By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you’ve seen the agenda for next week’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, you might have noticed this item:
Discussion on Medical Marijuana Dispensary @ 5214 Delridge Way
There isn’t one there now, but word circulated in the neighborhood this past week that one was planned for that address, which has been undergoing renovations for months. It’s the same spot that evokes unpleasant memories for longtime community members, since it was long home to Delridge Vacuum and TV, whose license was revoked by the city two years ago after ongoing controversy about everything from the nature of the business to its street-front appearance, plus a criminal investigation.
After hearing about the reported dispensary plan, we tried to confirm it. We attempted to contact the property’s owner, including a visit to the site, but were told he was unreachable till next week; a broker representing at least one space at the address told WSB the space she represented hadn’t been rented yet. A check of the DPD records for the address only mentions a salon, office and live-work unit.
Then we checked today with Southwest Precinct leadership, who say they have word the plan may have changed.
From Capt. Steve Paulsen:
The owner of the property has been in contact with the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct as well as other entities in order to inquire/educate himself on the pro’s and con’s of having a marijuana dispensary at his property. As of today, the owner/landlord is leaning away from entertaining this type of business at this particular time, given the history of the property as well as concern for the continued positive developments the neighborhood has been making in the past year.
Seattle Police Southwest Precinct is maintaining a position of neutrality and will support any business that is legally licensed and responsibly operated in the community. We understand this issue brings about varied emotion amongst our citizens. We will continue to work closely with the community in furthering positive developments to increase the viability to our neighborhoods.
Before this latest development, we had talked with North Delridge Neighborhood Council chair Karrie Kohlhaas, who was intent on keeping an open mind pending the coming week’s discussion, though she confirmed it’s definitely a hot topic:
As neighbors communicate via the Delridge e-mail list, questions are emerging:
(Would) a marijuana dispensary attract or detract new business to Delridge?
(Would) it impact safety and our reduced police force?
(Would) the property owner and business owner respond to the community if concerns arise?
How would a marijuana dispensary affect the perception of our neighborhood? …The neighborhood and district councils in Delridge have not yet met to discuss this topic. We have an involved and progressive community and I am sure it will be a lively discussion when we do. Delridge has come a long way and I credit much of that to the respectful dialogue that exists here. Though opinions may vary on this topic, I trust that honor and respect will continue.
There are at least two medical-marijuana dispensaries in West Seattle already – Pharmaseed at 2611 58th SW on Alki, and Green Piece at 5437 California SW. The dispensary business is in a gray area; while the state’s voters approved medical marijuana with I-692 in 1998, marijuana remains illegal by federal law. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) thoroughly explained the laws and the state of the state’s burgeoning dispensary industry in this January report. Medical-marijuana legislation that would create licensing for dispensaries (among other things) has been passed by the State Senate already this year (with local Sen. Sharon Nelson voting yes), and has a hearing at 1:30 pm Monday in the State House Health Care and Wellness Committee, chaired by West Seattle’s State Rep. Eileen Cody.
Meantime, whatever is in the future for 5214 Delridge, it remains on the Delridge District Council agenda for Wednesday night. Meeting starts at 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and as always, all are welcome (other agenda items include the “green stormwater” project planned for a section of Sunrise Heights and Westwood, to reduce overflows at the Barton Pump Station the area feeds, with neighborhood testing now under way).
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