The ol' wacky tobacky is now legal in the Soviet of Washington since we spoke as a people in a popular vote initiative in 2012. But, along with Colorado, being groundbreakers we are experiencing some tribulations. All the local governments are now forced to grapple with this issue. Personally, I figure it'll be a great economic shot in the arm for our ailing state.
Here in McCleary, population around 1600, where a wooden bear sits on top of City Hall, our local officials are discussing this topic. Needless to say they are predictably cautious and status quo. Morty the Dog reporter Sarah has supplied us with some interesting recent public documents regarding this issue:
http://www.cityofmccleary.com/vertical/sites/%7B6900A7D9-59CE-4612-823A-FA3E5F25F431%7D/uploads/Council_Packet_11-20-13_merge.pdf
It seems to me a really bold and visionary municipal government would take this opportunity to run and be first in line to collect the enormous revenue that will be realized from this endeavor. But McCleary does not have bold and visionary leadership at this time. Instead, we have the same old sick and tired, play-it-close-to-the-vest, paternalistic, good ol' boy pattern that is killing us. You can hear crickets in the heart of our business district. The bank is gone. The only tavern is gone. The pizza place is gone. The pharmacy is gone. The hospital is gone. The veterinarian is gone (which I really miss). This town has no active public phone. We are dead.
The legal marijuana thing provides McCleary with an enormous economic opportunity but I have to accept the fact that my town is presently led by timid people. In the past McCleary had real visionary and inspirational leadership, I even made a video about it. Those days are long gone.
