Seattle Magazine: What's being done about the rise in marijuana use among teens?

"What's being done about the rise in marijuana use among teens?" asks an article in this month's Seattle Magazine. The article features interviews with Prevention WINS current and former members. Here are a few excerpts:

Local kids are being pummeled with messages that pot is now OK, says longtime KING-TV reporter Roberta Romero, now director of development at Residence XII, a substance abuse program for women based in Kirkland. Romero, in recovery for alcohol addiction herself and the parent of twin teenagers attending Seattle’s Roosevelt High School, worries that the recent years’ barrage of local pot promotion isn’t being offset by prevention education for youth. 

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 But increasing availability for adults also means that youth are likely to have more access to pot. According to the state’s most recent Healthy Youth Survey, 10th graders who live with a marijuana user are more than five times as likely to report regular pot use. When kids ingest or smoke pot, it can lead to a slew of health-related issues, says Leslie R. Walker, M.D., the chief of Seattle Children’s Division of Adolescent Medicine. 

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Although hundreds of Seattle students were caught using or possessing marijuana last year, Seattle Public Schools has not made broad changes to student programming or curriculum to address Washington’s new legal environment for marijuana. However, the district has incorporated information on the risk of new marijuana products into existing curriculum, says Lisa Davidson, manager of prevention and intervention for Seattle Public Schools. Evidence-based drug prevention programs used by the district include the Project Alert program, used in many middle schools, and Project SUCCESS, in high schools. There’s also more staff training and parent education pertaining to issues such as the marijuana law and new products, she says. 

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In prevention circles, “perception of harm,” or the idea that a substance is harmful, is a key indicator. “As perceptions of harm around a substance go down, we see the use go up,” says Liz Wilhelm, drug-free communities coordinator for Prevention WINS.

Marijuana cafes in Seattle?

Marijuana tourism is the topic of a recent segment of Seattle Channel's City Stream.  Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata is interviewed and states that marijuana and smoking laws need to be adjusted to allow for marijuana cafes in the city.



If you are unable to watch the video through this blog, you can watch it on the Seattle Channel.

Short video highlights questions about marijuana businesses in Seattle

A medical marijuana dispensary in the University District is featured in a Seattle Channel short video about the development of a legal marijuana market in our city.  The 4-minute video highlights the tensions between medical and recreational marijuana businesses.

Weed gardening in Seattle

On June 10, the Seattle City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance relating to land use and zoning for marijuana-related activities.  The Council's Marijuana in Seattle webpage provides more information.

Marijuana agricultural size limitation
The proposed ordinance states that "indoor agricultural operations" for growing marijuana "greater than 10,000 square feet are prohibited."

Marijuana business location restrictions
It also states that "The production, processing, selling, and delivery of marijuana, marijuana-infused products, or useable marijuana that involve more than 45 marijuana plants, 72 ounces of useable marijuana, or an amount of marijuana-infused product that could reasonably be produced with 72 ounces of useable marijuana, may not be conducted in association with business establishments or dwellings located in" single and multi-family zones; Downtown; and several landmark districts including the "Sand Point Overlay District."

Recreational vs. medical marijuana gardens
What the ordinance does not do is differentiate between individual personal medical marijuana gardens and recreational marijuana gardens.  According to a map prepared by the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, this leaves the entire City open for all (medical and recreational) personal gardens of up to 45 marijuana plants.  Several neighborhood associations have contacted the City Council asking them to delay their June 10 vote until this issue is reviewed further by community members.

According to Initiative 502, personal recreational marijuana gardens are illegal and all recreational marijuana-related activities must be at least 1,000 feet from schools, child care centers, parks, and other places frequented by children.

Nathan Hale High School Town Hall Meeting on preventing youth drug & alcohol use

For parents: A discussion on why, when and how to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
7-8:45 p.m.
Nathan Hale High School

Sponsored and hosted by Raiders Against Destructive Decisions, a student-run organization promoting healthy choices in high school.

Upcoming community events about underage drinking and youth substance abuse

Two upcoming community meetings, one in the Central District and one in Ballard, will focus on underage drinking and youth drug use.

"Dog Talk": Listen to youth and adults talk about alcohol and other drug use and whit is really happening at Garfield High School and in Central Seattle
Wednesday, May 23
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Garfield Community Center, Seattle
Guest Speaker: Steve Freng, Prevention/Treatment Manger for NWHIDTA

"Keeping Tabs on your Teen this Summer!"
Year-end parent support event from the new NW Seattle Coalition for a Drug-Free Community
Tuesday May 29
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Ballard Library, Seattle  
Guest Speaker: Frank Couch from the SAMA Foundation will speak about ways to clarify family rules and expectations.