SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
May
30, 2013
Council President Sally Clark
and
Members of the Seattle City
Council
601 Fifth Avenue, Second floor
601 Fifth Avenue, Second floor
P. O. Box 34025
Seattle, Washington 98124-4025
Seattle, Washington 98124-4025
Dear President Clark and
Members of the Council:
At
its May 28th meeting, the Seattle Community Council Federation voted
unanimously to urge you to postpone your June 3rd vote on Council
Bill 117781. Federation members
studied and discussed the proposed ordinance keeping in mind the provisions of
Initiative 502 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. We believe it is premature to vote on
the CB 117781 because of the many issues in the initiative that have not been
addressed in the proposed ordinance, the apparent lack of coordination with the
Washington State Liquor Control Board and the inadequate public involvement in
the local process.
For
one thing, the proposed ordinance does not distinguish between the state law
governing medical marijuana and the provisions within I-502 governing the
recreational use of marijuana. CB
117781 addresses the siting, distribution, production, selling and delivery of
marijuana with no regard to the provisions of I-502 and the proposed state
rules governing licensing for producers, processors and retailers and tax
issues. It is clear from I-502
that home grown marijuana for recreation use and sale is illegal—that the drug
for recreational use must be purchased from a state-licensed retailer—but the proposed city ordinance does not
address this discrepancy.
The
proposed ordinance seems to allow the growing of less than 45 marijuana plants
in single family neighborhoods with no regard to proximity to schools,
playgrounds, community centers, parks, libraries—contrary to the provisions of
Initiative 502.
These
are just a few issues we have identified with Council Bill 117781. The Federation strongly urges you to
postpone a vote on this measure and to allow a broader public process and
coordination with the Liquor Control Board. Thank you for considering our comments.
Sincerely,
Jeannie
Hale, President
3425
West Laurelhurst Drive NE
Seattle,
Washington 98105
206-525-5135
/ fax 206-525-9631
cc: Washington State Liquor Control Board
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