Based on turnout Tuesday night at a Boones Mill public hearing on the merits of allowing legal sales of cannabis, it could be said the Franklin County town is totally chill about weed.
Hopes for public feedback about cannabis retail stores went up in smoke as the number of town citizens in attendance matched the number of news reporters — two — and one of those was the newly elected Boones Mill representative to the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
Opinions in the 275-person town aren’t necessarily nonexistent, but simply haven’t budded yet. As Cardinal News’ Dwayne Yancey reported on Monday, the earliest that retail cannabis can be a reality in Virginia is Nov. 1, and that’s assuming the General Assembly passes such legislation in this session and Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger signs it, as promised.
Town councilman Jason Masching sought the public hearing to glean Boones Mill residents’ concerns to then share with state legislators as the General Assembly convenes today. According to the Virginia Municipal League, Boones Mill appears to be the first locality in the state to hold such a public hearing.
What could be done with another leafy vegetation — kudzu — along with Crooked Road promotion, better speed limit signage and a proposed business license fee increase sparked as much discussion as cannabis.
According to town clerk Donna Hadley-Wires, there was one public comment phoned: “Silly not to do cannabis. We need to embrace it to move forward in this town instead of being recognized as the Trump town.”
Jason England, the only town resident at the public hearing, wondered whether customers would be able to consume cannabis inside the retail store, whether smell ordinances will be implemented, and what additional training will be required of police officers.
“I love progress but I’ve also seen what progress has caused in Portland, in other places where they think it’s great,” said England. “We have to be careful on what we do to make Boones Mill more than what it is. I don’t want to be a town with a Trump store and a cannabis store and that’s it.”
Councilman Sam Calhoun noted Franklin County’s history with bootleg alcohol: “Moonshiners wanted it to be dry so they could do it under the table.” Turning to England, he said, “We wish more people like you came to let us know their thoughts.”
