Marijuana Shop Creates Rift in Small Alaska Town скачать в хорошем качестве

Marijuana Shop Creates Rift in Small Alaska Town

(30 Aug 2017) IN THE SUMMER, THIS QUIRKY SMALL TOWN IN ALASKA GETS INUNDATED WITH TRAVELERS FROM CRUISE SHIPS. nats VISITORS STROLLING DOWN THE QUAINT MAIN STREET CAN FIND RESTAURANTS, ART GALLERIES AND GIFT SHOPS ALL NESTLED IN HISTORIC CABINS. TUCKED IN ONE OF THOSE CABINS IS A NEW BUSINESS THAT IS DIVIDING THIS TOURIST TOWN. SOUNDBITE, MIKE STOLTZ, bed and breakfast owner: "We're not catering to stoner tourists." SOUNDBITE, Joe McAneney, marjiuana store owner: "We've been open two months, and the sky hasn't fallen in Talkeetna." JOE MCANENEY IS THE CO-OWNER OF THE TOWN'S FIRST RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA STORE. IT TOOK HIM MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE ALASKA RESIDENTS VOTED TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN 2014 TO OPEN HIS BUSINESS. MCANENEY SAYS THE STORE FOLLOWS THE TOWN'S AESTHETICS, BLENDING IN WITH OTHER WOOD CABINS. HE NAMED THE STORE THE HIGH EXPEDITION CO. — A REFERENCE TO THE TOWN'S HISTORY AS A STAGING AREA FOR CLIMBING DENALI. SOUNDBITE Joe McAneney, "As you walk by, there's no pot leaves, there's no big flashing green crosses or anything, it's real subtle. We have sort of a speakeasy vibe going on here, which tends to fit the town." BUT THOSE EFFORTS AREN'T ENOUGH FOR OTHER TOURISM OPERATORS INCLUDING MIKE STOLTZ WHO OWNS A BED AND BREAKFAST. SOUNDBITE, Mike Stoltz, bed and breakfast owner: "My thinking is with the kids, and trying to protect the kids growing up here. That's my No. 1 point. No. 2 point is that we have no law. If somebody gets out of line, you know, like I mentioned earlier, the trooper is an hour away, what are we supposed to do?" STOLTZ SAYS THE POT STORE SHOULD HAVE OPENED OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN'S HISTORIC MAIN STRIP. HE ALSO SAYS THAT SMOKING MARIJUANA IN PUBLIC IS ILLEGAL AND TOURISTS AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE STATE LAW. ALASKA STATE TROOPERS SAY THEY'VE ISSUED NO CITATIONS FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THE STORE HAS BEEN OPEN. BUT THE RIFT ISN'T JUST AMONG BUSINESS OWNERS. CHRISTIE STOLTZ STANDS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF HER FATHER AND SUPPORTS THE MARIJUANA STORE. SOUNDBITE, Christie Stoltz, Mike' daughter: "I'd be really surprised if people all of a sudden would judge the whole town because there's a marijuana shop." SOUNDBITE, Christie Stoltz, Mike' daughter: "So, I think that, nobody likes change, so I think that's a big thing." ONE STORE CAUSING A BIG RIPPLE AS THE EXPANSION OF LEGAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY SPREADS TO THE COUNTRY'S NORTHERNMOST STATE… Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...