Marijuana activists in the Pacific Northwest are sponsoring a new ballot initiative which would legalize marijuana in Washington state for all adults 21 years of age and older. The group fighting for cannabis legalization, New Approach Washington, has stated that they have collected over 100,000 more signatures than the 241,153 that are required for Initiative 502 to be on next year’s ballot in November 2012.
Unfortunately, the proposed new law would not legalize growing cannabis at home. The only source for weed would be state-licensed and regulated stores. The informative marijuana blog, Toke of the Town, recently highlighted some salient details about the pot reform initiative in Washington:
“I-502 would authorize the state Liquor Control Board to regulate and tax cannabis for those 21 and older. Licensed production, limited possession, delivery, distribution and sale of marijuana in accordance with the provisions of the law would be allowed.
Unfortunately, the initiative would allow the legal possession of only one ounce of dried cannabis, and home growing would be prohibited. Amounts in excess of 1.5 ounces could result in a felony charge, as could any attempt to grow your own. State-licensed stores would be the only legal sources for marijuana under the scheme.
Equally unfortunately, in a bid for middle-of-the-road support, initiative sponsors also included language which would make active THC levels of five nanograms per milliliter (5 ng/ml) and above per se proof of DUI marijuana, subjecting many medical marijuana patients to arrest even when unimpaired.
Sponsors of I-502 say it would generate at least $215 million a year in tax revenue, about $80 million for the Washington state treasury and the rest for research, health care, and other purposes.”
Majority Favor Pot Legalization
There is much growing support among many different groups for legalizing weed nationally, as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle’s most excellent weekly newspaper, the Stranger, reported that:
“New Approach Washington has reported $1.1 million in contributions, which have helped pay for signature gatherers, according to records filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. The largest contribution came from Peter Lewis, former CEO of Progressive Insurance, who kicked $250,000 toward the campaign.”
No Change to Existing Medical Pot Laws
Washington state voters already legalized medical marijuana thirteen years ago in 1998. Medical cannabis patients are currently allowed to grow up to 15 plants and possess up to 24 ounces of dried medicine. The proposed new initiative would not change the current law for medical marijuana patients.
About Rhonda Winter
Being someone who has smoked marijuana for medical and recreational use, I fully support the decision to legalize marijuana within certain restrictions such as the 21+ age limit and quantity. I support the driving restrictions as well as not being inhibriated in public. I believe marijuana has been called “the gateway drug” simply because it is the first drug people do. However, I have never smoked marijuana and later wanted to try heroin, nor has anyone else I have met who smoke. Marijuana has not been proven to be harmful or habit forming like some products which are legal today: alcohol and cigarettes. If marijuana remains illegal, people will still find ways to grow, sell, and buy off of the streets, leaving the chances of possibly being laced with truly harmful substances such as LSD or crystal meth. I personally had been diagnosed at an early age with insomnia and anxiety and later on with bulimia. However since I am now an adult I am no longer on my parents medical plan and am currently unable to receive health insurance. I started smoking marijuana to help all of these ailments with great success, but was made to quit because of drug testing for employers. As a smoker as well as a hard working member of society, I encourage that the bill to legalize marijuana be passed so that law enforcement can crack down on truly harmful substances as well as the profit that will be made as the results.
You make many important, salient points, and I whole heartedly agree with you. The criminalization of a plant is insanity, especially one with so many medically beneficial qualities. I also have used medical cannabis to help treat symptoms from my cancer, and other diseases. It works better than all of the potentially dangerous pharmaceutical drugs and pain killers that I have been prescribed.
It seems that most of Washington state supports legalizing marijuana. I hope that the pot initiative passes in the 2012 election. Canadian politicians are also proposing to nationally legalize weed in their country:
http://ecolocalizer.com/2012/01/16/canadian-liberal-party-proposes-legalizing-marijuana/