Backman calls for marijuana forum

Wahkiakum County Commissioner Mike Backman on Tuesday called for a community forum to discuss marijuana retail outlets in Wahkiakum County.

Backman commented at Tuesday's meeting of the board of county commissioners that Westend residents, including the owner of the Rosburg Store property, had requested the forum.

Although there are two marijuana growing operations in the county, there are no marijuana retail outlets. A businesswoman proposed last March to open an outlet at the Rosburg Store, but state law prohibits their location within 1,000 feet of a park or school, and the store building is within 1,000 feet of the Grays River Valley Center/Johnson Park. The proponent requested a waiver of distance from the board of commissioners, but commissioners declined to grant the waiver.

Backman said he'd like to have the forum at Johnson Park on or around January 24.

Backman said that although the people requesting the forum were from the Westend, he wanted to have county wide discussion of the issue.

While the Rosburg Store was too close to a school, Backman said, "Somebody might want to find a spot not too close to the school."

Backman's comments drew more comments from persons attending the commission meeting.

Elochoman Valley resident Jim Roberts encouraged marijuana opponents to become acquainted with the herb's beneficial properties and the regulations regarding commercial cultivation and sale.

"It would do yourself a world of good to visit a pot shop and see how professional it is," he said.

He offered a book about marijuana to Commissioner Dan Cothren, who has opposed location of marijuana businesses in the county.

Cathlamet resident Ryan Smith encouraged commissioners to hold the forums and allow establishment of marijuana retail outlets.

"I do believe it would be nice to provide an environment that would induce someone to come to Wahkiakum County," he said.

Puget Island resident Sylvia Costich referred to the commission's report that Current Expense Fund budgets face a revenue shortfall. She reported that in November, Cowlitz County pot shops generated $413,000 in tax revenue and Pacific County stores generated $72,873 in tax revenue. In 2018, under new state law, 30 percent of marijuana sales revenue will go back to the counties in which the stores are located. Wahkiakum is missing a revenue opportunity she said.

"I am merely speaking from a financial perspective," Costich said. "The county is in financial difficulty, and this is a legal revenue source available to the county."

Costich also commented that the board wasn't representing the county as a whole if there was no forum on the east side of KM Mountain.

"The only reason I started there [Rosburg] was that two different groups approached me," Backman said. "We'll do it here."

Skamokawa resident Levi Helms introduced himself and said he is the new master of the Skamokawa Grange. "Well be happy to host a forum," he said.

Commissioner Blair Brady emphasized to the crowd that there was no license for the Rosburg Store because it was too close to Johnson Park.

"I don't like variances," he said. "If you need a variance, change the law."

Brady added that because voters created the laws legalizing marijuana sales, he has and will follow the law.

Cothren showed he would continue to oppose marijuana use.

"I don't need your book," he said. "I have my beliefs and you have yours."

He related that as a parent who has adopted many children, he has seen the effects of drug use on them.

"I see it as destroying a lot of people's lives," he said.

Puget Island resident Mariane Brightbill commented that both of her sons are in law enforcement, and they tell her, "The black market is as strong as ever; that's where the kids are getting it."

Commissioners said they would hold community forums, and moved on to other business.