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I'm certain that New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell would rather not have to think about permitting a medical marijuana cultivation operation and dispensary in the city.
He is, after all, a former federal prosecutor with a reputation for being the straightest of arrows. The fact that voters approved decriminalizing medical marijuana really must be stripping his professional gears.
All kinds of legitimate questions are being raised about the proposal by the newly formed Center for Alternative Life Medicine, which is matter-of-factly presenting a plan to employ 300 people in one of the former Berkshire-Hathaway buildings on Cove Street in the South End. It would be right next to a methadone and drug treatment clinic, which has been there for many years without incident.
The mayor, though, invokes the neighborhoods. "They're looking to set up ... right in the middle of a residential neighborhood," he told our reporter.
Say what? Yes, the building is on the other side of the street from a residential neighborhood, but it's a stretch to call it "right in the middle" of that neighborhood.
In fact, some people our reporter talked with like the idea. Loretta Bourque, 93, president of the Cove Street Neighborhood Association, said, "This would be a big help to these people."
Now, one of the issues to be addressed as this process continues is security.
This is not a drug cartel setting up shop and terrorizing the neighborhood.
In fact, it is going to be heavily guarded with lots of security cameras and patrols around the clock. I think it's a fair bet that the people in that vicinity would love to see all of that extra vigilance. Cove Street is not the nicest place in town.
There's talk of concern about New Bedford's image, not wanting to be the "marijuana capital of Massachusetts." Fear not, for there are other cultivation and dispensing proposals as well in Whately, Deerfield and Georgetown, and perhaps others. If anybody's going to be the capital, it will have to beat the competition.
Then there is the matter of the wind energy industry and the South Terminal project. This is the mayor's signature achievement so far. Would a hydroponic indoor marijuana farm in a nearly windowless, nondescript factory building among many other factory buildings detract from the new activity on the waterfront?
Will people shun New Bedford because it includes a marijuana operation sanctioned by the state and supported by the voters?
When you think about it, it's a wonder that people don't shun New Bedford because it's the Whaling City. Most people in the 21st century find whaling abhorrent. I've heard some wonder out loud how the city managed to cultivate (there's that word again) a tourism industry and a popular, world class museum built around that horror.
Here's a prediction. Five years from now, when these operations are established, I think the whole issue is just going to go away. Attitudes have changed in this country, including that of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who has called a truce on the marijuana laws as many states decriminalize.
Here's another prediction. It won't be long before the cultivation operations throw their doors open to tourists. Think about it. Wouldn't you be powerfully curious to see how this all works if you knew you could have a look?
The prohibition era of marijuana is ending, just as alcohol prohibition ended generations ago.
Today, visitors to Lynchburg, Tenn., flock to the famous Jack Daniels distillery to get a look at how whiskey is made, something that would have landed everyone in jail at one time.
And wineries, including local ones, invite guests.
I think we'll see much the same here. There's no shame in it.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: southcoasttoday.com
Author: Steve Urbon
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Marijuana cultivation can be welcomed, done right | SouthCoastToday.com
He is, after all, a former federal prosecutor with a reputation for being the straightest of arrows. The fact that voters approved decriminalizing medical marijuana really must be stripping his professional gears.
All kinds of legitimate questions are being raised about the proposal by the newly formed Center for Alternative Life Medicine, which is matter-of-factly presenting a plan to employ 300 people in one of the former Berkshire-Hathaway buildings on Cove Street in the South End. It would be right next to a methadone and drug treatment clinic, which has been there for many years without incident.
The mayor, though, invokes the neighborhoods. "They're looking to set up ... right in the middle of a residential neighborhood," he told our reporter.
Say what? Yes, the building is on the other side of the street from a residential neighborhood, but it's a stretch to call it "right in the middle" of that neighborhood.
In fact, some people our reporter talked with like the idea. Loretta Bourque, 93, president of the Cove Street Neighborhood Association, said, "This would be a big help to these people."
Now, one of the issues to be addressed as this process continues is security.
This is not a drug cartel setting up shop and terrorizing the neighborhood.
In fact, it is going to be heavily guarded with lots of security cameras and patrols around the clock. I think it's a fair bet that the people in that vicinity would love to see all of that extra vigilance. Cove Street is not the nicest place in town.
There's talk of concern about New Bedford's image, not wanting to be the "marijuana capital of Massachusetts." Fear not, for there are other cultivation and dispensing proposals as well in Whately, Deerfield and Georgetown, and perhaps others. If anybody's going to be the capital, it will have to beat the competition.
Then there is the matter of the wind energy industry and the South Terminal project. This is the mayor's signature achievement so far. Would a hydroponic indoor marijuana farm in a nearly windowless, nondescript factory building among many other factory buildings detract from the new activity on the waterfront?
Will people shun New Bedford because it includes a marijuana operation sanctioned by the state and supported by the voters?
When you think about it, it's a wonder that people don't shun New Bedford because it's the Whaling City. Most people in the 21st century find whaling abhorrent. I've heard some wonder out loud how the city managed to cultivate (there's that word again) a tourism industry and a popular, world class museum built around that horror.
Here's a prediction. Five years from now, when these operations are established, I think the whole issue is just going to go away. Attitudes have changed in this country, including that of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who has called a truce on the marijuana laws as many states decriminalize.
Here's another prediction. It won't be long before the cultivation operations throw their doors open to tourists. Think about it. Wouldn't you be powerfully curious to see how this all works if you knew you could have a look?
The prohibition era of marijuana is ending, just as alcohol prohibition ended generations ago.
Today, visitors to Lynchburg, Tenn., flock to the famous Jack Daniels distillery to get a look at how whiskey is made, something that would have landed everyone in jail at one time.
And wineries, including local ones, invite guests.
I think we'll see much the same here. There's no shame in it.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: southcoasttoday.com
Author: Steve Urbon
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Marijuana cultivation can be welcomed, done right | SouthCoastToday.com
