carter was the POTUS at the time.
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Perhaps the most significant reason that you’ve never heard that Virginia is a medical cannabis State is because no patient has ever gotten even a stick of medicine in Virginia’s 32 years of being a medicinal cannabis State.
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The argument that it’s not distributed in the same way as other medicines hardly makes medical cannabis suspect. It’s just an argument of form over substance.You know what? I agree with you. I really would be much obliged if you would call or better yet write the Federal government and tell them you believe that medicinal cannabis should be distributed through accredited pharmacies to people with prescriptions written by licensed doctors.
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The decision of what is and what is not medicine is not appropriately decided by Know Nothing laymen, and certainly not appropriately decided by hack politicians promoting a self serving political agenda.

Duncan20903 April 11, 2011 (7:54 pm)

Here’s a link to Virginia’s worthless medical cannabis law, which has been ignoring the needs of the sick for almost 32 years.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+coh+18.2-251.1+702188

Kevin April 11, 2011 (8:12 pm)

Give it a month until the kids across the street( reference a story a couple months back about a Heroin den/Human trafficking) kick in the back door or come in the front with a pistol. No matter how legal it is it brings a criminal/bloack market element wherever it goes.

Liz April 11, 2011 (8:13 pm)

Really!? Like we need 3 facilities in less than a 3 mile radius?

man April 11, 2011 (8:20 pm)

I was in support of these facilities until I found out a friend got a card by begging her doctor for it for anxiety. She doesn’t have a condition she has just been a ‘toker’ for years and likes it. She brags about her card but its not used for any chronic pain just her ‘fun’. And she worked for Microsoft too. So its not that cut and dry. There are cards out there given to people who don’t need them. I am in support of cancer patients etc. having them but really some regulation needs to be happen. And I am not too thrilled about this location either.

B April 11, 2011 (8:28 pm)

This is 5 blocks from Roxhill. Just think of the uproar if it was 5 blocks from Lafayette.

Liz April 11, 2011 (8:50 pm)

I am honestly considering getting a bunch of signatures and opposing this. I will be calling news stations tomorrow as I have friends that are reporters. Not too mention what just happened at the dispensary on California Ave. http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/03/24/news/charges-filed-west-seattle-medical-marijuana-disp

Why didn’t Fitzgibbons approve this on Schmitz Park. I mean there are already 2 going in White Center. Argh, I am so upset!

DW April 11, 2011 (9:35 pm)

Why does Seattle put up with this? You never hear of this in Bellevue or Issaquah. Tolerance can be a taken too far.

WSB April 11, 2011 (9:45 pm)

Actually, yes, they’re on the Eastside too. THC Foundation advertises a Bellevue clinic.
http://www.thc-foundation.org/clinic.html
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And GreenLink Collective in Issaquah:
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http://www.thcfinder.com/medical-marijuana-dispensaries/washington/issaquah/greenlink-collective-/#axzz1JHTfG3w4
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That’s just what came up immediately in Google.

JanS April 11, 2011 (9:49 pm)

for those who keep saying that their friends have Medical Marijuana cards…well, not in this state they don’t. We don’t have cards. We get letters from our physicians (in my case a nephrologist) that is printed on special paper so it cannot be duplicated anywhere…and we must present it every time we purchase.

Why that location? Because these facilities don’t have a lot of start up money and the rent is cheaper? Why such a big place? Would you rather a seedy little back room somewhere? Would that make you feel any safer?

Toddin Westwoood…I think I’m surprised at what you said. This doesn’t have to bring the neighborhood “down” any more than a pay day loan place, a cheap pizza place. We are not all criminals. The people who do business at these places are your mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbors. I’m speaking out, but most just keep it to themselves. And, as someone said, it will probably be as safe as your local RiteAid, which has been robbed at least once in the past, I’m sure.

5 blocks from a school? So what? We’re not crazed dope fiends who are going to go after your kids and try to get them “hooked”. There are plenty of young people in the vicinity of Roxhill that can do that now…and they won’t be frequenting the facility without a letter from a doc.

oh, and me? I’m 64 years old…white..one child..have been in this community for 36 years…waiting to get approved for a kidney transplant. I must be setting a terrible example for my friends and neighbors, huh….

toddinwestwood April 11, 2011 (10:19 pm)

Jan, I think you mixed my opinion up with the others. I am not saying people who use it with legitimate reasons are criminal. More power to the people who can find a way of feeling better without the large drug companies. What I am saying is I am not for, is the people coming around and wanting to steal from this place and the people who willie nillie get a prescription, just so they can “leagally” smoke weed.
And yes, the check cashing places, cheap liquor mini marts, and the metal salvage people are much worse for the ‘hood.

