Dear Kirkland City Council, I am for reducing the buffer zone for 502 businesses to 100 feet. Allowing safe, legal access to cannabis is important especially with the medical cannabis restrictions that are about to take place on July 1.

I am a mother. My son is 17. Like all moms, I do not want my son smoking anything or drinking alcohol. Cannabis use by teenagers has been on the decrease. A lot of marijuana laws have changed over the past five years, but rates of teen marijuana use have not.

https://www.mpp.org/news/press/ntl-survey-on-teen-marijuana-use-debunks-anti-legalization-theories/

Legalization helps educate children about cannabis. Many young people recognize that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and other drugs. But they also understand that it is not okay for them to use it. For decades, teens had an artificially high perception of risk that stemmed from exaggerations and scare tactics. Now that there is more information out there and it’s not limited to horror stories and propaganda, they are developing a more realistic view. The goal of marijuana education should not be to increase teens’ perception of risk. It should be to increase teens’ understanding of marijuana.

The evidence simply does not support the theory that reduced perceptions of risk result in more use among young people. It’s time to stop using teens as a shield to fend off sensible marijuana policy reform efforts.

We should be more worried about our children in Fred Meyer than having a cannabis store nearby. Fred Meyer sells tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceuticals, which addict and kill millions annually, but we have no problem allowing our kids to run around inside. Why are we so worried about a legal business, following reasonable regulations, which will contribute to our economy and help provide safe and secure access to medical patients who are about to lose the compassionate dispensary system that grew around medical cannabis.

We need access. Let me tell you about two of the many medical patients I know. One has a tumor in her brain that pushes on the nerves that keep her eye open. It’s inoperable due to location. Due to this one of her eyes is always pushed closed. She uses cannabis oil to help keep the tumors growth in check, to relieve the pain, and to have as normal of a life as she can. She’s stocking up on as much oil as she can afford as at the recreational stores prices are set to a much higher rate than the dispensaries. Retail has a 37 percent tax built into them, so while patients are not required to pay sales tax, they still pay this 37 percent embedded tax. She’s terrified how she will survive without the ability to continue to take her oil and may move to Colorado. Another, was born without legs and arms that are not formed correctly. He lives life in a wheel chair. He was on Facebook, humbling himself to not wanting anyone to do anything illegal – as now it’s all of the sudden illegal for medical patients to share things like homemade brownies and extra cannabis flower – but he really needed a medicated food item for pain relief.

These are just two stories. Over 200 medical dispensaries have been or are about to be shut down. The most vulnerable in society are the most effected.

Lowing the buffer zone to 100 feet will help assure that our cities most vulnerable continue to receive support.

I’m proud to call Kirkland my home. I’m proud that we are making our city accessible for cannabis users both recreational and medical. Thank you.

Sharon Whitson, Kirkland