Academy of Local Politics

Every city should be known for "something". No matter how large or small. It is called marketing. The purpose is to capture outside money which is then churned again and again and again through the local economy. 

Some cities struggle for years to find their marketing niche and never do. They never come up with a logo or slogan that works for them.

Then there is Weed, California.

Weed (Population 3000) is named after the city's founder Abner Weed. Located on Highway 5 in northern California. According to this AP news report...California tourism officials have identified Weed as the single most recognized name along I-5.

That is quite a feat! The most recognized name along Highway 5!

For decades, Weed's name has become synonymous with pot-smoker humor, and locals will tell you it's a common sight to see red-eyed, tie-dye clad college students posing in front of the town's Weed highway signs, flashing thumbs ups for the camera...

Gas stations sell “High on Weed, CA” shirts and hats to tourists passing through town...

Mayor Chuck Sutton said the city's chamber of commerce has used another play on words, “Weed like to welcome you,” to promote the town.

But, Weed has a problem. More specifically, a small local beer brewery has a problem.

Weed brewer Vaune Dillmann faces possible sanctions or fines from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau if he continues to brew and sell beer with bottle caps printed with the label “Try Legal Weed.”

Huh? Puns are now illegal? it seems so.

The labels on his beers have a picture of the Weed arch and the city's founding father, Abner Weed, on the label. Dillmann's bottle caps also say a “A Friend in Weed is a Friend Indeed."

But...

Bureau spokesman Art Resnick said Monday that the bottle caps tell consumers to support an illegal drug -- a policy that violates rules of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Mr. Dillmann's response ...

The owner of the Mount Shasta Brewing Co. said he's also outraged that his beer is being singled out for using a possible pot play on words when Anheuser-Busch has used “Bud” -- another name for marijuana -- to promote its Budweiser line of beers.

“What's the difference here?” Dillmann said. “They sell Bud -- we sell Weed.”

Touche!

Siskiyou County Supervisor Michael Kobseff is coming to the defense of the brewery and city. In a letter to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau's administrator, Kobseff writes...

“Surely, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is not in the business of suppressing the ingenuity of a small business owner, (and) the community of Weed ...,”

Mr. McCain... Mr. Obama... Mrs. Clinton.

What is your position on puns?