Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, January 29, 2013
POT Under Crystal Chandeliers, Seattle Mayor Addresses National Pot Trade Group
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 9:24 AM
- MAYOR MIKE MCGINN: Tells a pot trade association that "this is the new normal."
"We have regulations for the number of goats and chickens you can keep," said Mayor Mike McGinn. "Where you can grow marijuana is a decision we will have to make as well. This is a trade association, like the builders, who want to know the regulations. Boy, how things change. It's fascinating that this is the new normal."
Under Initiative 502 approved last fall by voters, the state's liquor board is scheduled to issue licenses and set rules to grow, process, and sell marijuana at retail outlets by December. The city, in turn, has issued a map showing where pot stores will be allowed. Noting the limit on locations, McGinn pointed out that "there are large parts of the city where [retail shops under I-502] are not allowed. But that is beyond my control—it's a state law." Still, he added, pot shops will be allowed in several "neighborhood commercial areas."
For an industry that has long operated in legal margins, this catered, formal affair—populated by eager looking business people in suits hobnobbing with investors—is a radical shift in aesthetics and affluence. Three crystal chandeliers, each as big as a Smart Car, hung above the room decked in blond walls.
Even those who opposed legalization in Washington were newly enchanted. Ed Rosenthal, who has built an empire selling books on growing marijuana and other pot products, fought I-502, even claiming last year that anyone who smokes pot after I-502 passes would have their children taken away.
But Rosenthal swooned last night.
"I think that ultimately, marijuana is going to be integrated into the US economy and this is a way of doing it," Rosenthal told me. "It's good for everybody because there are assured quality products. Regardless of the law in Washington"—which does not allow home growing—"people will be able to grow their own, increasing our freedom, and push back against the police state. We'll be able to take marijuana in the body without it being illegal." When I pointed out that he opposed I-502, he said it was "a terrible law and it will never go into effect."
Of course, Rosenthal comes off as an opportunist who's full up with horse shit. The only reason this swank event happened at all—the reason investors canvassed the room, the reason McGinn delivered a keynote, the reason City Attorney Pete Holmes and state Representative Roger Goodman glad-handed, and the reason there's an industry for the city and state to regulate—is entirely because I-502 has gone into effect. The liquor board has begun a public rule-making process.
"With I-502s passing, we have seen a surge of interest," said NCIA director Aaron Smith, whose group is the leading business association in the US for marijuana interests. "Basically, it's the model used for every other trade association. We want to make sure the industry is represented in Washington, DC." Both Smith and board member John Davis said the event helped expand their membership in Washington—but they didn't share just how many members they picked up.
One of the new members last night was Maryam Mirnateghi, who runs Fusion, a medical marijuana access point, which plunked down $1000 to join. Mirnateghi paid dues to help legalization "compete with the black market," she explained. Asked if she may switch from the medical marijuana market to the recreational pot market, she said "possibly— everything is possible."
Cody Bass, who runs the Tahoe Wellness Cooperate in California, was there as an investor in future cannabis-related companies. Asked if I-502 was promoting the flood of interest and money, he said, "Of course. We're looking at a market with only two allowable states."
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"I'll restate: SLOG commenters are mostly inconsistent rather than hypocritical."
I think the term you're looking for is "double standard".
If they want it available then it should be cheap and with very few regulations.
If they do not want it available then it should be expensive and heavily regulated.
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Super, thanks for clarifying. I wonder how many others feel the same? Most of the pot growers I know are barely capable of keeping their driver's licences updated. That's just my own anecdotal experience though. I guess we'll have to wait and find out just how regulated and controlled marijuana will be?
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which means i am fine with marijuana being more highly regulated than home brewing. or firearms.
i didn't prove you right on shit.
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Comparing a harmless plant to a gun. One is a deadly weapon, the other a medicinal plant. Kind of like when gun nuts try and compare auto accidents to gun violence but
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Regardless, I see comments saying, in essence, pot should be completely unregulated (e.g., "let me grow it in my backyard!"). I also see comments, in the ubiquitous gun threads, that guns should most certainly be regulated.
Here's the inconsistency that made me post my comment in the first place...
I've seen comments by gun advocates accusing SLOG writers/commenters that they want to ban guns. A typical response to that is: "we don't want to ban guns, we just want them to be super-regulated... you know, like alcohol or marijuana."
And then along comes this post by Dominic and sure enough, their true feelings come out: "Let me grow pot in my backyard!" Is that the kind of strict regulation we should apply to guns? You know, guns should be regulated like marijuana?
My first post was that pot should be regulated. I got flak for that, as I anticipated I would, because I assumed, correctly, that SLOG commenters were inconsistent in their beliefs. And they've proven me right.
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We just don't like living in Fear for no reason, and paying to lock up productive members of society.
Now, driving stoned, that's different. It's like texting or talking on your cell phone, and should result in immediate jail terms.
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@19,
SLOG commenters like pot, so they'll find anything and everything to reinforce what they already believe about pot. Any contradictory information will be labeled as suspect or biased. Any confirmatory information will be labeled as proof or "science."
Likewise, SLOG commenters hate guns, so they'll find anything and everything to reinforce what they already believe about guns. Any contradictory information will be labeled as suspect or biased. Any confirmatory information will be labeled as proof or "science."
But whatever, if that's what SLOG is then so be it... it's an echo chamber for liberals. I've got no problem with that. But SLOG is definitely NOT a forum for reasonable debate or argument. It's just like redstate.com or freerepublic.com... except that its confirmatory bias and anecdotal bullshit is slanted to the liberal side.
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You are pointing out what you consider to be an inconsistency across different topics. That's not hypocrisy.
That's just not matching your opinions on different topics.
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Leading with "Under Crystal Chandeliers," is an interesting choice, but it didn't do enough for me.
(It's an affect almost as if): just sayin'(, or .)
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Ok, so let's just let everyone grow marijuana and let it be totally unregulated and unrestricted. A free for all!
As long as you feel the same way about guns, fine. Otherwise, you're a hypocrite.
Typical SLOG commenter:
"I personally like pot, so I demand pot be legal and free and accessible to all!"
"I personally hate guns, so I demand guns be restricted and accessible to few... and I not-so-secretly hope they'll disappear forever!"
You guys are exactly as bad as the free republic hypocrites who make the exact opposite comments.
That's fine and all, but when you guys profess hypocritical, self-serving beliefs, just own up to it, ok? Just admit you want things your way or the highway and you're no better than the conservatives you mock.
Deal?
The Feds aren't legally allowed to simply let the law be broken. They are required to enforce - its not really a choice. Especially with something this strongly in the public eye. I just don't see how the Feds could allow it even if they wanted to, so there's a showdown coming. Get ready to hear this soon: "You'll just have to wait a few years until we get things straightened out on the federal level".
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Marijuana is a dangerous substance and needs to be controlled by people who are responsible.
No, you cannot grow it in your backyard or your house, unless you are licensed and pass state regulations and have regulation buildings to grow and store marijuana."
Your children could walk through a field of mature flowering cannabis plants and not even notice it. Yes people can and are growing in back yards and houses. After i502 cops are not worrying about grows anymore. Doesn't matter if they are illegal or medical, personal or commercial.
Ps. There's someone growing cannabis near you now you just don't know it.
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Ed rosenthol sounds like a putz and I've read his strain called eds super bud is nothing special.
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Marijuana is a dangerous substance and needs to be controlled by people who are responsible.
No, you cannot grow it in your backyard or your house, unless you are licensed and pass state regulations and have regulation buildings to grow and store marijuana.
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How about I can grow cannabis IN MY BACK YARD?
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