KM April 11, 2011 (10:46 pm)

I live in the neighborhood and don’t understand how people can be outraged by a medical marijuana shop going up. I’ve heard of two people being jailed for holding up a pharmacy in West Seattle in the last two years because of their addiction to pain pills, and not to mention the gas station right down the road being robbed by the “friendly robber.”

What we are being faced with is not a mennace to society, but rather a time that’s thankfully changing. Marijuana is not a threat to our well being or children, the theives and criminals are. It seems that we’re taking steps to legalize this natural drug so we can enjoy it responsibly like alcohol.

It make take a few dispensarys or facilities to do this. But thank goodness it’s happening!

ummm April 12, 2011 (2:28 am)

It’s really depressing to see that there are such closed-minded, miserly people in West Seattle. If you don’t want to go to the dispensary, don’t go to the dispensary. If you want to, go. Either way, mind your own business and stop judging people that just want a comfortable life.

I seriously don’t see what is so difficult about this. You don’t want to smoke pot? Don’t smoke pot. You want to? Smoke it. End of story.

toddinwestwood April 12, 2011 (5:33 am)

leagalize it, tax it, take the power of of the criminals hands and give it to the people.

then I will choose to not smoke it. I am not judging you, unless you are the person staking out the place and then breaking in to steal all the product.

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/04/04/news/two-plead-not-guilty-west-seattle-marijuana-dispe

http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=31592

Darren April 12, 2011 (7:23 am)

But why do we need THREE in West Seattle. One of them has been robbed already. Put them more in a business area not so close to schools and homes. I live about 1/2 a mile from this.

TDe April 12, 2011 (7:39 am)

Gosh, I would think this facility is safer than a Payday Loan branch, and less prone to ripping people off than charging them 25%+ interest to cash their pending payroll checks. Whenever I see these sorts of loan branches, I know the neighborhood is likely low income and prone to sharks. You won’t see these sorts of loan facilities in the Medina neighborhood. If you’re worried about the local children breaking into a medical store, then perhaps it’s time to work harder on helping to provide quality education for those neighborhood children, with more parental oversight and healthy after school activities, rather than blaming a possible future victim of crime.

A April 12, 2011 (8:17 am)

Why do we need 25 pharmacies in West Seattle? Same thing, different location.

For those who ask why it’s not dispensed in a pharmacy, WORK TO GET THE LAW CHANGED. I’d *love* to be able to get MMJ at my local pharmacy and have it regulated like any other drug. I’m sure others with chronic pain conditions would agree.

And to the person above who called the neighborhood a “ghetto” — you’ve obviously never been in a real big city with a real ghetto. That’s an ignorant word to use for a community full of young families. Yes, many of them are brown-skinned. That doesn’t make it a ghetto. Educate yourself on what a ghetto ACTUALLY is, and you’ll be horrified you ever used the word.

John April 12, 2011 (8:18 am)

First of all, every doctor who recommends cannabis for medical purposes in this state is a REAL doctor. Second, medical cannabis specialists exist because many hospitals and clinics have a rule forbidding authorizations to even the most advanced cancer patients. Third, you can’t get an authorization for “a hangnail” in this state. In fact, even the “authorization mills” require medical records documenting a qualifying condition documented by an MD. Fourth cannabis is not just a cancer and glaucoma drug – it is quite possibly the safest pain medication available to humans – no potential stomach damage like ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, no potential for physical addiction like with vicodin and other opiates, and no more psychological addiction potential than skydiving or sex. The smoking argument is moot because many patients don’t smoke it but eat it, vaporize it, or take it under their tongue in a tincture. Fifth, cannabis, or “marijuana” (slang term) never caused any crime – violent or otherwise. Cannabis, or marijuana, prohibition made it a valuable and sought after commodity – worth robbing people for – think Al Capone during alcohol prohibition. Once cannabis prohibition is lifted across the land for all Americans, the criminal element will disappear or move on to some other commodity with a high price tag and risk factor. Unfortunately while there is a blanket prohibition of cannabis, sick people are too often lumped into a pile with young people who just want to get stoned and thugs who want to make a quick buck. Sixth, pharmacies can not dispense it – it is not a prescribed drug, but an herb which a doctor can not prescribe, but can recommend for specific conditions. Finally – if a dispensary or grow has good security and policies, then none of this matters at all. Rather than telling people who already have it hard enough to go farther for their medicine, how about we push for regulation so these dispensaries have standards of practice to follow – or better yet, how about we work to repeal the ridiculous prohibition that made all the headaches and shattered lives possible. Honestly we probably need to work for both before any fairness will exist.

