January 5, 2015 · Exit133

Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of January 6, 2015

It's the first full week of 2015, and for the first Tacoma City Council meeting of 2015 it looks like public comment on regulation of medical marijuana will be the main event.

Marijuana

A public hearing on enforcement strategy options for the City of Tacoma to deal with non-licensed marijuana operations will be held at this Tuesday's Council meeting.

Last fall the Council adopted an ordinance extending interim regulations on the State-licensed recreational marijuana industry in Tacoma, to allow for the drafting of permanent regulations. The Council also made it clear that they wanted to address the problem of unlicensed marijuana operations in Tacoma.

A set of permanent regulations are being proposed for legally operating state-licensed recreational marijuana stores, further restricting hours of operation, addressing concerns related to clustering of the businesses in certain neighborhoods, and establishing a review process to address local concerns alongside the State process.

Along with making those regulations permanent, the City also needs to address the numerous marijuana businesses operating in Tacoma without licenses. This includes all those medical marijuana collectives and "dispensaries" that have popped up - some operating more reputably than others.

As it stands now, stores operating legally under I-502 are selling recreational marijuana following the guidelines laid out by the State. Medical marijuana businesses are not operating within a legal framework, because the State has yet to establish one. In the absence of clear direction from the state, the City feels it needs to step in and provide some enforcement.

The City Council Committee of the Whole discussed the topic at its December 2 meeting, where staff presented four possible routes for moving forward on enforcement related to unlicensed retail: continue the status quo (relatively low enforcement), take a more proactive approach to the current strategy of curbing nuisance businesses, license and tax all marijuana operations, or shut down all unlicensed marijuana operations. The Council chose to move forward with option four, which would have the City identify, notify, and shut down all unlicensed marijuana operations.

... and now they're ready for input from the public.

Environmental Services Bonds

At this week's study session the Council will be briefed on utility bond sales for the Wastewater, Surface Water, and Solid Waste Utilities. The adopted budget projected the sales of bonds for these utilities to generate cash for capital projects, refinancing of savings, and compressed natural gas upgrades to fleet vehicles.

Two ordinances providing for the issuance of these bonds appear on this week's regular Council meeting agenda for a first reading. The sewer bond covering both wastewater and surface water utilities would not exceed $125 million ($50 million of new capital for wastewater, $20 million new capital for surface water, and the rest to go toward refund existing bonds for a savings). The solid wasted bond would be $25 million, with $22 million of that going to new capital.

Theater District

At this week's Council Committee of the Whole meeting, Councilmember Thoms will share a proposal for a formal designation and promotion of Tacoma's Theater District. The request asks that the City make the formal designation of the area between South 9th and South 11th, and between Market and Commerce Streets. The City would then be directed to apply the Theater District brand and label "at every opportunity to promote the identity and character of the area."

The promotion and marketing of the district falls in line with the North Downtown Subarea Plan, as adopted last year. In that plan the area is identified as a key public gathering place and hub of cultural and civic events.

Other Items

An ordinance on this week's consent agenda for a first and final reading would provide for the formation of a Local Improvement District for the removal of existing asphalt surface and placement of new asphalt, and modifying existing storm drain lines and storm water catch basins on Proctor Street from North 38th Street north to the dead end.

Councilmember Boe will be named to take over the position of Deputy Mayor as current Deputy Mayor Woodards' one year term expires.

Five individuals will be appointed to the Human Services Commission.

Three resolutions on the agenda this week would authorize negotiated agreements with three groups of represented City employees. An accompanying ordinance implementing those agreements is also scheduled for a first reading this week.

Filed under: City Council, Legislation, City Government

11 comments

Jesse January 5, 2015

I happen to work for a specialty pharmacy as a rep and I can tell you there is no such thing as a Doctor, with any legitimacy, running a medical marijuana practice. Marijuana is "Schedule I" which means it's able to be researched, Federally, for medical uses but no researcher has been able to show where it does anything worth a patent. Personally, I think it's ok for nausea or glaucoma (there are better legal grugs for these indications btw) but using it for pain is an absolute joke.
- Xeno January 6, 2015
  
  I'm sorry Jesse, I don't know how I'm supposed to take any faith in your credentials as a person who sells drugs to pharmacies or even as a Pharmasist to back the statement you just made. Additionally, I don't know how you can personally sanction applicable uses for marijuana and deligitimize those that currently do in the same paragraph since you have no credentials to make these claims either. Secondly, researchers patented marijuana for its use as a neuroprotectant. Or should I say the Federal Government has done so. But secondary to this there doesn't need to be a research or medical defined purpose to file for a patent. Economics typically lead that discussion. Penacilin has no patent despite its medical uses, as well as the Polio vaccine. In the case of marijuana the reason it isn't patented further isn't because it has no defined medical uses but because there is no way something so common could be profitable to bring to market legitimately through clincial trials when a grey and black market for it already exists. I would also bridge the argument that herbal medicine is RARELY patented and in fact the Chinese seem to be the only country really trying to do so (being a gross infringer of patents). In summary there are too many obsticles and little reward in seeking a patent for something that is illegal and easily available. Thus why the Feds got to the patent first.
  - Jesse January 7, 2015
    
    You're right that I used the wrong word when I said "patent." I meant "branded." A branded drug is also known as "on patent" in the industry. And no, there are thousands of patents for drugs that can't make it past phase I clinical trials. They are basically unproven and prove to be without merit so they drop out of existence and further study.
  - Jesse January 7, 2015
    
    For reference: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Schedule_I_drugs_(US)
    - Tim Smith January 7, 2015
      
