Should Federal Way allow marijuana retail? | Federal Way Forum

Published 3:21 pm Friday, September 25, 2015

Editor’s Note: The Federal Way Forum is a feature presenting different views on a particular issue. Please fill out the community survey here following the point and counterpoint views regarding the city’s traffic cameras. All surveys will be relayed to city of Federal Way leaders for their consideration as they weigh in on the issue.

Vote yes: City should allow marijuana retail to reap tax dollars

In 2012, King County voters passed Initiative 502 with 63.5 percent approval, legalizing recreational marijuana.

Going against the voters, the Federal Way City Council has repeatedly temporarily banned marijuana businesses within city limits. After much hemming and hawing, the council has asked for an advisory vote.

On this November’s ballot, the citizens of Federal Way will be given the opportunity to tell the council once and for all that we approve recreational marijuana and that the moratorium on marijuana businesses should be lifted.

When I-502 was passed in 2012, it did not give any incentive for local jurisdictions to allow marijuana businesses, in other words, there was nothing in it for them. So why take the chance on a new industry when there were so many unknowns?

Many cities, including Federal Way, temporarily banned the businesses. But this summer, Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2136, a new marijuana law that changed the way marijuana is taxed and where the tax dollars go.

The law was designed to encourage more counties and cities to allow marijuana businesses. Instead of all the tax dollars going into a state general fund, some of the revenue will go directly to the local jurisdictions that allow marijuana businesses. The allocation will be based on the marijuana tax revenue generated by the jurisdiction and by the population in the jurisdiction.

Through August 2015, the total excise tax collected on recreational marijuana in Washington was approximately $90 million. King County makes up $21 million of that total. The law provides that tax revenue be distributed only to local jurisdictions that allow marijuana business. If Federal Way continues to ban marijuana businesses, the city will get none.

While I-502 is strict about where marijuana businesses can be located, the new law gives a little extra control to the local governments. It provides that jurisdictions can prohibit the marijuana businesses in areas that are zoned primarily for residential use. The Liquor and Cannabis Board has set extremely strict rules relating to the sale of marijuana. Rules relate to security, store locations, advertising, packaging, etc. and are designed to keep communities safe and marijuana out of the hands of minors.

By banning marijuana business, the city of Federal Way is only pushing the sales and tax revenue to nearby cities, or worse, to the black market. Local bans do nothing but undermine the end-goal of I-502, which is to regulate and treat marijuana responsibly where prohibition tactics have clearly failed.

By regulating the marijuana market and reducing (ideally one day eliminating) the black market, we are reducing crime and making the city a safer place.

The argument that legal marijuana businesses will increase crime and law enforcement costs is completely backwards and is based on fear and not facts.

It is time now, to lift the moratorium and join the regulated market. Since last summer, when retail marijuana stores opened in other cities across Washington, we’ve been able to wait and see how this new industry has affected these cities. With the tax revenue generated by marijuana businesses, Federal Way will be able to grow and prosper with fewer burdens on the city’s taxpayers.

By voting “yes” on Advisory Proposition No. 1, you’ll be telling the City Council that Federal Way should allow marijuana businesses and should benefit from its fair share of the tax dollars.

Elise Crick is on the pro committee, who wrote the statement in favor of the advisory vote in the King County voter’s pamphlet

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Take the high road: Vote no to marijuana retail in Federal Way

The Federal Way City Council will soon decide whether or not to allow retail marijuana shops, grow operations and processing plants within our community and has placed an advisory vote on the November ballot.

Federal Way has worked hard to foster an environment that is family friendly, attracts quality businesses and enhances the quality of life. The licensing of marijuana establishments is not consistent with these goals. Even though the sale is illegal to minors, pot shops send the message that drugs are the new norm. Following the pattern set by the tobacco industry, teens will now be bombarded with promotional messages from another industry seeking lifelong customers.

Corner pot shops here in Federal Way will make pot even more readily available to teens. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that use of marijuana interferes with memory, concentration, learning and brain development, lowering the odds of completing high school. The school district’s graduation rate is already critically low. We should be taking measures to improve it, not aggravate it.

Retail shops will harm neighboring businesses and increase law enforcement costs by creating an environment conducive to petty crime, as police officers attest from past experience with medical marijuana shops. Since the sale of marijuana is a federal offense, banks cannot touch the industries transactions. This makes it an all-cash business, opening the door to more serious criminal elements as well.

Those of us who oppose the licensing of the marijuana industry in Federal Way have a broad spectrum of views regarding the use of marijuana, ranging from those who oppose its use at any time, to those who actually voted for Initiative 502, which legalized the use of marijuana. What we are united on is that pot shops do not belong in Federal Way.

Those who support the licensing of the marijuana industry within the city argue that since the majority of votes cast in Federal Way favored the passage of I-502, that those voters also support bringing the industry to our city. Only a slim margin, 53 percent in Federal Way, voted for I-502 and there is a big difference between supporting the decriminalization of marijuana and wanting pot shops in our town. We are helping people recognize the difference. A “NO” vote does not in any way restrict adults from the private use of marijuana.

They also argue that Federal Way is losing out on too many tax dollars, but only a small percentage of tax revenue will return to the city. It may not even be enough to offset the increase in law enforcement costs. Under current law, 100 percent of the excise tax levied on pot sales goes to the state.

Only .85 percent of sales tax will come back to Federal Way! It costs $80,000 to pay the salary and benefits of an entry level police officer. That means it will take nearly $1 million in marijuana sales to pay for just one new officer. There is no guarantee that any of the excise tax will ever be returned to the city. Regardless, our quality of life, and especially the well-being of our youth, should not be for sale at any price!

Sixty-four other Washington cities have already taken the high road and recognized that the social costs greatly outweigh any potential tax revenue. We must help the Federal Way City Council come to the same conclusion.

Federal Way is a great place to raise a family, establish a business and enjoy a quality life. It is not the place for pot shops. The well-being of our youth and image of our community demand that we send a strong message to the City Council. Federal Way is NOT the place for pot shops! Vote “NO” to retail marijuana!

Jack Walsh is on the con committee, who wrote the statement against the advisory vote in the King County voter’s pamphlet.

Take the Mirror’s survey

To weigh in on whether the council should allow marijuana-related businesses in Federal Way, take the Mirror’s survey here.