Bill to provide funds for prevention-intervention and community mobilization

Last year, WASAVP was behind HB 2014 concerning liquor licensing fees.  The bill would have increased liquor licensing fees and allocated some of the revenue to replace some of the funding that has been cut for prevention-intervention services in schools and the statewide community mobilization program.

The bill did not make it out of the House Ways & Means Committee but may still be alive for the upcoming legislative session.  WASAVP is now asking prevention advocates to contact their state legislators and tell them about the bill.  Advocates do not need to say that they are for or against the bill.  Advocates may inform their Representatives of the bill's status and educate them about the importance of prevention-intervention services in schools and community mobilization in communities. 

With the legislature and the Liquor Control Board re-vamping the liquor system in response to I-1183, this is an especially opportune time to advocate for changes to licensing fees. 

Hearing to be held about expanding the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana

The Washington State Department of Health has announced that a committee of the Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery will hold a hearing next month to consider adding Attention Deficit Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.  The hearing will take place:

January 11, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Seattle-Renton
One South Grady Way
Renton, WA

I-1183 lawsuit moves forward

Yesterday, Judge Stephen Warning rejected WASAVP's request for a temporary halt to the implementation of Initiative 1183.  Below is an excerpt from The Daily News story about the hearing:

The Washington Association for Substance and Violence Prevention, the initiative's primary opponent, on Dec. 7 filed for a temporary injunction to stop implementation of privatization, which is set to take effect June 1, 2012. A second plaintiff, Dave Grumbois of Longview, joined the suit because he owns the building that houses the state-run liquor store on Ocean Beach Highway. Grumbois said he fears he will lose a steady tenant.

Also joining the suit are two Red Apple grocery stores in Kitsap County. Store owners say liquor privatization will cause them to lose business to big retailers like Costco.

The group's attorney, Michael Subit of Seattle, filed a similar suit in King County earlier this month. He argues that I-1183 violates the state constitution because it addresses more than one subject in one measure. In this case, Subit said I-1183 forced the state out of the hard liquor business, changed distribution and price controls for wine and imposed fees for public safety.

A hearing is scheduled for March 5, 2012 regarding the merits of the lawsuit. 

2012 legislative priorities

WASAVP's 2012 legislative priorities were posted earlier this month.  Below is more information about these priorities. 

1) Prevent liquor privatization and further deregulation. 
Evidence from multiple studies indicates that the more stringent the regulations in a community, particularly the ones affecting availability and marketing, the lower the prevalence and frequency of adolescent alcohol consumption and the higher the age of first use.

While Washington State voters recently approved Initiative 1183 to privatize the sale of liquor and to remove important price regulations, there are still ways that the Liquor Control Board (LCB) can regulate alcohol to reduce access among adolescents. WASAVP will work with the LCB and the state legislature to ensure that regulations are instituted to protect public safety, especially the safety of the children in our state. 

2) Support designation of all ATOD (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) fees and taxes going towards enforcement, prevention and treatment in communities, not into the general fund. 
Evidence-based prevention, treatment, and enforcement of drug laws have proven to reduce underage drinking and drug use in communities. However, largely due to recent government budget reductions, many of these evidence-based practices have been eliminated.

At the same time, major changes to our state's drug and alcohol policies, which are proven methods for preventing substance abuse, have been eliminated or significantly changed. These changes have created an environment where youth may have more access to drugs and alcohol, resulting in harms such as increased driving under the influence, assaults, and barriers to learning.

WASAVP supports the designation of ATOD fees and taxes going towards enforcement, prevention and treatment as a way to mitigate the harms created by dismantling these systems and to reinstate funding for successful prevention activities.

3) Reclassify medical marijuana so that it may be regulated and sold in pharmacies like other prescription medications.
In 1998, Washington State voters approved the use of marijuana for certain medicinal purposes. While many prevention advocates do not agree with this legislation, it is law in Washington and WASAVP is committed to working towards preventing youth access to marijuana.

Currently, the regulation of medicinal marijuana is inadequate. Different communities have different laws and regulations concerning medicinal marijuana. In the communities where dispensaries are allowed to operate as businesses, there is little, if any, regulation of them. Like alcohol and prescription drugs, medicinal marijuana needs to be highly regulated to prevent youth access.

WASAVP supports the reclassification of marijuana so that it will be regulated like any other prescription medication and allowed to only be sold in pharmacies. Doing so will create a barrier to youth access.

4) Oppose state and federal budget cuts to community and school-based prevention programs.
Over the past few years, communities and schools have been hit hard by reductions in funding for evidence-based youth substance abuse and violence prevention programs. Evidence-based prevention programs are an important component of creating and sustaining safe and healthy communities. WASAVP opposes further cuts to prevention programs that reach all students and that support healthy youth development in communities.

Monitoring: WASAVP members identified the following issues to monitor during the 2012 legislative session.

• Healthy Youth Survey sustainability

• Prescription drug take-back program funded by pharmaceutical companies

• Marijuana legalization

• Social and emotional performance measures on the K-12 school report card

• School safety policy and funding

• School dropout prevention, intervention and re-engagement policy and funding

• Bullying prevention policy and funding

• Suicide prevention policy and funding

• Funding for school-based prevention-intervention specialists

• Statewide social host law

WASAVP plaintiff in I-1183 lawsuit

On December 7, a lawsuit was filed in Cowlitz County against the State of Washington to prevent the implementation of Initiative 1183.  WASAVP is one of three plaintiffs in this lawsuit.  A similar lawsuit was filed in King County by unions.

The lawsuit charges that I-1183 violates provisions of the Washington State Constitution because it addresses more than one issue.  I-1183 not only mandates the privatization of the sale and distribution of spirits/liquor by closing state stores and selling off the state's related assets, but it also drastically changes the laws regarding the distribution and sale of wine and alters the ability of the Liquor Control Board to regulate alcohol advertising.  Among the many changes to be brought about are:

• I-1183 orders the LCB to close all state liquor stores by June 1, 2012;
• I-1183 acts to deregulate the wholesale and retail sale of wine and liquor;
• I-1183 eliminates existing restrictions on liquor price advertising.

WASAVP identifies legislative priorities

After surveying WASAVP members, the WASAVP Board of Directors identified the following issues as top priorities for their work during the 2012 state legislative session.
1. Prevent liquor privatization and further deregulation.

2. Support designation of all ATOD fees and taxes to go toward enforcement, prevention and treatment in communities, not the general fund.

3. Reclassify medical marijuana so that it may be regulated and sold in pharmacies like other prescription medications.

4. Oppose state and federal budget cuts to community and school-based prevention programs.

The Board also identified issues that will be monitored. 

Liquor Privatization: Different Year, Same Bad Idea

Protect Our Communities, a group of business, labor, community members and substance abuse prevention advocates, announced today that it will oppose an initiative to dramatically expand state liquor sales.

Backers of Initiative 1183 funded a paid-signature drive and turned in petitions today. I-1183 is similar to two measures to privatize state liquor sales that failed last November. I-1105 was rejected by 63 percent of voters; I-1100 was tossed out by 53 percent.

“There is no grassroots groundswell for liquor privatization in the state,” said Jim Cooper, president of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention. “What part of ‘No!’ doesn’t Costco understand? The fundamentals haven’t changed.”

In urban areas, I-1183 would allow liquor sales in retail establishments over 10,000 square-feet, hurting smaller neighborhood grocery stores. In rural and suburban areas, convenience stores and mini-marts would be allowed to sell liquor.

In February, the federal Centers for Disease Control’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommended against further privatization of alcohol sales “based on strong evidence that privatization results in increased per capita alcohol consumption, a well-established proxy for excessive consumption.”

"Privatization may be associated with increased alcohol advertising, increases in the number of brands sold, and more lax enforcement of sales regulations, including enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age. In contrast, privatization also has generally been associated with an increase in the price of privatized beverages, which may be expected to lead to a decrease in consumption."

Need for prevention increases with easing of alcohol-related regulations

The cumulative effects of recent legislation regarding alcohol promotion and advertising (see list below), coupled with the pre-existing pervasiveness of such marketing, must be considered from a youngster’s perspective. Many of these enactments permit a casual approach to alcohol use (just before driving a car and running errands, e.g.), others contribute to the overall normalization of alcohol use, and some allow promotions that will have an intended or unintended impact on youth.

