Pubdate: Sat, 17 May 2014
Source: South Whidbey Record (WA)
Copyright: 2014 South Whidbey Record
Contact:  http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2515

COUNTY MADE RIGHT MOVE WITH POT SHOPS

It's not official, but chances are good that South Whidbey will become
home to two of Island County's new retail marijuana stores.

South End business owners Maureen Cooke and Lucas Jushinski have both
submitted applications to the state to open shops in Bayview and
Freeland. Yet ironically, despite the passage of I-502 in 2012, it
appears these early entrepreneurs will owe their existence - if they
are successfully permitted - to Island County commissioners Helen
Price Johnson, a South Whidbey Democrat, and Jill Johnson, a Oak
Harbor Republican.

Last week they rejected a last minute proposal from former
commissioner Kelly Emerson, a Tea Party Republican from Camano who has
since resigned, to permanently ban pot shops in Island County, and
they were right to do so.

The people of Washington made their choice clear in 2012 when they
voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana statewide. Just
like any other ballot measure or race for elected office, adult voters
considered what was in front, of them and made a choice, and it's not
governments role to later decide otherwise. We grant our elected
leaders power to implement our wishes, not countermand them.

Yet a small handful of county and city governments, such as Pierce
County, Monroe and most recently Marysville, have since taken it upon
themselves to do just that and adopt permanent prohibitions. In
Marysville's case, city leaders argued that restrictions concerning
location, coupled with the flow of tax revenue - most would go to the
state, not local municipalities - equaled an industry that might cause
more harm than good.

According to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and a non-binding
decision he issued earlier this year, cities and counties are within
their legal rights to pass such bans despite the wishes of the pubic.

Every community is different, and perhaps for some outlawing marijuana
stores really does make sense, but that's not the case in Island
County, at least not according to voters. I-502 passed statewide, but
also here at home with 56 percent of the public - 23,205 people -
casting "yes" votes.

The commissioners showed wisdom and courage by not falling prey to the
weighty and seemingly never-ending "pot is bad" arguments. Some of
those concerns are very valid, others not so much. What matters most
here is that our elected officials put aside any personal convictions
or opinions on the issue and carried out the wishes of their
constituents.  
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D