Former TV talk show host Montel Williams wants to open medical marijuana facilities in the District. Wednesday, he pleaded his case before a crowd of 150 residents in the basement of Israel Baptist Church in Northeast.
Williams has applied for two cultivation center licenses on nearby Queen's Chapel Road.
Neighbors told him they're worried about crime and the site's location directly across the street from a strip club.
Williams said his organization plans to refurbish the warehouse, and that will actually help the neighborhood.
"A building that was burned out could be a flagship facility that actually brings some revenue into Ward 5," Williams said.
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The former television host is also applying for a license to dispense medical marijuana at another site in the city. He became a vocal advocate for the drug after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Williams says it gives him relief from his pain.
News4's I-Team reported that across the District, 28 applications to open grow centers have been filed. You can see a map of the proposed sites for the marijuana factories here.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Follow NBC Washington to get the latest news, events and entertainment anytime, anywhere: on air, online, and on Facebook // Twitter.
