We Must Take Action

Groundworks Industries, an aggressively expanding corporation whose tag line is “Pushing Limits,” wants to open an “Electric Lettuce” pot dispensary two doors from a preschool.^*

How is that possible?

Because Portland prohibits pot dispensaries from operating within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school, but DOES NOT have a distance requirement from preschools.

This couldn’t happen in Washington state, which requires a 1,000 foot buffer from preschools/child care centers, or in Gresham, Oregon City, Tigard, and other Oregon cities that better protect children from excessive marijuana marketing.

This isn’t about legalization. It’s about Portland updating its rules right away to shield children from marijuana marketing that’s proven to increase teenage use.

Contact City Officials

*Because this preschool provides full-day kindergarten, the City has illegally permitted this Electric Lettuce location in violation of ORS475B.109, which requires a 1,000 foot buffer from private schools. But the larger issue is this: pot dispensaries should not be near any child care center or preschool, whether it offers kindergarten or not. Please contact City officials today to make your voice heard on this important issue.

To stop Groundworks Industries and other pot companies that put profit above all else, we need to tell City elected officials about the pressing need to update their marijuana retail licensing rules right away to better protect our children and public health. If we do, I believe they’ll step up and do what’s right.

Jonah E., Sellwood Resident, Parent

Groundworks Industries’ effort to open an Electric Lettuce dispensary next to a preschool is an example of how some marijuana companies will push the limits of the law to make as much money as they can — no matter the cost to children and the health of our communities. It’s up to citizens and elected officials to set the right boundaries.

Nancy B., Sellwood Resident, Parent

The Marijuana Industry in Oregon isn’t struggling due to lack of supply or accessibility. No one is having a hard time finding pot in Portland. Why are we compromising children to open yet another dispensary?

Pamela W., Portland Resident

Portland has regulations to prevent dispensaries near schools. The problem is that the City code doesn’t currently include preschools in that regulation. The City Council needs to close that loophole so all our kids are protected, not just some.

Hollis W., Sellwood Resident, Parent

With Electric Lettuce, you’re looking at the modern day Joe Camel. It’s still the Wild West of pot legalization here, so it’s not as easy to recognize yet. We know how badly that turned out for our kids with the cigarette industry. Let’s set marijuana legalization on a better path.

Charese R., Portland Resident, Parent

Pot is legal for adults but not for kids, and there are reasons for that. I know a lot of great parents who, despite their best efforts, are struggling with kids who are abusing pot. It’s just wrong to let the Marijuana Industry undermine the health of our children and communities by advertising to kids.

Michelle F., Portland Resident, Parent

It’s dumb to put a pot shop next to a daycare and toy store where kids are. That is just asking for problems. This is stupid.

C.C., Portland Resident, 11 years old

Share Your Thoughts

TELL CITY OFFICIALS: THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE

Groundworks Industries is seeking a City license to open a pot dispensary with a deceptive, healthy sounding name ("Electric Lettuce") and colorful, playful signage right next to a preschool and near a public library.

Portland’s dispensary location requirements were written with public safety and public nuisance in mind, not public health and child well-being.

There’s now strong evidence that excessively exposing children to marijuana marketing increases teenage use and that teenage use can have negative short and long-term effects.

Please ask our City leaders, all of whom care about our children, to update the City’s marijuana dispensary location requirements to better protect children and public health.

Contact City Officials