Firefly April 12, 2011 (8:35 am)

Another fact, there are over one million legal medical marijuana pts in Wa. Over 300,000 attendees at Seattle hempfest 2010. And not one violent incident at the event. I will wait while the haters investigate these numbers……

The fact is, medical marijuana and it’s patients are not a threat to the WS society. However the posh upscale idea of everyday living has taken over WS and this mentality is ruining it for the general population who have lived here for many years but are being forced out due to economic disadvantage (no, not just welfare/section 8) i’m talking about your average family. To believe that “low life’s” and criminals make up the majority of mmj patients is a serious misrepresentation of cold hard facts.

ItsAlreadyBeenBrung April 12, 2011 (9:13 am)

Welcome to the NoRo Cannabis Collective! Finally we have a viable new business moving in to the neighborhood. I live 2 blocks away and I could not be more excited that the PD Loans illegal extortion is outta here and a business that will generate real revenue is moving in. (Unlike a ‘gift shop’ or other fly by night front.) I mean ‘revenue’ means ‘class’ — I know, right? And this is real revenue from real product unlike Wall Street & the US Banking industry and PayDay Loans organized crime. I was really worried for the neighborhood when Safeway left and that vacant block went from bad to worse, then the Christians moved in and I thought for sure it’d get worser than ever with all the street traffic but the church people sure have made the neighborhood look nice and feel safe! I have complimented and thanked them many times for making that block great. They clean and primp the property they rent from Safeway and maintain it like Safeway never did. It’s too bad the building across Roxbury from the Christians is a derelict, unmaintained, eyesore. They can pay for new light bulbs when they burn out and paint once every 5 years. It is so disheartening to have to go home past slumlord structures like that every day. I am sure the new business owners across the street are smart enough to keep their business looking top notch. That side of the street will be on the rise forever due real product for sale. Special Thanks to the West Seattle elected officials who know how to get our bread buttered by voting yes for businesses that generate real revenue.

Concerned Parent April 12, 2011 (9:15 am)

I don’t understand … If it’s legal, why do we need a dispensery … when there are hundreds of Rx’s in West Seattle already!??? It just seems “fishy” to me.

foy boy April 12, 2011 (9:20 am)

Great. Most of the people I know that smoke pot buy it from someone that gets it from one of these places. They always get more then they need and sell off the rest. This activity is often kept on the hus hus.

furor scribendi April 12, 2011 (9:36 am)

Cold hard facts: it is against Federal law, for many good reasons. It isn’t any better than legal pain medicines for those who actually have a medical need – – I have MS and I know. The illegal underground culture of drugs in our town is intertwined with much of the crime, family disintegration, high school drop out rates, bankruptcy, and other ills of our society. And anyone promoting the sale or use of this stuff is trying to sell you something. Are those facts cold or hard enough for you?

RP April 12, 2011 (9:50 am)

Wow, look at all the soap boxes in here…

MB April 12, 2011 (9:53 am)

Careful people…I hear this is what happens when you’re on the Reefer!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_vLk1I6G4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

But really though, I fully understand that illegal is illegal is illegal, so spare me that part of the argument…I’d just really like to know, beyond the illegality factor, how is pot worse than alcohol? Not being funny, I’d just really like to understand that opinion.