      Bad link. This works: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Schedule_I_drugs_(US) Cannabis is listed as a schedule I drug because of an act of the U.S. Congress in 1970. President Richard M Nixon ignored the recommendations of the Shafer Commission (to decriminalize Cannabis at all levels) but not for any valid medical reason or based on any science.
Karen Jensen January 5, 2015

I call bullshit, Jesse. You have no idea how many people have been successfully weaned off of synthetic opiates with medical marijuana. The pain relief you refer to, sanctioned by the FDA and let's face it with the silent consent of the AMA, is toxic at best and highly addictive. Your drugs leave the patient with an addiction and a mental numbness that you might consider pain relief only because the patient is left close to unconsciousness. Your legal drugs are a plague. The plant you note as a joke is used for pain relief without anyone getting high. Yes! Boys and girls! Ever heard of canabidiols? Those are the plant compounds that work with little to no psychoactive properties. You too can be free of pain without addiction and liver damage. Do your homework before you show us how stupid you are next time. You and the City Council are obviously on the same page. Got Oxycodone? How about Vicodin? Good, because you will die an addict without relief but someone will make money. Isn't that what this is all about? Forget the patient let's just tax the hell out of a plant and make sure everyone stays addicted to poisons. Your attitude and any move to close dispensaries will drive medical marijuana underground.
- Jesse January 5, 2015
  
  I guess I really hit a nerve! Wow! First off, I actually spend most of my days talking about alternative (besides opiates) pain therapies with docs. Second, I think you should be able to di anything you want with marijuana as it's better for a person than alcohol. Third, there is no such thing as medical marijuana. If there were, you could produce a double-blind placebo controlled study by a legitimate university or government that proves it's efficacy. You can't. Lastly, if marijuana, or any aspect of it, did anything for a person, don't you think a drug company would have patented something from it by now? Ya, you can just grow it but you can also just grow poppies for opiates. Hey, that gives me an idea! I'll open an opioid dispensary! Ya! I mean, they're natural and they actually have studies supporting their efficacy! Think those docs would have legitimacy? No. Neither to your marijuana docs.
  - Tim Smith January 6, 2015
    
    According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), Chinese firms have filed 309 of the 606 patents relating to the cannabis. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed for a patent for the use of cannabinoids for medicinal purposes. Also in 1999, HHS filed for a second patent, specifically for cannabis oil for the treatment of disease. That’s right, the United States government – through the taxpayer funded Department of Health and Human Services – holds two patents on cannabinoids and cannabis oil to treat certain diseases like alzheimer’s and auto-immune diseases like crohn’s. In the UK, leading the charge is GW Pharmaceuticals , a UK- based pharmaceutical company who manufacturers Sativex, an outrageously overpriced oral spray that relies on THC and CBD for its medical effects.
Christine January 5, 2015

Although I do see a use for marijuana as a medical adjunct, I also see this designation abused to the point of comedy. Watch who comes and goes from your average dispensary and you will be amazed at all the people who must suffer from glaucoma, neuropathy and other conditions. If the dispensaries hadn't become the jokes they are, there wouldn't be an issue and you can't tell me that a properly licensed outlet couldn't include the items that "patients" claim work for them. Close the dispensaries and let them buy it like everyone else.
Karen Jensen January 5, 2015

So, tax medicine? We have an epidemic of prescription drug abuse and so your answer is to punish all because you don't like the way medical marijuana patients look? How jduge-y. Did it ever occur to you that ill people don't look like you? Do you have any idea how many children are treated through their parents dispensary memberships? How about how many PTSD, chronic sleep deprivation patients and chronic anxiety patients are treated with medical marijuana? How about childhood onset epilepsy? How many veterans do you think this will effect? You haven't thought about any of these questions because you are dirt ignorant. Would you rather Zanax, Zoloft, Valium and lithium compounds in your water table? The dispensary in my neighborhood isn't a joke and doesn't tolerate people that belong in a retail outlet. Their client base alone, one dispensary, was 5,000. It's less now because surprise! some people don't need it anymore. How many people can you say are cured of any number of chronic diseases with the AMA method? You can't because it is big $$$$ and they are being treated for the rest of their lives while their insides rot. Read above. CBD's do not make you high and if you run these businesses out of town, there will be lost jobs, building vacancies and you won't be able to tell who has a prescription and who doesn't becausepatients don't walk around high and are not going to tell you where the dispensary is located. The current road test is for THC not CBD's. THC is psychoactive, CBD is not. Just because you are offended by appearances doesn't mean anything. You are speaking from a place of ignorance and public policy shouldn't be driven by dirt ignorant reactionaries. There are nuisance laws already on the books and Tacoma's finest has used this ordinance to get rid of unsavory businesses. If you have a particular neighborhood or store front that offends you, point it out to the police. Let them investigate it. And for God's sake, turn your head so that you won't be offended by something you choose not to understand.
Mary Avery January 6, 2015

I am a medical marijuana patient. Since the onset of recreational sales, it has been harder and harder to find Indica strains of marijuana that are high in CBDs. Why? Because it doesn't get you as high. It is strictly for medical use for pain and seizures and to fight cancer. Therefor, the recreational users have no interest in it. Since the medical shop that I've frequented closed and reopened as recreational, I have been trying other medical marijuana dispensaries in search of a strong Indica. Even the most popular dispensary only had two to offer when I went there, and no Rick Simpson oil for sale. The second and vital fact of this is that disabled people are lower income generally speaking, than others, and paying for this form of medicine is hard enough without a high tax being put on it. There is a movement in the medical field of curtailing opiates to fight pain, so the use of marijuana, so much safer than opiates, ought to be embraced. But the patient must be able to afford it. I cannot attend the meeting, as I can't walk well enough to get into the meeting. Please know that there are many out here like me.