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Island Scene
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Guest Column
Islanders may worry over coal, but natural environment equally at risk under pending CAO page 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 47
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Marijuana initiative Turkey with a twist passes, what next? Local authorities unsure if feds will follow suit By Julie Summers Special to the Journal
On Election Day, Washington voters lived up to their progressive reputation by passing Initiative 502 to legalize recreational use of marijuana. The initiative passed with 55 percent statewide approval and an overwhelming 68 percent support in San Juan County, the largest margin in the state. A similar measure passed in Colorado, making Washington and Colorado the first two states to allow recreational marijuana. “Everybody’s talking about this now,” said San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney Randall Gaylord. “Everybody’s interested to see how it will unfold.” Local officials’ reactions vary widely. In a letter to the editor (Oct. 23 Weekly edition), Gaylord encouraged voters to carefully consider I-502 and stated that he would adapt his policies based on the results. One complication is that I-502 is slated to go into effect in 30 days, but the law is now in direct conflict with federal law, which bans marijuana. Gaylord said there is a lot of speculation on how this will play out. Under the federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside heroin and ecstasy. Schedule I drugs “have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S., and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision,” according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Although there are medical marijuana laws in 18 states and D.C. (the most recent just passed in Massachusetts) and there have
“This is pretty much uncharted waters. On the enforcement side it’s almost nightmarish.” — Rob Nou, SJC Sheriff
been several attempts to reclassify marijuana, the federal government has yet to do so. In 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal prosecutors would essentially defer to state laws regarding medical marijuana, but it remains unclear whether that precedent will hold with recreational use. Gaylord points out that the conflict between state and federal laws could be complicated by the fact that Washington is a border state with increased federal law enforcement presence. Officers of the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, and other federal agencies, he says, follow federal law, and users in line with the Washington law may still be prosecuted under certain circumstances, such as the use of marijuana in a national park.
Taking a stand
Prior to the election, Sheriff Rob Nou urged the community to join with him in voting no on I-502, warning that youth and communities would be at risk. “It puts the state in the marijuana business, in competition with the current drug traffickers,” he wrote. Others, like former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, contend that I-502 will in fact take business, and therefore power, away from dangerous drug dealers. Stamper argued in an letter to the editor (Oct. 30 edition of the Islands’ Sounder) that I-502 does See MARIJUANA, Page 4
Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen
From left; Myla Sowder-Settles, Reese Tangney and Fala Andrews transform pine cones into turkey decorations in anticipation of Thanksgiving, at San Juan Island Library’s ‘Nov. 15 crafter-nooners’ program for kids.
Refinancing rainbow yields pot of gold Lower interest rates, better S & P rating save town $270K By Steve Wehrly Journal reporter
Thanksgiving came a week early for the Town of Friday Harbor. Town Treasurer Wendy Picinich set the table with 10 years of cold-eyed fiscal discipline and Administrator Duncan Wilson carved the turkey by orchestrating the refinancing of the 2003 sewer
revenue bonds into a total net savings to the town of $269,002 over the next 11 years. Wilson gave a tip of the hat to Picinich and to former administrator King Fitch for the town’s solid financial footing. “Because of the conservative policies maintained by King Fitch and Wendy Picinich we were able to drive down the interests rates on this refinancing,” he said. Mayor Carrie Lacher and the council listened with broad smiles at the council’s Nov. 15 meeting, as Jim Nelson of Martin Nelson See RAINBOW, Page 4
2011 Special Award; Second Place: General Excellence from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
2012
Your guide to holiday activities and events Thanksgiving through New Years
Published by the Journal of the San Juan Islands, The Islands' Sounder, and The Islands' Weekly
Season Greetings Ring in the holidays with our 24-page special section; filled with gift ideas, holiday events and entertainment listings.