MB April 12, 2011 (10:01 am)

Oh, and for the record…you are quite misguided if you think pot is not ALL around you already. My first REAL job out of college a few years back was a huge eye opener in that regard. I think there are many of you that might be a little surprised at how many good, regular, hard working, tax paying, fully functional, productive, successful people in your community smoke a bowl when they get home from work rather than having a glass of wine.
I feel the need to note (for those who have never inhaled) that the above video is not even remotely close to what happens when you smoke pot. I have, however, encountered quite a few drunks who acted along those lines! But I stray from the medical end of the topic…

GiveMeLiberty April 12, 2011 (11:06 am)

We live very close to the new location and our neighborhood is NOT happy about this! I agree with many of the comments above…just when you thought there was hope, this happens!! Good Grief!

Alki Jon April 12, 2011 (11:34 am)

I have to laugh at all the unfounded fear. This is a non toxic, non physically addictive flower that has been used for medicine and recreation for thousands of years. Your children are dying and ruining ther lives from prescription drugs and alcohol. Pot isn’t even “cool” anymore. Please take the time to do some research instead of believing all the outright lies our government has been feeding us all these years. And please sign 1149 so we can make this whole thing legal and bring some money into this state. It’s not going away ever and no pharmacutical drug will ever be more effective at treating a variety of afflictions.

WS Steve April 12, 2011 (11:40 am)

All you haters…go back and look at your complaints and ask yourself “Is this is problem with Cannabis, or with the war on drugs?” Most of the problems that go along with Cannabis come from the fact that it is still a schedule I substance. If alcohol were treated this way under the law, it would (and did) cause the same problems of crime, violence and destruction of neighborhoods.

I don’t smoke it, but don’t begrudge those who smoke their right to do so. The law is the problem, not the drug.

HELLO!!!!!! April 12, 2011 (12:39 pm)

… again, why to they need a “dispensery” when there is an overabundance of Pharmacies!!?????? There will still be people buying it and re-selling illegally anyway, just like oxicoton and codene!!! (and quite a few other drugs)

Liz April 12, 2011 (1:37 pm)

The point is that we don’t want it in our neighborhood! Plain and simple. I can tell you that most of my neighbors aren’t happy about it either. It brings down the value of our homes and properties and increases crime and I honestly don’t see why it has to be so near two elementary schools. It’s a huge burden.

MB April 12, 2011 (2:08 pm)

Best answer i could find for why its not sold in pharmacies…
“Pharmacies won’t dispense anything that isn’t approved through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This currently includes marijuana. FDA won’t approve it because of federal laws against it. The FDA gets to classify stuff as either a food, a drug, or a cosmetic. The default setting is food: everything is assumed to be a “food” unless otherwise classified as a drug or cosmetic.

For “drugs,” one goes to a pharmacy. For “foods,” (even “foods” taken predominately for a drug-like effect, like Kava, St. John’s Wort, or Salvia) one goes to a “health food/nutritional supplement/G&C” store, or perhaps a head shop.

Of course, the DEA also gets to “schedule” things…like cannabis.

So, cannabis both fails to be a “drug” (per the FDA) and is a “scheduled drug” (per the DEA), both of which prevent sale at a pharmacy.*

*Granted, many pharmacies sell herbal remedies/etc these days, but they sell them seperate from the classical “medicines.”

MB April 12, 2011 (2:09 pm)

The above was from some thread i found online where people were discussing this very issue.

gatewood guy April 12, 2011 (4:10 pm)

Living with the new shop on California, I can tell you that your neighborhood fears are well founded. One armed robbery and rampant grafitti, and it has only been in business a couple of months. I know, there is grafitti and robberies in other places that don’t sell pot, but that doesn’t make us have to invite it into our neighborhoods. Good luck 35th and Roxbury residents.

WS Steve April 12, 2011 (5:45 pm)

I’d be in favor of buffer zones for dispensaries to keep them distanced from schools and churches (both of which this location might fail). I wonder if liquor stores have a minimum distance requirement. The Westwood location across from Sealth/Denny suggests not.

barryleaf April 12, 2011 (6:16 pm)

this is great and in the perfect part of town for all who medical attention

w.s. maverick April 12, 2011 (6:19 pm)

we need one by alki area too it will help the richer folks out from going to roxbury

WSB April 12, 2011 (7:14 pm)

“WS Maverick,” one of the two others that opened in the past year and is actively advertising itself (I don’t know about the pre-existing one on 35th that was mentioned by an earlier commenter) is in fact on Alki.

