Pubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2014
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Evan Bush
Page: B1

SEATTLE TO SHUTTER FIRMS THAT DELIVER POT

'1 Strike' And Then ...

Police, Prosecutors to Enforce Crackdown, City Council Told

The city of Seattle plans to shut down marijuana-delivery services, 
which became popular after the state legalized recreational marijuana.

David Mendoza, a policy adviser to the mayor, said in a City Council 
briefing Wednesday that the mayor's office will work with Seattle 
police on operations against these businesses. Delivery services - 
which are illegal - will get a single chance to stop operating, 
Mendoza told the council.

"One strike and we seize your product and tell you to close," said Mendoza.

After a second strike, the Seattle Police Department will make 
arrests, he said.

Jason Kelly, a spokesman for Mayor Ed Murray, said the administration 
believes shutting down delivery services will help "ensure minors 
don't have access to marijuana and to ensure medical-marijuana 
operations are serving patients that have appropriate medical authorizations."

Mendoza said in the briefing that between seven and 10 delivery 
businesses advertise in The Stranger each week. In the most recent 
issue, some businesses advertised with phrases such as "NO CARD 
REQUIRED," "Tourists Welcome" and "Out of State Visitors Welcomed."

"They're continuing to grow," Mendoza told council members. "There is 
no provision for them. We feel we should close them down."

John Schochet, deputy chief of staff at the City Attorney's Office, 
said the police department has the authority for this kind of 
operation. "The activity of selling marijuana to someone else without 
a (Initiative) 502 license or some kind of collective garden or 
designated provider status is illegal and SPD can enforce that," said 
Schochet. He said those delivering medical marijuana could still be 
arrested and charged, though they might have a stronger potential 
defense because of that law's gray areas.

Schochet said charges of felony distribution would be handled by the 
King County Prosecutor's Office.

Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said it hadn't 
received any cases against marijuana-delivery services.

Oscar Velasco-Schmitz said he was pleased the mayor's office was 
taking action against delivery operations. Velasco-Schmitz owns a 
Seattle-area recreational-pot store and sits on the board of a 
medical dispensary. He said delivery undercuts both types of business.

"They don't have the overhead of a storefront," said Velasco-Schmitz. 
"They don't have a staff. I'm assuming there's no taxation of these 
businesses. There's no oversight," he said.

A representative who answered the phone Wednesday evening at House of 
Dank Delivery said he would stop advertising his business but 
wouldn't stop delivery. He declined to give his name because of the 
impending city crackdown.

"No, I wouldn't stop my business," he said. "I have a pretty regular 
clientele. I probably only pick up 10 to 12 new customers a week," he said.

He said House of Dank Delivery requires customers to be older than 
21. He said he thought the move would backfire: "Pioneer Square is 
going to be filled with a bunch of dime bags."

At the briefing, Mendoza also told the council the mayor's office 
plans to identify and shut down medicalmarijuana businesses that are 
operating without business licenses.

Mendoza said the mayor's office plans to propose legislation to 
overhaul how Seattle regulates medical marijuana in January that 
creates standards for testing, packaging and advertising. It would 
allow the city to inspect businesses, levy fines and shut down 
businesses that don't comply.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom