Resident urges Lewis County commissioners to allow cannabis stores, citing safety and fairness

Bob Russell, a resident of the county, used his public-comment time on March 10 to urge commissioners to allow a structured rollout of cannabis retail within Lewis County.

Russell said three reasons support allowing local cannabis stores: "safety and convenience" for residents in east and west parts of the county; "equity and fairness," noting that the state law has passed and local residents should benefit locally; and potential revenue gains that could help the county. "For those three reasons...I strongly support allowing a structured introduction of cannabis shops into the Lewis County," he said.

Russell also thanked commissioners, county staff and local coverage by the Chronicle for a measured rollout process. The meeting record does not show any immediate response from commissioners during public comment, and no formal action on cannabis policy was taken at the March 10 session.

The public comment guidelines presented earlier in the meeting stated comments are limited to three minutes and are primarily one-way communications to the commission.