Marijuana: Vote yes on county advisory measure

During my 30-year career in law enforcement as a sheriff, police chief and drug task force administrator, I witnessed the waste of public resources spent on the “war on drugs.” Like the majority of Washington voters, I supported the passage of Initiative 502.

I-502 did a few things. Most importantly, it legalized recreational marijuana in our state and allowed licensed stores to replace the black market. Much of the tax revenue from these stores goes to our state and counties to be used on hiring more law enforcement officers, expanding drug treatment facilities and providing additional support services for our youth. Money that would’ve ended up in the hands of criminals will now go to help fight them.

Additionally, these stores are heavily regulated. They are required to check ID to restrict sales to adults only, and they’re limited to specially zoned areas away from our schools and parks.

Closing these stores down would be a huge mistake. Without a network of stores, consumers will be forced to purchase marijuana from drug cartels and criminals. Marijuana will be legal, yet we will be forced to waste resources combating illegal sales.

Vote yes on Pierce County Advisory Vote 1.

(Davis is a retired Gig Harbor police chief.)

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Marijuana: Vote yes on county advisory measure."