DEA cracks down on pot shops near schools

SEATTLE -- Medical marijuana stores continue to pop up in the greater Seattle area, but in late April the DEA sent a letter to 11 shops located too close to schools or playgrounds. Those letters informed owners they needed to move or they would be shut down.

potThere are reports that more letters could follow soon, much to the delight of some neighbors.

Anna Ioannides lives next to one shop. She voted against I-502. "Just like having a gun shop in the neighborhood; it would make me uneasy as well. Same idea.”

To others, it's not a big deal.  Tony Carhee and Kelley Scholz take great pride in their Ballard neighborhood. As supporters of I-502, they didn't worry the neighborhood might go to pot when three medicinal marijuana clinics set up shop nearby.

"Once they moved in, to be quite honest, I hadn’t even noticed they moved in,” Scholz said.  “It's pretty quiet; you don't even realize they're there.”

Dante Jones studied regulations and maps for 18 months before locating his business, Green Ambrosia. He understands the future of recreational marijuana is still hazy.

"Fifty-five percent was the final tally voted for it,” Jones said.  “Forty-five percent of the citizens of Washington didn't want it as well, so there's definitely going to be some growing pains as the majority talks with the minority to figure out what makes sense to everybody to come to a cohesive standard.”

Seattle’s top cop made sure he was heard loud and clear Saturday at a Cannibas Freedom March

"The voters statewide spoke very clearly that this is now legal,” interim Police Chief Jim Pugel said.  “So, the police are here to make sure it's all done legally.”

Seattle police will respect the new initiative and everyone else should, too, he said.

Pugel said, "Please respect your police officers and don't use it in front of them.”