Another Concerned Parent April 12, 2011 (6:25 pm)

I disagree with the statement that pot isn’t even cool anymore (with teenagers).

Certain teenagers in West Seattle do consider marijuana to be cool.

– Ask the administrator at the high school who must deal with students who attend school “high”.
– Ask the parent whose teenager smokes pot with friends at lunch and skips classes for the rest of the day.
– Ask the judge at the King County juvenile criminal court house.
– Ask the teenager who uses the presence of yet another medical marijuana facility in West Seattle to justify his or her argument that using pot is not harmful.

(required) April 12, 2011 (6:40 pm)

I hope it really doesn’t come in. No one wants it but the potheads. The place has been empty since the cash store that preyed on the poor closed, and now it’s being replaced by more garbage. That landowner must care only about profit — not part of the community, obviously. I don’t wish any of this well — it’s certainly not good for anyone.

John April 12, 2011 (7:17 pm)

Furor Scribendi – it is against federal law for literally not one single reason that is not a complete and utter lie that has been disproven by scientific study after scientific study. It is Much better than many legal medicines, especially for pain, because you cannot become physically addicted like you can to opiates (the alternative), and for many people it simply works better. For many more the potentiating and antiemetic properties of cannabis greatly increase the efficacy of opiate pain medications and make them tolerable from a nausea standpoint. Typically I draw a line when I see ignorant statements reiterated over and over, but we’re dealing with the health and well-being of people with genuine medical struggles, so I feel I can’t remain silent while you demonize a community of good people who are already fighting an uphill battle against disease… that frankly don’t need to battle ignorance as well.

John April 12, 2011 (7:28 pm)

Liz – I don’t want to have a vast percentage of my country’s population all zombied-up on pharmaceutical pain, depression, and anxiety drugs whose manufacturers clearly state that they are not sure of their mechanism of action….and I don’t want to see more and more kids addicted to opiates, WHICH CAN KILL YOU. Unfortunately I don’t have the choice to prevent that. The best thing I can recommend is that you study the facts regarding what marijuana can and can’t do to a person and weigh that against the alternatives, and then tell me you’d rather see your kids on Ritalin. Furthermore, a kid on drugs of any sort is a problem, but marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol, opiates, and antianxiety medications. Regardless, if a kid is abusing any drug, the parent has failed, not society.

ItsAlreadyBeenBrung April 12, 2011 (8:05 pm)

I don’t smoke pot. I live 2 blocks away. MY neighbors are happy about this store opening and want it here. How are there so many claims posted here such as: “No one wants it but the potheads” & “The point is that we don’t want it in our neighborhood! Plain and simple. I can tell you that most of my neighbors aren’t happy about it either.” I’m not saying everyone wants it but there are many who are just fine about this.

Also, I sure do hope the landlord cares about profit, it is a business in a business zoned location. Businesses that don’t make profit tend to devalue the rest of a neighborhood.

MMB April 12, 2011 (8:55 pm)

I much prefer a medical marijuana facility to a Payday Loan store in my neighborhood.

Hello?! April 12, 2011 (10:37 pm)

I agree with MMB.

WSB April 12, 2011 (10:41 pm)

FYI all, I am scheduled to speak with the owner for a followup tomorrow – TR

w.s. maverick April 13, 2011 (6:54 am)

this will help keep some of the dealers off the street. crime should go down in the area

Intheknow April 13, 2011 (10:20 am)

I can tell you with 100% certainty that MMJ is a “for profit” buisness. if its illeagal to sell MMJ in this state, which it is, why would anyone want to open up a shop? everyone involved is making a hefty sum. It is very easy to go get a letter. got a migraine?….$200 bucks you can get a letter. If the weed is being sold “not for profit” why is it the same as the street price? drug dealers dont do it for free. And nobodys paying taxes on it.(<—i dont care what you say they DONT, flat out DONT pay taxes because they dont have to. they may be "saving up" just in case, but thats about it.) its all a scam being pushed by stoners looking for a way to peddal drugs legally. im all for mmj for those who need it, but get it at a real pharmacy. they dont sell alcohol at a pharmacy, they sell it at a seperate location because its recreational, right? why would mmj be any different if its strictly for medical use?

