VARSA urges the community to reject the Vashon subarea plan proposal to allow marijuana retail in areas zoned for Commercial Business for two important reasons:

Access:

We need to make it as hard as possible for kids to get marijuana. Increasing access means increasing supply, which leads to increased use. Information from SAMHSA shows tighter zoning restrictions on marijuana retail outlets, carried out at the community level, can have a sweeping impact in reducing youth access and is a successful environmental strategy to decrease youth substance use rates.

Tolerance:

SAMHSA research also indicates the more tolerant a community is regarding marijuana use, the less a child will perceive it as harmful, leading to higher youth use. Allowing marijuana retail in a highly visible/visited part of the island will influence our children’s perceptions of what is normal and tolerated. Once developed, these social norms are very difficult to change. We have a unique opportunity to send a message now, which we do not have with alcohol sales accessibility.

Vashon has a high rate of underage substance use, as evidenced by the statewide Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) and internal assessments in our schools. In 2008 marijuana use for Vashon 12th-graders was nearly twice the state average. Since then we’ve seen a steady decline in youth use as a result of the prevention work in our community. That trend could be reversed if this proposal is accepted.

Take pride in Vashon’s accomplishments and let the King County Planning Division/County Council know “Pothead Pirates” of “Weed Island” are not acceptable ways for our youth to be perceived.

VARSA is asking the community to consider the impact of selling marijuana near the town center and the health and wellbeing of our kids before making any financial, zoning, or planning decisions: Email Bradley.Clark@kingcounty.gov before Feb. 23.

— Lisa MacLeod and Chuck vanNorman