Luke Burbank: Nearby cannabis shop just as offensive as a Rite Aid

Luke Burbank says he’s no more offended by a cannabis shop than a Rite Aid. (AP Photo)

The feds are threatening medical-cannabis dispensaries located within 1,000 feet of a school or playground with criminal prosecution or forfeiture of properties if they don’t comply with a request to cease sales in the next 30 days.

“We all work hard to create a safe zone for kids in school,” Seattle U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said in a statement announcing the letters being sent to offending dispensaries. “We need to enforce one message for our students: Drugs have no place in or near our schools.”

But aren’t there already purveyors of drugs located near our schools?

“Drug stores also dispense drugs,” says Ross and Burbank host Dave Ross.

Luke Burbank has two pot dispensaries located near his home in Mount Baker, and he says they’ve been no more difficult to tolerate than a Rite Aid.

“I have no problem with these places being in my neighborhood,” says Luke. “I don’t have any more of a problem with that than having a Rite Aid in my neighborhood.”

Ross says the apparently threatening dispensaries have gone completely under his radar.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen one,” he says.

He was amazed to read in The Seattle Times that there are already 140 marijuana dispensaries operating in the city of Seattle.

At a time when the government is trying to bolster the economy, Dave notes pot seems to be a product in high demand.

“We’ve apparently had 140 of them [pot dispensaries] with very little problem, and still your tax money, my tax money is being paid to try to shut them down.”

Luke disagrees with the feds’ action. He says the two dispensaries in his neighborhood moved into rental spaces that had previously been vacant and their presence has been a non-event.

What would happen if medical marijuana was available at more conventional retailers, Dave wonders.

“Maybe the Rite Aid should have a little cannabis section in the back,” says Dave.

Luke says it will, one day.

“People of my generation are completely and totally unthreatened by marijuana,” says Luke. “I think once the people that are my age are in charge of more stuff, it’s going to be less and less of an issue.”

“I can’t wait for that,” Dave says.

Police: Three men robbed Rainier Valley pot dispensary

Listen to full conversation to hear Dave’s tone on that comment:

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor