There has been a lot of talk around town about the decision to allow or disallow marijuana dispensaries in the City of Lakewood.
I previously shared my opinion with my readers and the Lakewood City Council which is a loud NOPE to dope shops.
Knowing my readers will choose to agree or disagree with my opinion, I was looking for a sign, something much stronger than just my opinion, when I came across a 1910 issue of a local newspaper titled The Black Bear Gazette.
The article talks about the early development of what we now know as the City of Lakewood. Because building lots cost $125 and up, you know it is old news. Maybe it is fake news, but the article makes a point that has at least some element of constructive truth.
The paragraph that caught my eye reads, “No saloons will be allowed in Lakewood.”
While early Lakewood pioneers tried to promote a no saloon policy, Lakewood eventually caved and there were drinking holes, topless joints, and questionable massage parlors in great numbers in Lakewood. Many of these sin parlors brought trouble including DUI drivers, arson, the mob, political corruption, police corruption, barroom brawls, philandering, black market dope sales, prostitution, and homicide all lubricated by excess alcohol.
The Black Bear Gazette article promotes the idea that Lakewood tried to do the right thing, but failed followed by clear negative consequences for that failure.
Citizens recently voted to make the use and limited possession of marijuana legal under state law. Dopers can smoke weed inside their private homes. While I consider dope smoking a form of child abuse, “weedsters” will probably be too high to think that issue through.
Citizens did not vote on allowing weed shops inside Lakewood although the pro marijuana supporters would like to make us think the “will of the people” mandates that we allow dope shops. Marijuana dispensaries will only act as a magnet for kids, dopers, criminals, and the homeless all of which are guaranteed to produce negative consequences.
Let’s not fail twice. Let’s say NO to marijuana dispensaries.
A “1910 issue of a local newspaper”? Really? It must have been a really forward thinking periodical if it could have foreseen the invention of area codes and ZIP codes, and correctly guessed what ours would be.
It appears you are getting a jump on Sunday, April 1.
Weedsters, dopers, and dope shops.
Oh my!
Tom, I hadn’t heard of this “Black Bear Gazette,” either. Like you, I quickly noticed the contradictory dates, the zip code and the area code. Obviously, something was amiss. I consulted Google, and discovered that this old-timey newspaper is actually the first page of a menu for a national restaurant chain, Black Bear Diners. The “Gazette” front page is localized, with an actual historical news item from each diner’s location. I’ve not tried the Black Bear Diner yet, but it seems to be getting pretty good reviews. The Lakewood diner is on the east side of South Tacoma Way, just north of the 512 interchange.
Interesting Joe. I’m with you on a resounding NO to dope. Matter of fact, all my friends in Lakewood are saying the same thing. Trouble is, we are all older than 50. Been there, done that. We all can tell a few stories about the pot drug scene and some were not so good.
I knew something was amiss when 2 paragraphs earlier the publication stated “All streets are in perfect condition for automobiling”.
???
Apparently, smiley-faces are not permitted here, so I’ll have to use my words. Those three question marks are stand-ins for my amusement, Tom Shaw.