Medical marijuana could be grown on property leased from Pocono Raceway
Could land owned by Pocono Raceway be home to a medical marijuana farm?
A hearing was held Wednesday night regarding the possibility of a farm near the track. Natural Care, the company who wants to build the farm, would lease the land from Pocono Raceway according to the details at the hearing. And while Pocono declined comment on the possible project to the Pocono Record, people who live by the track weren’t exactly thrilled at the hearing.
“I live on Cartwright Road,” Cathy Fanelli said. “I’m worried about the security of my property from the hundreds of employees and my home.”
There will be a 10 foot fence with barbed wire on top, Walsh said. “This will be more secure than your local CVS where someone can steal opioids and die,” Natural Care President Ashley Walsh said.
The plans include three 10,000 square foot greenhouses in phase one of the project, with future expansion options of an additional three 10,000 square foot greenhouses in phase two.
In 2010, Pocono built a solar farm to help power the track. If the medical marijuana project happens, it’d be another progressive move from the speedway. While some are understandably apprehensive about marijuana, moves by states like Colorado and Washington are proof that it can be successfully legal and regulated by the government.
Pot can provide a nice tax boost to governments when it’s legalized too. Just because a drug is illegal doesn’t mean people don’t use it. The Prohibition Era is a great example.
Neighbors at the hearing were also upset that the farm could also impact the noise levels in their neighborhoods and reduce property values. A decision could be made regarding the possible operation in the next two months.
And as the hearing was held regarding the proposed operation at Pocono this week, Carl Long made his return to the Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with a Colorado-based marijuana vaping company on the hood of his car.
Picture proof that Carl Long is sponsored by a weed vaping company this weekend.https://t.co/w3s63QhQ95 pic.twitter.com/2ceuCjnfME
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) May 12, 2017
Long is attempting a race for the first time since 2009 when he was fined $200,000 by NASCAR for having an illegal engine. He said he’s reached an “agreement” with NASCAR to return to the Cup garage — he couldn’t step foot in it until he paid his fine — and is using a car he purchased from the now-defunct HScott Motorsports.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
