In a public hearing on May 13, the Bethel Planning Commission will consider a conditional use permit for what would be Bethel’s third recreational marijuana store.
Kalla Peacock has come to the city with his proposal to open a marijuana store before, most recently in January, and has since revised his proposal. Bethel is his latest business venture. Peacock owns one retail marijuana store in Kotzebue, and has partnered on a second store in Utqiagvik.
Bethel has two marijuana stores already, and the owners are against allowing a third store to open, saying that it will be bad for their businesses. The owners sent a joint letter to the Planning Commission arguing that just as alcohol stores are limited by population in Alaska, marijuana stores should be as well.
Bethel’s two current marijuana stores, ALASKABuds and Kusko Kush, are across the street from one another on 3rd Avenue. The proposed third store, Alaska Grown Cannabis, would operate in the same building as Q2 Quick Foods in Trailer Court, nearly 2 miles from the other stores.
Also up for public hearing in the meeting is a proposal that would apply an industrial zoning permit to around 18 acres of BNC-owned land. BNC plans to build a fuel tank farm on that land.
The May 13 Bethel Planning Commission meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to speak on these issues can sign up under "People to be heard." KYUK will not be broadcasting the meeting, but to attend you can click the Zoom link in the planning commission’s meeting packet available on the City of Bethel website.
