Community and religious leaders vow that they will protest every day until a marijuana shop located right next to Mt. Calvary Christian Center COGIC in Seattle’s Central Area is shut down.
Rev. Reggie Witherspoon, pastor of Mt. Calvary Christian Center is outraged that Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, the second marijuana shot to open in the City of Seattle since the passage of Initiative I-502, was allowed to open last week right next to his congregation.
“It’s the ultimate disrespect to the institution of religion,” says Witherspoon. “To open up a pot store right next to a church where we have not just a congregation of believers who are categorically and morally against selling drugs, but also we have our teen center right across the street.”
State law prohibits marijuana shops from being within 1,000 feet of any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, library, or game arcade that allows minors to enter. However, the policies established the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), which regulates retail marijuana location in the state, does not include churches in its list of places that are required to have “buffer” zone between their location and marijuana retailers.
Witherspoon said he had spoken with the store’s owner prior to its opening and was never told that the location was going to be a “Pot Shop.” In response to the store opening, Witherspoon says that he filed a formal complaint with the WSCLB because the “Pot Shop” is too close to activities that they have at the church for children.
“We have so many kids coming in and out [of our church] all the time,” says Witherspoon. “Our teen center is right across the street, along with a day care facility and we’re going to challenge this because we’ve measured it and both our teen center and the day care are within 1,000 feet [of the marijuana shop].”
The protestors who have been gathering throughout the week believe that the WSLCB is not properly enforcing the policies that they already have in place, and say that they will hold rallies ever day at 12 Noon and at 5:00 p.m. until the issue is properly addressed by policy makers.
“Someone did not do their work,” said Witherspoon. “They just totally disrespect us as though we’re not intelligent and will allow you to just walk over us.”
“For the sake of the institution of religion, and children and youth I’m willing to do whatever I can to get this thing closed down,” continued Witherspoon. “We reject this pot store at this location and we need it to be closed.”
