By MERI-MICHAEL COLLINS and DIANE KJELLBERG
For The Beachcomber

Washington state is under close scrutiny. Vashon may make the news — seriously. The nation is watching us and carefully following our choice to legalize marijuana and see what the outcomes of this choice will be at the state and local levels.

The Vashon Alliance to Reduce Substance Abuse (VARSA) coalition wonders, are we, here on Vashon, watching this as closely as the rest of the nation? Do we realize the implications of the choices that we make? Are we prepared to go to the local hearing on this topic? Do we know what questions to ask?

As VARSA coalition members, we have attended national trainings, state symposiums and county workshops that have helped us progress from feeling overwhelmed to understanding the questions that need to be asked. We have asked ourselves, our coalition members, friends and children if we should be alarmed or what we need to do.

As a coalition, we have heard the reality that as a state and individuals, we voted to legalize marijuana. However, we did not think about the myriad of consequences in our lives on Vashon. Collectively, we viewed it as a political right, with some of us in favor and some of us opposed. We did not process the magnitude of questions, choices and policies that need to be made as a result of this law being passed. It was and is overwhelming. As we have learned, connection with others, education and asking questions are helping us understand what is at stake.

For a week, at a national conference on the reduction of substance use, the two of us, as VARSA co-chairs, sat with concerned individuals from almost every state and heard their alarm about the fact that Washington state is not prepared with specifics to address the myriad of implications from legalizing marijuana. After the conference, we are more educated. Our coalition and community members have been to other symposiums and classes educating us on this topic. As a result, we are not as overwhelmed, but we are increasingly alarmed.

We have accepted that fact that our state and community are not prepared to deal with specifics of possession, growing and selling legalized marijuana. We have learned that this is a work in progress and that choices are being made by a few entities with implications that will impact our community, state and nation. We have learned that we need to take action. On Vashon, we need to act collectively and think things through. We need to start asking questions and need to attend the upcoming hearing on Aug. 13.

At the meeting, VARSA coalition members will ask the following questions:

What is the financial benefit to our local community to either grow or sell products in the marijuana market? How will Vashon see revenue from sales?

Where are the guidelines, toolkit and resources for retail sales? The state’s window of applicants has been defined, as well as some guidelines for applicants; however, there are many unanswered questions. How will Vashon market marijuana use and products without increasing substance abuse and youth use?

While the state may provide more enforcement officers for possible grow sites, what are the supports and/or funding that we will receive for local policing? Over the past few years, local officers, this community and VARSA have worked hard to reduce youth access to alcohol. Even with this work, we have felt that our resources are too limited. The presence of either grow or retail businesses with marijuana will only further burden our policing resources.

How do unincorporated and rural communities develop policies? Rural communities are ripe for growing, but how do we create and enforce policy changes when we are not incorporated? Who will guide us and help us implement with this process?

On Tuesday, we look forward to seeing a room full of community members who are willing to move from being uninformed or overwhelmed to becoming more aware of the choices that we have to make about marijuana grow farms or retail sales on Vashon.

VARSA is very concerned about increased access to substances for our youth. However, this topic affects the health of our whole island. We need to make choices about business growth, revenue, policies and community resources, such as policing. Our Healthy Youth Survey shows that we have lowered youth use of marijuana and the perception of risk associated marijuana. We don’t want to undo this hard work. We also want to do what is best for the health of our entire community. Rather than being overwhelmed or apathetic, we need to show each other, our youth and all of those watching us that we will take positive steps and ask questions.

If you are not able to attend the meeting on Tuesday (see story, page 1), please share your thoughts with VARSA by calling 567-2647 or emailing administrator@vashonnetworks.org. We will compile and share this information with The Beachcomber and community. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening with your own set of questions or willingness to listen.

— Meri-Michael Collins and Diane Kjellberg are VARSA co-chairs.