The site of the closed Randall’s Route 66 Diner in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, likely will become a marijuana processing facility.
KTUL-TV in nearby Tulsa reported this development. At least one downtown business owner isn’t too pleased with it:
“I’ll be concerned with safety and people walking by,” said downtown Sapulpa business owner Pamela Manuel.
A business owner of nearly 20 years, Manuel is not concerned about the marijuana part but would rather see another restaurant or more retail in this spot.
“If we get businesses that’s not small-town retail, then we’re going to lose at some point,” said Manuel. “I would really like to see this as a restaurant because that what it was before.”
Sapulpa has no zoning restrictions that prevent a business such as what’s going into Randall’s. The city’s Planning Commission, however, will make a recommendation on it later this month, after which the city council will make the ultimate decision whether to approve it.
Manuel’s wish that the space to becomes a restaurant again might be wishful thinking at this point. In the last 15 years, it’s been home to four different restaurants, all of which failed or moved on to greener pastures.
This brings to mind a recent observation from an official in another northeastern Oklahoma town: Ever since Sooner State residents approved medical marijuana by a surprisingly wide margin in 2018, he’s seen marijuana-related businesses spring up along the downtown areas of Route 66 — including Sapulpa, apparently.
Another report this summer stated the number of people who’ve applied for a medical marijuana card was anticipated to hit 150,000 — far more than the initial estimate of 80,000.
These are head-turning developments in Oklahoma, a conservative state that notoriously kept draconian laws about alcohol on the books and didn’t even repeal Prohibition until 1959.
Along Route 66 states, recreational marijuana is legal in California and, most recently, Illinois. It’s legal for medical use in Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. It’s widely anticipated that New Mexico will legalize recreational pot by next summer.
Kansas and Texas have legalized cannabis oil but not marijuana itself. Only three states still criminalize marijuana and its derivatives.
As an Oklahoma resident for nearly a decade, I realized the so-called War on Drugs was doomed a few years ago. During my lifetime, I probably have attended at least 100 rock and country shows. By far the most pot-smoking I’d seen was at a Hank Williams Jr. show. The performer and his fan base never would be described as liberal.
(Before you ask, I didn’t imbibe. I never have smoked or consumed pot during my lifetime.)
(Image of a jar of medical marijuana in California by Dank Depot via Flickr)
“I would really like to see this as a restaurant because that’s what it was before.” One less eating place on Route 66, and he is worried? Perhaps it could sell chocolate brownies with that special ingredient that has gotten so many people high over the years. Only one per customer, though.
Not afraid of the marijuana part? Yeah, right. She’s scared of a plant. It isn’t going to hurt anyone walking by. Sheesh. The times they are a changin’. Get on board or get out of the way. Many more businesses on 66 should take note.
Marijuana – a natural plant that can be used for medical purposes. Willow trees – again natural, whose leaves contain some of the rudiments of acetylsalicylic acid. While chewing willow leaves may reduce the pain of a headache, I do not know of anyone getting high on it. Coca leaves – another natural plant – have an effect, when chewed, on the brain. Is marijuana that different?