FW Has Already Spoken On This Issue

I oppose the Council's vote to ban marijuana stores, which included Lydia Assefa-Dawson's vote to ban these stores.  I oppose the ban on stores, because Federal Way had a clear, decisive majority of the people that voted to legalize marijuana in Washington.  The vote for legalization in F.W. may not have been overwhelming, but neither was it close, so how can council members vote against the wishes of their own constituents?  If I'm elected to the Council, I will be representing F.W., not my own personal viewpoints necessarily.  I don't use marijuana at all, hardly ever have, and I very rarely drink alcohol, but that doesn't give me the hypothetical (since I voted for the law) right to be a prohibitionist if I was representing the city, as a clear majority says otherwise.  I voted for the law, because I believe it will ultimately reduce the crime problem involved with the overall drug issue, and the more states that participate, the lessening of crime that comes with it, similar to how organized crime was lessened as a result of throwing out prohibition of alcohol in the 1930s.  Marijuana stores should be regulated, including zoning, but votes have consequences, and the people of Federal Way chose legalization.  I hope Mayor Ferrell vetoes the ban on stores.

-- Mark Greene, candidate for Federal Way City Council (Position 1)

[Revised on 4/11/15.]