Worried about future pot stores in the East Bay. (Vallejo: sales, neighborhood)

[BreatheJoy]

We have been thinking about coming back to the Bay from Texas for quite a while. We lived in Walnut Creek and that's where we would come back... however, the new laws concerning the sales of recreational-use marijuana concern my husband and me quite a bit. We saw a rapid proliferation of pot stores in CO and OR (even in places we never imagined) followed by a large homeless population moving into these areas. I worry soon even towns like Walnut Creek/Lafayette will open the door to those stores and I am not honestly comfortable raising my kids in an environment that normalizes drugs use and addiction. (My dad died too young because of drugs so I keep myself and my family away from that stuff).

Am I overthinking? How will the landscape change over the next few years?

(Please let's not argue about our different beliefs here. I am not questioning if it's right or wrong... but I am wondering how the East Bay will respond to the new laws while I decide if moving back makes sense).

[BurnInTheMil]

I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Walnut Creek, And areas around it did NOT open any pot stores. It’s an uppity area, and a lot of times they don’t follow the trends.

Places like Richmond, Berkeley, Vallejo, etc...are the places where they will be (and already are).

[clongirl]

Relax. You are overthinking A LOT.

Right now, and most likely in the future cannabis shops will most likely only remain in the cities that already have them. Even if a shop opens up it won't affect you or your child since one must be at least 21 years of age and it won't be anywhere near a school or playground.

In addition, NOBODY has ever died from a cannabis overdose, is not particularly addictive (like cigarettes/ opiates/alcohol) which I'd be more concerned about since those are all so incredibly dangerous, have tons of advertising for and can be purchased all over the place where children are allowed.

This website will show you what the laws are/what's available in every city in California. Walnut Creek/Lafayette do not have a shop and will probably never get one. I'm also not sure why you believe homelessness has anything to do with cannabis dispensaries.

jhttp://www.greenstate.com/explained/what-is-my-local-marijuana-law-in-california/

[ketch89]

And why would pot stores be any more undesirable than liquor stores...?

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by ketch89

And why would pot stores be any more undesirable than liquor stores...?

1) there arent many places where pot is legal so it will attract undesirables from other parts of the country
2) yes liquor is bad and so is smoking, so you’re just adding another bad thing, it’d be like saying why not add fried transfat butter depositories since we have pot and liquor already

With that being said, I support legalization, but I admit I wouldnt want it in my backyard or neighborhood.

[BreatheJoy]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

1) there arent many places where pot is legal so it will attract undesirables from other parts of the country
2) yes liquor is bad and so is smoking, so you’re just adding another bad thing, it’d be like saying why not add fried transfat butter depositories since we have pot and liquor already

With that being said, I support legalization, but I admit I wouldnt want it in my backyard or neighborhood.

That's how I feel I'd rather add more good alternatives for youth then draw them into harmful vices.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by BreatheJoy

That's how I feel I'd rather add more good alternatives for youth then draw them into harmful vices.

It is pretty funny though in areas so obsessed about health that they are those ones advocating for another bad addiction.

[BreatheJoy]

Originally Posted by clongirl

This website will show you what the laws are/what's available in every city in California. Walnut Creek/Lafayette do not have a shop and will probably never get one. I'm also not sure why you believe homelessness has anything to do with cannabis dispensaries.

jhttp://www.greenstate.com/explained/what-is-my-local-marijuana-law-in-california/

Thank you. This is helpful!!

On the homeless comment, between 2000-2005 I volunteered in Europe with organizations who help people who are homeless and one thing I have always noticed is that a huge number of them are drug addicts and fairly young. If you go in the CO forum, you'll see that places like Denver is attracting a large homeless population who is there because it's so easy for them to get weed there. CO is cold and it makes sense to me that many will migrate west (but maybe not up north) where the winters are milder.