-seriously read some of the online pot forums. its really a crock. we need to regulate this just like any other persciption drug.

-heres a link to the laws, there very short and vauge. then you can determine if there operating legally or not.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.51a&full=true

Neighbor April 13, 2011 (11:55 am)

Hear Hear MMB. I’ll take a marijuana dispensary over a predetory lending establishment any day. Although I was really hoping for a coffee shop or a pub…which dispense my 2 favorite drugs…

SA April 13, 2011 (12:30 pm)

Maybe they will be willing to sponsor the ailing West Seattle Summer Fest Parade?

MyEye April 13, 2011 (1:03 pm)

Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. It affects memory, judgment, and perception. A dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa), marijuana is usually smoked. The main psychoactive (affecting the mind and behavior) chemical in marijuana is THC (delta- 9-tetrahydrocannabinol).

The membranes of certain nerve cells contain protein receptors that bind to THC. When THC binds to these receptors in the brain, a series of cellular reactions ultimately lead to the high that users experience. Since marijuana can affect judgment, its use can lead to risky behaviors, resulting in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

THC also can interfere with the normal functioning of the hippocampus—the part of the brain that controls learning and memory. It can cause difficulties in processing information and may make it hard to remember things that happened recently. Grades can suffer. Judgment and decision making also can be affected, increasing a person’s chances of getting into situations where he or she might be at risk or where he or she might put others at risk.

THC also interferes with the normal functioning of the cerebellum, which gives a person balance and coordination, and the basal ganglia, which controls movement. Since marijuana can affect coordination and the perception of time and speed, a person’s performance in everything from playing sports to driving may suffer.

In fact, marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug found in impaired drivers and crash victims involved in “drugged driving” accidents.

A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction, and research suggests that in vulnerable individuals, marijuana use may be a factor that increases risk for the disease.

MB April 13, 2011 (2:03 pm)

Man, this thread makes me laugh and cry at the same time ;(

Liz April 13, 2011 (8:01 pm)

I think the owner of this property is only looking for a profit. If he was willing to rent this out to a Pay Day Loan establishment it is obvious that the service to the community is not in his interest. I don’t think that a pot facility is any better then a pay day loan business. But I also know that we should uphold the standards of our community. Pot can become a major issue. I know because I’ve seen it affect lives in a negative way. It is also sad to see that marijuana prescriptions are easy to get these days. I am sure the church across the street that has kept the place nice and other business owners around are not happy about it either. I am in the neighborhood and I have a child. I am not afraid of pot, but it is still a legality issue in our country plain and simple and it will entice people. Advertisement wasn’t created just because. It’s unfortunate that this can potentially lower the value of other commercial and residential properties. As you heard from the man that commented on the CA marijuana facility. It is just trashy and if you want to know the truth I would much rather see a nice Mexican restaurant come into our community.

Nulu April 14, 2011 (3:33 pm)

‘MyEye,’ Thanks for cut and pasting the Reefer Madness out-takes.
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My favorite is the drug driving stats. Pot in the system is well down the list behind legal alcohol and prescription drugs. Since marijuana is far and away the most common illegal drug and its traces stay in you system longer, it comes up more often in blood tests than other illegal drugs.
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“Since marijuana can affect judgment, its use can lead to risky behaviors, resulting in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.” Wow!
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‘Risky behavior,’ a code phrase with homophobes, never mind that alcohol leads to far greater risky behavior and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

Marijuana none.
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“Since marijuana can affect coordination and the perception of time and speed, a person’s performance in everything from playing sports to driving may suffer.”
This is dis-proven time and time again as more world class athletes in their prime get busted for pot. Just glance at the sports section nearly any week. The athletes get busted for pot, not bad performance, and their players’ unions don’t allow standard marijuana testing.
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The feds have maintained and fed these myths by banning all marijuana research since the 1930s.
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‘Liz,’ I think all rental property owners are looking not to go bankrupt. They have to pay their loans just like homeowners and to do that they need to collect rent.
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If you would like to rent the building, spend tens of thousands for permits and the build-out to open a Mexican restaurant that will likely fail, fine please do. I will speculate that the owner would be happy to rent to you, although some of your neighbors accustomed to parking on 35th might not be happy. Please notify WSB when your plans near completion as I would love to try your cooking!