Submitted by Satori, written by Danielle Rosellison
Every Bellinghamster knows this mantra (thank you Sustainable Connections). We value local food. We value local businesses. We understand the direct connection between buying local and enhancing our community, our neighbors, our schools. We are familiar with studies reflecting the increase in local jobs and local spending from each dollar you spend at a local business, compared to a big box store.
So how do we get people to translate this information, that we take for granted, to cannabis?
I realize that it may seem like a bit of an overkill when every time you turn around another cannabis retail establishment opens in Whatcom County. I mean … there are 24 cannabis stores in Whatcom County who, combined, contribute almost 1 million dollars a month in state excise tax. Plus sales tax. And B&O tax.
That’s 24 legal access points for people to get medicine; medicine which the National Insitute of Drug Abuse now acknowledges may kill cancer cells and treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, AIDS, HIV, inflammation, pain, seizures, substance use disorders and mental illness. That’s 24 stores that needed to be built by local construction companies, electricians, plumbers, landscapers and painters. That’s 24 new businesses that need professional services like accountants and lawyers. And that doesn’t even count the 66 cannabis farms and processors in Whatcom County who need all that and operations managers, gardeners, harvesters, trimmers, packagers, processors, sales people, marketing staff and delivery drivers.
Did I mention that cannabis businesses in Whatcom County pay, on average, 39 percent more than minimum wage? Those are new jobs, helping to increase our local economic development.
Supporting local businesses, means supporting our neighbors. Since we, Whatcom County families, care so much about “buy local, be local,” let’s make sure that our cannabis purchasing decisions reflect our values. Are you buying cannabis at your local licensed retail store? Are you purchasing cannabis grown in Whatcom County? Please ask your budtender what products they have that were grown in Whatcom County and support our local community!
Danielle Rosellison is an owner/operating manager of Trail Blazin’ Productions, a cannabis farm in Bellingham. She is also the President of The Cannabis Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of a vital, ethical and sustainable cannabis industry.
