On April 20, a group of protesters, led by rapper Draze and several African American community groups, converged on Uncle Ike’s recreational cannabis store for a “Unity on Union” rally. Their complaints were nothing new—part of an ongoing, racially charged debate about the neighborhood and its zoning rules. The crux of it is the pot shop’s proximity to Mount Calvary Christian Center, as well as its location on a corner with a troubled history when it comes to drugs. As Pastor Reggie Witherspoon of Mount Calvary said in a speech, “I’m not arguing against marijuana; I’m arguing against its location.”
Neither side seems willing to budge. This fight has been going on ever since Uncle Ike’s opened…