Pubdate: Fri, 01 Mar 2013
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Bob Young
Page: B1

RURAL VOICE ON NEW POT LAW

This Forum, in an Area That Opposed the State Marijuana Law, Has a 
Different Flavor Than the Earlier Ones.

YAKIMA - Yakima County overwhelming opposed Initiative 502, which 
enacted the state's new legal pot law, and a Thursday public forum 
here to discuss implementation had a less friendly flavor than 
similar marijuana forums held on the west side of the Cascades.

Nonetheless, pot enthusiasts filled a good bit of a 780-seat room at 
the Yakima Convention Center, eager to share their views with the 
Washington State Liquor Control Board, the agency charged with 
implementing the new law. Many in the crowd applauded when Sharon 
Foster, chairwoman of the board, said, "We are the first in the world 
to take it from seed to retail."

In their testimony, advocates extolled the medical benefits of pot, 
called for a system that allows many small producers and touted the 
future of ganja-tourism.

Others offered a different perspective. "I'm here to bring the rural 
voice to the table," said Andi Ervin of Omak, a certified 
substance-abuse-prevention professional. "I don't want our alfalfa 
farms to turn into marijuana farms."

Corina Radford, a member of the Omak Planning Commission, is 
concerned that land-rich Eastern Washington runs the risk of becoming 
a pot hothouse for the state. "Therefore we'll have a higher risk of 
access and leakage back to the black market," Radford said.

As a mother of four, Ervin said her chief concern is the 
"normalization that's been occurring since medical marijuana came 
into effect." She worries that youth use will increase and the 
health, safety and academic achievement of kids will suffer.

John Dennis, a medical-marijuana patient from Prosser, disagreed. 
"Aren't these the same arguments raised after Prohibition when liquor 
became legal again? I think we can do this responsibly, 
intelligently," he said.

Yakima marked the seventh of eight statewide liquor-board forums. The 
last is March 7 at the Kitsap Conference Center in Bremerton.

 From here, the board's work will intensify. It may announce next 
week the consultants it intends to hire for expertise on key issues 
such as consumption rates and product quality.

Meanwhile, state officials have been researching issues such as 
security, testing and traceability.

In April, the board will seek public comment on its draft language 
for rules implementing I-502. From there, it's a steady march through 
more rule-making and feedback.

The board hopes to issue retailer licenses by Dec. 1. Some time after 
that, adults 21 and over will be able to walk into a state-licensed 
store to buy up to an ounce of heavily taxed weed.

Peggy Gutierrez, a drug-free coordinator from Columbia County, was 
one of several speakers at the Yakima forum who expressed concerns 
about children.

"This is my challenge to everybody in this room and involved in this 
process: Be responsible as a grower, producer and business person," 
she said. "Come on board and let's all work together to protect the 
youth in our community."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom