By a vote of 6-1 Tuesday night, the Sammamish city council supported a motion by former mayor Don Gerend, to authorize mayor Tom O’Dell to sign the Association of Washington Cities Mayor’s letter in support of reclassification of marijuana.

Ironically, O’Dell cast the one dissenting vote.

The letter authorizes the Suburban Cities Association public issues committee to support the SCA letter of support for the reclassification of marijuana.

Gregoire filed a petition with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana from a schedule I drug (which has no known medical purpose and cannot be dispensed) to a schedule II drug (which can be dispensed).

Council member Ramiro Valderrama said the Association of Washington Police Chiefs also supports the letter.

The use of marijuana for patients who have debilitating or terminal illness has been permitted in Washington state since 1998, but the federal government indicated it would prosecute individuals and organizations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of marijuana even if it is permitted under state law.

Marijuana is currently classified as a schedule I controlled substance under the controlled substances act, which means that, according to the DEA, it has no currently accepted medical use in treatment and can’t be prescribed, administered, or dispensed for medical use.

A comparison of the controlled substances classified as schedule I versus schedule II is interesting. While marijuana/cannabis is classified as a schedule I, many other drugs with a high potential for abuse are designated as schedule II, including opium, methadone,methamphetamine, oxycodone and cocaine.