Yakima marijuana hearing draws entrepreneurs, advocates, moms

YAKIMA, Wash. – Marijuana advocates, people concerned about the effects of drugs on children and hopeful entrepreneurs filled a huge room at the Yakima Convention Center Thursday night. This hearing is part of a series across Washington on how to implement voter-approved marijuana legalization. Correspondent Anna King brings us our story from Yakima.

Some of the 400 people who showed up were interested in getting medical marijuana more widely distributed. Others, were cowboy-hat-clad growers looking for a new cash crop. And then there were concerned mothers like Andi Erivin. She says she has four children and lives in rural Okanogan county. She told the liquor control board that she’s worried that children would steal marijuana if it was grown outdoors and readily available.

“I don’t want my children waiting for the bus in front of acres and acres of marijuana instead of alfalfa fields and cows," Erivin said. "Worse would be waiting for that same bus standing in front of 10-foot razor wire, the scenery akin to a prison yard.” 

Erivin says she wants marijuana plants grown indoors on secured properties. The Washington Liquor Control Board is writing rules to implement the state’s new marijuana law. The next state forum on the issue is scheduled next week in Bremerton.

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