Letters to the editor for Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017

Pot shops rejected for good reason

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that affluent Marin County in California, while voting overwhelming to legalize marijuana (70 percent) in 2016, now denies it being made commercially available in their county. Marinites just don’t want pot shops near their homes, schools and neighborhoods. County officials recently rejected all license applications for marijuana dispensaries, after wide public opposition. Opponents expressed concerns over youth use and diminished real estate values.

Douglas County officials should feel validated in their decision to “zone out” commercial marijuana establishments. That decision was predicated on the fact that the vast majority of Douglas County voters (57.4 percent) opposed marijuana legalization in 2016.

Meanwhile, economically disadvantaged North Las Vegas in Nevada already has 53 licensed marijuana establishments (with their ownership information shielded from public disclosure by city government). So, while Marin and Douglas counties keep commercial marijuana away from young people, we legitimize it and make it more accessible to “at risk” youth in low income communities like North Las Vegas.

Pretty backward public policy.

Jim Hartman

Genoa