Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Washington County has about 13 medical marijuana dispensaries and more are on the way, including one in Cedar Mill that has stirred up neighbors.
Not far from a Home Depot and Java Lounge near Northwest Murray Boulevard and Northwest Cornell Road is a quiet, narrow residential street where a home may be converted into a medical marijuana dispensary.
Neighbors who have lived there for a lifetime and those new to the block are joining together to try and stop the dispensary at 730 N.W Dale Ave. For some, it's the marijuana sales they're opposed to. They know that on Oct. 1, the state will allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell to recreational users.
For others, it's the location. The future business is in a neighborhood filled with single-family homes and an apartment complex, but Washington County zoning changes placed the little white house in a commercial/retail zone.
"It doesn't belong here," said Warren Mitchell of the dispensary. He has lived in the neighborhood for three years.
Kate Jackson lives next door to the future dispensary with her 7-year-old daughter and is trying to rally neighbors and Cedar Mill advocacy groups to block it.
"We want to make noise," she said.
Jackson and other neighbors said they worry about an increase in traffic on the narrow street that lacks sidewalks as well as the effect on property values and crime.
"Safety is my big concern," said Linda Moczulski, who has lived there 33 years. "You don't know who is going to be running through your backyard and who's going to be chasing them."
Neighbors said they have seen the reports out of Colorado, where marijuana was legalized in 2014, which show crime has increased.
Moczulski said the neighborhood has very little crime. Most troubles amount to the taking of flowerpots.
Western Oregon Botanicals, based in Sherwood, is behind the dispensary. Owner Sheri Ralston said it's early in the process. The first step, before applying for a dispensary license, is for the business to hold a meeting with neighbors, which she did on Sept. 14.
About 20 people attended, including Washington County Commissioner Greg Malinowski. Each wrote down concerns on a tablet that will be given to the county.
"We're gearing up for this stuff," Malinowski said. "We're revamping our (medical marijuana) rules to cover (recreational) marijuana dispensaries."
Dennis Whitten, who has lived in the neighborhood for 44 years, said he would rather see the dispensary in a retail area. "We have 20 kids who catch the school bus just around the corner," he said.
The proposed dispensary is behind commercial property and within sight of a strip mall.
Ralston said she didn't attempt to lease space in a strip mall, but chose to buy the home on Northwest Dale Avenue. She also bought a commercial building in Newberg and a former landscaping business building in Sherwood for future dispensaries. Those dispensaries are further along in the process, but Ralston said she didn't know when they would open.
The future of the Cedar Mill dispensary is undetermined, Ralston said. She is renting out the house for at least six months.
"We want to take our time," she said. "We want to see what happens with the dispensary business."
Until then, Jackson said neighbors will continue to fight it, but she doesn't have high hopes.
"It would be nice if we could make a difference and stop it," she said. "We're still researching that."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Proposed medical marijuana dispensary has neighbors fuming
Author: Wendy Owen
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: Brennan Linsley
Website: Oregon Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - OregonLive.com
Not far from a Home Depot and Java Lounge near Northwest Murray Boulevard and Northwest Cornell Road is a quiet, narrow residential street where a home may be converted into a medical marijuana dispensary.
Neighbors who have lived there for a lifetime and those new to the block are joining together to try and stop the dispensary at 730 N.W Dale Ave. For some, it's the marijuana sales they're opposed to. They know that on Oct. 1, the state will allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell to recreational users.
For others, it's the location. The future business is in a neighborhood filled with single-family homes and an apartment complex, but Washington County zoning changes placed the little white house in a commercial/retail zone.
"It doesn't belong here," said Warren Mitchell of the dispensary. He has lived in the neighborhood for three years.
Kate Jackson lives next door to the future dispensary with her 7-year-old daughter and is trying to rally neighbors and Cedar Mill advocacy groups to block it.
"We want to make noise," she said.
Jackson and other neighbors said they worry about an increase in traffic on the narrow street that lacks sidewalks as well as the effect on property values and crime.
"Safety is my big concern," said Linda Moczulski, who has lived there 33 years. "You don't know who is going to be running through your backyard and who's going to be chasing them."
Neighbors said they have seen the reports out of Colorado, where marijuana was legalized in 2014, which show crime has increased.
Moczulski said the neighborhood has very little crime. Most troubles amount to the taking of flowerpots.
Western Oregon Botanicals, based in Sherwood, is behind the dispensary. Owner Sheri Ralston said it's early in the process. The first step, before applying for a dispensary license, is for the business to hold a meeting with neighbors, which she did on Sept. 14.
About 20 people attended, including Washington County Commissioner Greg Malinowski. Each wrote down concerns on a tablet that will be given to the county.
"We're gearing up for this stuff," Malinowski said. "We're revamping our (medical marijuana) rules to cover (recreational) marijuana dispensaries."
Dennis Whitten, who has lived in the neighborhood for 44 years, said he would rather see the dispensary in a retail area. "We have 20 kids who catch the school bus just around the corner," he said.
The proposed dispensary is behind commercial property and within sight of a strip mall.
Ralston said she didn't attempt to lease space in a strip mall, but chose to buy the home on Northwest Dale Avenue. She also bought a commercial building in Newberg and a former landscaping business building in Sherwood for future dispensaries. Those dispensaries are further along in the process, but Ralston said she didn't know when they would open.
The future of the Cedar Mill dispensary is undetermined, Ralston said. She is renting out the house for at least six months.
"We want to take our time," she said. "We want to see what happens with the dispensary business."
Until then, Jackson said neighbors will continue to fight it, but she doesn't have high hopes.
"It would be nice if we could make a difference and stop it," she said. "We're still researching that."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Proposed medical marijuana dispensary has neighbors fuming
Author: Wendy Owen
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: Brennan Linsley
Website: Oregon Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - OregonLive.com