Past and presumably future legislative trends in this regard are clear. WASAVP asks that the legislature help balance this situation by replacing some of the cuts to community and school based prevention services that have been simultaneously imposed over this same time period, due to revenue shortfalls.  Enactment of HB 2014 is one way to begin achieving this balance.

2011

SHB 1172, Creates a pilot project for beer and wine tasting at farmers markets.

SSB 5788,
• Allows spirits, beer, and wine restaurants and hotels to sell beer in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser or furnished by the restaurant/hotel and filled at the tap at the time of sale (e.g., growlers).

• Allows special occasion licensees to pay for beer and wine immediately following the end of an event and allows wineries and breweries to pay reasonable special occasion table fees.

• Allows branded promotional items to include the logo of a professional sports team.

• Removes the 40 per year limit on nonclub, member-sponsored events by private club licensees.

SHB 1202, Creates a pilot project for spirits sampling in state and contract liquor stores.

SSB 5156, Creates a liquor license allowing VIP airport lounge operators to serve spirits, beer, and wine for on premises consumption.

HB 1244, Allows a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant to sell beer in a sanitary container brought to the premises by the purchaser or furnished by the restaurant and filled at the tap by the restaurant at the time of sale (e.g., growlers).

2009-2010

SSB 6329, A grocery store licensed to sell beer and/or wine may obtain an endorsement to offer beer and wine tasting.

ESHB 5110, Wedding boutiques and art galleries may offer one glass of wine or beer without charge to customers at least 21 years of age for on-premise consumption

EHB 2040,
• Permits financial interests between liquor manufacturers, distributors, and retailers under certain conditions.

• Allows liquor manufacturers and distributors to provide branded promotional items to retailers.

• Eliminates the mandatory 10 percent minimum mark-up for beer and wine manufacturers to charge distributors and for distributors to charge retailers.

SHB 1415, Allows the Legislative Gift Center to sell wine produced in Washington to persons 21 years of age or older for off-premises consumption.

2007-2008

SHB 1047, Allows grocery stores licensed by the Liquor Control Board that have a snack bar license to sell confections with up to 10 percent alcohol to persons 21 or older.

SSB 5721, Allows a liquor manufacturer, importer, or distributor to enter into an arrangement with a sports/entertainment facility licensee or an affiliated business for brand advertising at the licensed facility or promoting events held at the facility.

WASAVP president quoted in national press

WASAVP's Jim Cooper is quoted in Bloomberg Businessweek's article about alcohol tastings at farmers markets:

Opponents worry allowing tastings at farmers markets will foster drinking and make it easier for minors to get access to alcohol.  "Our bigger concern is the example it sets for kids, when drinking is happening in really public places," said Jim Cooper, president of the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention.

Secure medicine take-back bill fails in WA Senate

On March 7, the Washington State Senate failed to vote on and pass Substitute Senate Bill 5234, the Secure Medicine Take-Back Bill. The proposed legislation would have required drug manufacturers selling medicines in Washington state to provide and finance a secure take-back and disposal program for left-over or expired medicines from residents. Over 140 organizations statewide supported the proposed legislation, including sheriffs, public health leaders, substance abuse professionals, and water quality experts.


“While many Senators were strongly in favor of this bill, pressure from the pharmaceutical industry managed to derail a good piece of legislation that would help protect our families and the environment from left-over medicines. It’s unfortunate that common sense and innovation were left on the sidelines in favor of backroom politics. Washington desperately needs a secure system to safely dispose of leftover medicines from homes without hurting the environment. It’s time to put our families first, not the pharmaceutical companies,” said Karen Bowman, RN, Washington State Nurses Association.

Gearing up for next year . . . Secure medicine return bills are NOT dead for all time. The Legislature works in two-year cycles - this is year one of the 2011-2012 biennium. Every bill introduced this year is automatically re-introduced next year.

At the start of the 2012 session, SSB 5234 will start in the Senate Rules committee. If we can encourage more Senators to support the bill between now and then, SSB 5234 could be pulled straight out for a floor vote.

