WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and 1000 Feet today announced they have sent a joint letter to President Donald J. Trump, Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine F. Pirro urging immediate enforcement of the Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act against marijuana retailers that DC officials have licensed in close proximity to elementary schools and daycare centers.
“Federal law is unambiguous: No city should let drug dealers set up shop next to elementary schools,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, president of SAM. “President Trump’s public-safety initiative in the nation’s capital must include enforcing the Drug-Free School Zones Act and shutting down any shop within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare. Big Marijuana’s playbook is to normalize and market high-potency products near kids, putting pot shops steps from classrooms. That risks our children’s mental and physical health by making these dangerous products more accessible. Shut them down.”
Michelle Murphy, President of 1000 Feet, a coalition advocating for safe school zones, added: “If the President is serious about restoring law and order to the District, he must shut down the pot shops that the DC government has allowed to spring up next to elementary schools and daycares. The District’s children deserve better. They deserve the protections promised by the Federal Drug-Free School Zones Act. What is the point of having federal laws to protect kids if the government won’t enforce them? The President can fix this immediately and send a powerful message.”
The letter, sent on behalf of concerned DC parents and educators, applauds the initial step taken in April by Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin against one egregious violator, but notes there has been no visible follow-through. It asks the Administration to swiftly close all offending retailers operating near schools and daycares and formally warn the DC government that any future licensing of retailers at locations that violate the Drug-Free School Zones Act will be treated as a criminal conspiracy.
Key locations named in the letter
Green Theory, 4828 MacArthur Blvd NW — in the Palisades educational corridor, unlawfully close to multiple elementary schools and preschools, including Our Lady of Victory, the River School, Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, the Lab School, and Little Ivies Daycare.
DC Smoke, 717 D St NW — directly across from BASIS Washington DC (grades 5–12) and one block from FBI Headquarters, operating in violation of federal school-zone law.
DC Garden Hill, 1322 G Street SE — DC Garden Hill has recently received the DC government’s approval to begin operating at a location unlawfully close to Chamberlain Elementary School, Catharine Watkins Elementary School, and Story Time Kidz infant and toddler daycare.
Proper Exotic, 313 8th St NE — seeking approval to operate unlawfully close to Petit Scholars daycare, Capitol Hill Learning Group (pre-K–8), and iGen Educational Academy (pre-K–5).
The full letter can be found here.
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