To the City Council: Thank you for supporting the many wonderful things that are happening in Federal Way.

I am a mother of six children as well as an elementary school teacher and citizen. My children grew up here in the city of Federal Way and have benefitted immensely from many of the programs at Thomas Jefferson, most specifically the math and cross country teams and the theater arts programs. Our family has valued the opportunity to pursue quality education as well as our dreams to better ourselves and the world. We always told our children that they could do anything as long as they were willing to work for it.

I believe it is our responsibility to prepare the environment in which our children grow. They need a community that is healthy and strong. We want them to be well-educated, inspired problem solvers who can take their places in all areas of civic engagement as educated and positive influences.

The graduation rate of Federal Way Public Schools is low. An article from the Federal Way Mirror in 2013 says that 70 percent of Federal Way students from all the high schools graduated in 2013. Approximately 30 percent of Federal Way kids are not staying in school long enough to graduate. This citation from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that “We know that marijuana can be very harmful to adolescent health and development … it can impair memory and concentration, interfering with learning and is linked to lower odds of completing high school or obtaining a college degree. Regular use is linked to psychological problems, poorer lung health and a higher likelihood of drug dependence in adulthood.”

It seems likely that the availability and use of marijuana could definitely affect our dropout rates.

Marijuana shops may greatly increase marijuana availability to children by making it more readily accessible to the general public and by presenting it to children as a legitimate option for recreation. Does this idea fit into the picture of the vibrant community that we envision for Federal Way? If we want our youth to graduate, marijuana shops should not be a part of the plan.

Too many have been drawn into the pervasive thinking that marijuana is not harmful when so many studies show that it is. Federal Way has many wonderful things to offer young people. It can be a dynamic, thriving community. Or it can foster addiction and high school drop outs. I encourage you to stand up and say no to marijuana stores in Federal Way, which would make marijuana more accessible to our youth. As our city representatives, I urge you to take seriously the responsibility to protect our children. It’s in your hands.

Teresa Angeles, Federal Way