HB 1370 will also be reintroduced in the House.

WASAVP supports medicine return legislation

As the Secure Medicine Take-back Bill (SSB 5234) awaits a vote in the Rules Committee -- it needs to be passed by the Senate before the cut-off deadline of March 7 to keep moving forward this session -- it has received a good deal of media coverage.  WASAVP President Jim Cooper recently wrote an opinion piece that appeared in The Olympian. 

Medicine return legislation needs support

Senate Bill 5234 currently is being considered in the Washington State Senate -- it would create a secure medicine return program in our state. This bill could have a significant impact on youth substance abuse prevention.  It is currently being considered by the Senate Rules Committee.

Nationwide, we've heard reports about youth abuse of prescription medications on the rise. Prevention science confirms that reducing access to harmful substances is a proven method for preventing youth substance abuse. For the legislation to move forward, the Senate Rules Committee will need to vote on it by March 7. Pharmaceutical companies who oppose the bill are working hard to ensure that the bill does not get a full Senate vote.

For more information about this issue, visit the Take Back Your Meds campaign website.

More bills to watch

More bills that the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention is following:

HB 1004 would provide for social and emotional learning in public schools.

HB 1100 concerning the medical use of cannabis.

HB 1244 modifying liquor permits and licensing provisions.

HB 1246 and SB 5380 would restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products and dissolvable tobacco products. It would require tobacco products to be stored in a location that is inaccessible to youth.

HB 1270 includes mental health and suicide prevention education in the essential academic learning requirements in health and fitness.

HB 1285 would regulate synthetic cannabinoids.

HB 1465 would modify liquor license provisions by: (1) requiring licenses to post conditions and restrictions imposed by the liquor control board; (2) revising the definition of "nightclub" by removing the occupancy load requirement; and (3) requiring the liquor control board to determine the requirements for complete meals for purposes of the definition of "restaurant".

HB 1550 would provide for regulating the production, distribution, and sale of cannabis (legalization).

SB 5219 regarding penalties for retail liquor licensees when alcohol is sold to a person under 21 years of age.

SB 5285 would change the distance requirements for issuing a liquor license to businesses located near schools.

Medicine return bills

From the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, following is more detailed information about the two medicine take-back bills recently introduced in the state legislature.

SB 5234 and HB 1370 will protect our kids, our families, and our environment by creating a statewide system for secure return and environmentally sound disposal of leftover prescription and over-the-counter medicines from our homes.

· Help stop the epidemic of abuse and poisonings, and protect our water quality.

· Requires no state funds; budget-neutral to the state. Primarily financed by all drug producers selling medicines in Washington, as part of doing business. Removes financial burden from Sheriffs, police, and local governments.

· Not a government-run program. Establishes the non-profit WA Medicine Return Association that will be managed and financed by drug producers.

· Total annual costs of the program to drug producers collectively cannot exceed $2.5 million – or about 1 penny for every $16 in sales of medicines annually in Washington.

· Federal law has been changed to facilitate take-back of narcotics and controlled substances.

· Sheriffs, police, local govt’s, and pharmacies in ~12 counties are operating take-back programs but are struggling for funding.

More bills to watch

Introduced to the state legislature today:

SB 5111 would privatize the sale of liquor.

HB 1202 would create a pilot project to allow spirits sampling in state liquor stores and contract stores.

2011 bills to watch

This year's state legislative session started this week and here are a few bills that the Washington Association for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention (WASAVP) is following.

HB 1116 would require the Liquor Control Board to convert at least 20 state liquor stores to contract liquor stores. It would authorize certain independently owned grocery stores to apply for and receive a contract liquor store appointment.

HB 1126 would provide communities with tools to better protect citizens from gang-related crime.

HB 1163 would create an ongoing work group on school bullying and harassment prevention.

HB 1166 would prohibit a person under 21 from being charged or prosecuted for seeking medical assistance for someone experiencing alcohol poisoning.

HB 1172 and SB 5029 would establish a pilot project to allow beer and wine tastings at farmers markets.

SB 5101 would place certain synthetic cannabinoids into schedule I of the uniform controlled substances act.