Yakima shuts down new pot shop
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- It looks like there are some people trying to get a head start when it comes to selling pot here in Yakima. Right now, the law is you can possess it. But, you can't sell it.
Still, one business in Yakima, Green Valley Wellness, planned a grand opening. According to its Facebook page, the plan was to start selling medical marijuana last week.
That is until Yakima put up red danger signs and shut them down.
"It was to be vacated immediately," said Yakima Code Enforcement Manager Joe Caruso. "And they advised us they would have their attorney contact our city attorney."
To get both sides of the story, I reached out to the owner.
"Right now, I really can't say anything because of my deal with my attorney," said Green Valley Wellness Owner, Carrie Chamberlin.
When we tried her attorney, we were told he's out of town. Still, the owners say they are not breaking any laws.
"I am within my legal rights," said Chamberlin.
The company took to Facebook asking Yakima to change its mind. But, Yakima tells us, without a business license and a new city ordinance the 'Danger' signs will stay put.
Yakima authorities tell us the owners and employees of Green Valley Wellness can go back to get their belongings. However, they will be arrested for trespassing if they start doing business.
The owners indicated on their Facebook page that they are still in business, just not on city property.
Still, one business in Yakima, Green Valley Wellness, planned a grand opening. According to its Facebook page, the plan was to start selling medical marijuana last week.
That is until Yakima put up red danger signs and shut them down.
"It was to be vacated immediately," said Yakima Code Enforcement Manager Joe Caruso. "And they advised us they would have their attorney contact our city attorney."
To get both sides of the story, I reached out to the owner.
"Right now, I really can't say anything because of my deal with my attorney," said Green Valley Wellness Owner, Carrie Chamberlin.
When we tried her attorney, we were told he's out of town. Still, the owners say they are not breaking any laws.
"I am within my legal rights," said Chamberlin.
The company took to Facebook asking Yakima to change its mind. But, Yakima tells us, without a business license and a new city ordinance the 'Danger' signs will stay put.
Yakima authorities tell us the owners and employees of Green Valley Wellness can go back to get their belongings. However, they will be arrested for trespassing if they start doing business.
The owners indicated on their Facebook page that they are still in business, just not on city property.
by the way you guys covered this story and her name is actually kerry. and you didnt provide the actual correct name of the business either. the news always finds some way to screw up actual facts to every story they post
Pot is easier to produce than say cigarettes or alcohol and is very difficult to regulate. It's like trying to tax flowers. Sure  you can brew your own beer or roll your own tobacco, point is on a larger scale a field of pot is easy to grow but will be very difficult to tax. There should be one state factory that produces pot in special packaging (like water marks and holograms with serial numbers and tax stamps). Any thing else for sale would be illegal. I agree the state needs to make money with this in order to support the law.
So sad.. what part of the state hasn't allowed SALES YET don't people understand yet??? Its only been 4 months, since the elections, that made it possible to smoke pot without risking getting caught..How many months/ years and failed attempts did it take to make it possible to privatize ( hard )alcohol sales in stores???.Now for the forgotten questions to be asked..Is this pot that was legally grown (:: laughs:: )four months AFTER the election... Were the growers as well as the disributors taxed? If not isn't the pot considered contraband??
It's to bad about these freaks like Chamberlin that must be so high they don't understand that the city can set their own laws and codes to control what type of bussineses are in are city. I would like to put a strip bar on Yakima ave, but I'm not high so I know their not going to allow it. Maybe the drug addicts will come down long enough for their attorney to explain it to them,, Probably not!
Which is funny because thcfinder.com lists at least 5 dispensaries operating in city limits. Apparently they are OK