At the recent City Council meeting, under the direction of the mayor, they voted to put the question of having marijuana shops in Federal Way to an advisory vote of the people.

The founding fathers thoroughly understood the fatal weaknesses of a pure democracy and warned against the populace attempting to manage all public business. James Madison said, “Refine and enlarge the public views by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country.”

We have a democratic republic and our city is our chosen body. It is the council’s job to establish law and policy and to do what is right for the people of Federal Way (per a statement on the city website). We elected them to deal with city matters that cannot be dealt with well by the people. The issue of whether or not to open marijuana shops in our community clearly falls under this jurisdiction.

The dangers of recreational drugs are well known. We all know people who have been negatively impacted; yet, widespread misinformation about marijuana abounds.

The National Institute for Drug Abuse reports that use among youth is dramatically higher in Washington since the legalization of marijuana. Teachers, policeman and others in our schools are already noticing the effects.

Making recreational marijuana more accessible will similarly increase its use. We will see many preventable problems escalate in our community if we legitimize it by opening shops. This is risky business. We need to pay attention to accurate information and study it carefully.

Recent studies show a tripling of marijuana-related traffic deaths, an increase in serious brain damage and psychosis, neurosis and anxieties of all kinds. Repeated marijuana use creates an inability to concentrate and function normally, shortens the lifespan, creates birth defects and often creates an inability to accomplish one’s goals.

We need to study these long-term effects as well as the effects of its recent legalization without adding yet another facet to the equation. It is at best hasty to bring this to a vote when so much accurate information is yet needed.

As an expert in inpatient adolescent treatment says: “I have seen firsthand the destruction this drug causes. If you added up all the reasons for adolescents going to treatment — including alcohol— — they would not equal the amount of adolescents going to treatment for just one drug alone, marijuana. There is now a push in our community to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Should we really be that easily influenced? … Let our revenue-making ventures be guided by the principle of the good of our entire [community], not on the false promise of money.”

This issue has recently become a highly political one rather than one simply involving the welfare of our community.

It is not a matter of opinion or preference or politics; it is a matter of what is truly right to do.

One-third of the cities in Washington state have banned marijuana shops from their jurisdictions in order to protect their communities. We here in Federal Way should follow suit.

As a mother, grandmother, teacher and citizen of Federal Way, I ask our council representatives to promote the safest, healthiest and most life giving option for our citizens. I ask our council and mayor to think less of their political futures and more about the health and welfare of the city. I ask them to ban the sales of marijuana in the city, which is in their power to do.

Please contact the council and ask them to reconsider the advisory vote and vote once again to ban marijuana sales from our city, at least until, as Thomas Jefferson said, “If we think [the electorate] not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion … the remedy … is to inform their discretion by education.” And this is what we all must do.

Patricia Conant, Federal Way