KUDOS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES

Bravo to the City Council, Planning Department, and medical marijuana
advocates and patients for crafting a sensible solution to the debate
about collective gardens in the city.

The ordinance adopted Dec. 5 reflects compassion and understanding on
the part of city leaders. Moreover, the legislation adds commonsense
regulations to collective gardens. Limiting the operations near
schools, daycare centers and other public spaces is smart.

The decision is also a courageous act. Even as other Washington cities
and the federal government fail to recognize marijuana's medical
merits, local leaders made a reaffirming stand for patients' rights.
In Washington, medical marijuana patients suffer from the most
debilitating and painful conditions - AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis
and more.

The decision to accommodate collective gardens in Issaquah is both
compassionate and prudent. To force patients suffering from such
conditions to travel to another community or, worse, seek marijuana
from disreputable means is inexcusable.

Though the most sensible course of action is to legalize, regulate and
tax marijuana, the decision in Issaquah is important.

Despite the success in Issaquah, remember the decision did not come
without spirited discussion and important questions.

Councilwoman Eileen Barber raised legitimate concerns about placing
Issaquah in the crosscurrents between conflicting federal and state
laws.

Under a harsh and outdated federal law, marijuana remains illegal,
even for medical uses. In Washington, a voter-approved initiative
spells out reasonable rules for qualified patients to use marijuana to
ease pain and boost appetite.

Barber's concerns hold merit, to be sure, but the city and residents
spent months during a thorough - some could say exhaustive - public
process to craft regulations acceptable to law enforcement officers,
elected officials and, most importantly, patients.

The city also deserves praise for the process to gather input about
the proposed collective garden ordinance. The effort allowed ample
time for proponents and opponents to make a case to leaders.

The decades-old prohibition on marijuana at the federal level means
state and local governments, such as Issaquah, must lead the charge to
relax the rules for marijuana.