A RESOLUTION OF THE PENINSULA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 401 SUPPORTING THE ENACTMENT OF MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY OF GIG HARBOR
WHEREAS, in 2012, the citizens of Washington voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and in doing so joined Colorado as the only other state in which recreational marijuana use is legal; and
WHEREAS, marijuana remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, meaning that under Federal law it is considered to have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB) has developed regulations for the licensing of marijuana producers, processors, and retailers; and
WHEREAS, the LCB regulations prohibit marijuana businesses from locating within 1,000 feet of sensitive uses like parks, transit facilities, and schools; and
WHEREAS, in September 2013, the Gig Harbor City Council passed an ordinance enacting a new chapter 17.63 to the Gig Harbor Municipal Code, which confined marijuana businesses to certain zones of the city; and
WHEREAS, under the Municipal Code and the LCB regulations, a school is defined to include only educational facilities recognized by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI); and
WHEREAS, the Peninsula School District operates non-traditional school facilities and programs that serve secondary students, including the Community Transition Program (CTP) and Internet Academy (PIA), which are not recognized as traditional schools by OSPI but nevertheless have students in attendance on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, the CTP and PIA are located within the General Business (B-2) zone within the City of Gig Harbor, which allows marijuana businesses without any restrictions other than compliance with state law; and
WHEREAS, the State Attorney General issued a written opinion in January 2014, stating that local communities may choose whether to allow state-licensed marijuana uses within their boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Court of Appeals has recently determined that marijuana collective gardens are illegal under state law; and
WHEREAS, in response to these new developments in the law, on April 14, 2014, the Gig Harbor City Council enacted a six-month emergency moratorium on the licensing of marijuana businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors believes it is unacceptable for a marijuana business to locate in proximity to any educational facility that serves students, even if that facility is not formally defined as a school; and
WHEREAS, marijuana use by students causes extreme harm by damaging developing brains, creating opportunities for abuse and addiction, lowering school attendance and performance, and contributing to high-risk behavior; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2012 Healthy Youth Survey, teen marijuana use within the District community is already higher than the state average and perceived risk of using marijuana is lower than the state average; and
WHEREAS, marijuana legalization, even where use is restricted to individuals over the age of 21, sends the wrong message to students: that use of marijuana is a harmless and even worthwhile pursuit; and
WHEREAS, legal retail sales can be expected to increase the availability of marijuana and use by students; and
WHEREAS, while the legalization of marijuana remains the law of this state, the Board of Directors urges the City of Gig Harbor to enact greater restrictions on the siting of marijuana collective gardens and businesses.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the Peninsula School District No. 401 does hereby resolve that to protect the health, safety, welfare of students, the availability of and access to marijuana should be severely restricted within the community. The Board urges the City of Gig Harbor to enact additional restrictive regulations on marijuana businesses, up to and including a complete ban on collective gardens and new marijuana businesses within the City.
The Board further resolves that the District will increase efforts to educate students and parents about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs, including marijuana.
ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of Peninsula School District No. 401, Pierce County, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this 22 nd day of May, 2014.
PENINSULA SCHOOL DISTRICT 401 PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
_______________________________________ President and Director
_______________________________________ Director
_______________________________________ Director
_______________________________________ Director
_______________________________________ Director
ATTEST:
________________________________ Secretary, Board of Directors