City denies business license appeal from medical marijuana collective
June 28, 2011
GreenLink Collective, a medical marijuana collective along a tree-lined street in a downtown neighborhood, is more similar to a drugstore or pharmacy than a social services organization, a city development official decided last week.
In a decision issued June 20, Hearing Examiner Ted Hunter denied GreenLink’s appeal. (The hearing examiner is a municipal official responsible for certain development-related decisions.)
GreenLink operators appealed in March after the city denied a business license application for the medical marijuana collective. GreenLink operators said the facility qualified as a nonprofit social-services organization — a use allowed in residential areas.
The planner assigned to process the license “noted that although some classes are offered that may be similar to the operations of a nonprofit, the primary purpose of the business as described on its website is that of retail sales,” the decision states.
Marijuana debate could be sending mixed signals to teens
May 17, 2011
As the debate about medical marijuana progresses, it could be sending mixed messages to youths, shaping their thoughts about the still-illegal substance.
Attitudes among local students are changing about the use of marijuana. Contributed
“Across the board, our counselors are reporting a change in attitude toward marijuana,” Youth Eastside Services Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan said. “Teens are seeing pot as less dangerous because of its potential medicinal properties.”
YES counselors are working to educate youths about marijuana, including information showing it is addictive, is often a gateway drug, and can lead to lower school performance and illness.
Nationally, the number of middle and high school students experimenting with the drug is at its highest since the 1980s, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In the Issaquah School District, data only goes back to 2004, when the district began administering the state’s Healthy Youth Survey.
In 2004, more students, on average, reported “that adults in their neighborhoods think youth marijuana use is ‘very wrong,’” compared to reports from 2010.
In 2004, 70 percent of sophomores and 58 percent of seniors said they thought their neighbors looked down on youths using marijuana.
Issaquah marijuana collective fights for license
April 19, 2011
Lydia George holds buds of medical marijuana from two of the several jars at the GreenLink Collective. Physicians can recommend but not prescribe the drug. By Greg Farrar
The reception area at GreenLink Collective, a medical marijuana collective nestled on a leafy street in downtown Issaquah, resembles a doctor’s office.
The decision to incorporate soothing colors and a bubbling aquarium in the lobby is no coincidence.
Press Editorial
April 12, 2011
Look, there’s hope in Olympia!
In an otherwise dismal legislative session where the gloom of drastic budget cuts rules the order of the day, there is an unexpected bright spot.
His name is Glenn Anderson, the 5th Legislative District representative from Fall City.
We’ve always known Anderson to be colorful, but this year he seems more inspired to make waves even if it’s just for the sake of discussion. He has been doing less finger pointing and sometimes more inclined to follow his heart than his political party.
Take, for example, Anderson’s proposal to increase business-and-occupation taxes on high-revenue corporations.
What, a Republican wanting to raise taxes ever — let alone in the year when all the talk is about sparking businesses by lowering the B&O tax? Anderson is following his passion and commitment to higher education. The temporary increase would have bumped the financial support for colleges and universities.
That proposed amendment to the state budget went nowhere, but he has introduced House Bill 2032 that would eliminate the onerous B&O tax, opting instead for a flat-rate corporate income tax. If approved as part of a proposed constitutional amendment, the voters would get their say in November.
More in line with his conservative roots, Anderson wants a 7 percent cap on state sales tax, and the total state and local government sales tax to be capped at 10 percent. The sales tax in Issaquah is 9.5 percent. We hope other legislators are listening.
