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The Washington State Democratic Central Committee has officially endorsed Initiative 502, which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in the state for adults 21 years of age and older. You can read the endorsement here.
I-502 is a production of the New Approach Washington (NAW) campaign, which is working to get the measure on the ballot in 2012.
Receiving the endorsement of the state Democratic party is a huge achievement for the New Approach Washington campaign specifically, and a big step forward for the marijuana reform movement in general.
In Washington, having the endorsement of one of the two major parties in the state is a powerful signal to many voters that this issue is fully mainstream and deserves serious consideration. The endorsement should be a very helpful talking point for the NAW campaign when they are trying to win over undecided Democrats on the issue. It should also make it politically easier for elected Democrats in the state to feel comfortable endorsing the measure.
On a national level, having the Washington Democratic Party willing to endorse a legitimate marijuana legalization attempt should make the major parties in other states more willing to endorse the issue. Simply following another state is always an easier political lift than being out front.
Washington State, with its well run campaign, favorable demographics, and expected high youth turnout in the Presidential election, stands a very good chance of being the first state to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana.
12 Comments
Did I just hear the good people of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee telling Obama what he can do with his War On Some Drugs?
Why, yes, yes, I believe I did.
This is right up there with opposing the Baucus-WellPoint bill in terms of breaking with Team Obama.
Obama needs to be very worried about young people. They losing that desire to go through the process of registering in their new locations to vote for him.
That is actual and important news, Jon, thank you.
As well, your post is superbly good, and actual, real news.
More, please.
;~DW
Recommended!
Legalizing marijuana will mean more fender benders at stop lights and fewer head on collisions on two lane highways.
Obviously, they must be all hopped up on The Devil Weed. What other reason could they have for doing such a thing?
This ain’t all sunshine and rainbows, folks. This one has a dark cloud.
New Approach Washington is getting closer than any other of our initiatives, that’s true but this one has a deal breaker for me.
I’ve been working on this issue here in WA for over 30 years and have seen my share of ups and downs but this one is tragic.
I-502 contains the 5ng limit DWS (driving while stoned) garbage. THC stays in the system far longer than the ‘high’ lasts. William Breathes of the Denver alt weekly ‘the Westword’, proved that last year. He was completely sober yet tested positive for THC. If passed, this part of the bill will enable all those pissed off gendarmes to pull over MMJ patients at any time and bust them for DWS.
That would bar any patient who medicates with cannabis from driving, even hours (or days) after consumption. Patients who medicate would not be able to legally drive for up to 24 to 48 hours afterward. A trip to the store could mean staying off the meds for two days prior.
The reality is if this becomes law with the 5ng limit, it will be entrenched. There will be no ‘going back later and changing it’ because that never happens. The other thing it will do is embolden other states close to getting medical cannabis legal to add it to their initiatives.
Do we jump on board this initiative because it has the best chance to pass and throw patients under the bus or do we reject this part of the bill and try again.
I cannot support this initiative in its present form. I’m tired of this. I refuse to compromise my years of activism just for expediency. Nothing is more important to these people (patients) than to be free of their pain and suffering and lead as normal a life as possible. How can we say “sure, here’s your meds but now you can’t drive”?
Is this where we find ourselves after just two years of Obama? Ready to compromise our principles at a drop of a hat just to get a few crumbs from the table?
A quandary to be sure.
“WHEREAS Initiative Measure No. 502 will create a per se DUI threshold of 5 nanograms per milliliter of whole blood for the psychoactive marijuana component THC, and this per se limit will not apply to the non-psychoactive marijuana metabolite carboxy-THC that can appear in blood and urine tests for days or even weeks after last use;”(source)
I Think that they thought of that. I think.
A-yep. English translation: Please don’t drive if you’ve had more than a joint or two — just as we wouldn’t want you driving if you just pounded more than four shots of whiskey in a thirty-minute period — but we won’t nail you just because you smoked a few bowls twelve hours ago.
I work for a medical lab.
The quote from the initiative makes is clear they are testing for psychoactive delta 9 THC, not a metabolite. Curious how they arrived at the level indicated in the language…
As it stands in some states, just waving a pen in front of a DUI suspect is considered proof of impairment by watching eyeball tracking.
Great news for WA, keep up the good work. If you’re really lucky, the new Theocrats headed for DC will kick you out of the country and you and Vermont can finally be part of Canada. Good to see intelligent people determining their own future and not held down by the knuckledraggers.
The part where you say ” we won’t nail you if you smoked a few bowls a few hours ago” is the kicker. Cops will pull over anyone who stops by a dispensary and test them for THC. The least they will do is record their vehicle license number.
I sound paranoid but have been in the middle of this ‘War on Drugs’ since 1974. One good cop does not a decent police force make. Add to this Holder’s inability to reign in his USA’s. Until prohibition ends, there will always be the threat of federales busting down your door. If they have a law that gives them an edge, like the 5ng/ml limit, they’ll use it.
According to Sensible Washington, there is also the part of the law that restricts home cultivation. Either you buy your weed from the state or you get none. Imagine someone on SS or Medicaid trying to cough up $50 for an eighth oz every week. If they could grow it at home, a one time $100 investment will provide them with at least an ounce a month for years.
Sorry, I can’t support this initiative. It’s a classic case of tossing the baby out with the bath water. As I said earlier, I am sick and tired working my ass off to make the kind of changes we need to get our collective asses out of this hole only to get back crumbs from my president. Pres. Obama has been an abject failure and a complete disappointment. He lacks the intestinal fortitude to do the job correctly. He only knows how to come along to get along. On this issue all he can do is giggle and blow it off.
This initiative is written, not for patients, but for the self-appointed leaders of the anti-prohibition movement. In order to get the win, to score a goal, they’re willing to toss the most helpless victims of the war on drugs under the paisley VW bus. Says a lot about them, and none of it good.
Go back to the drawing board, rework the bill to remove the 5ng/ml limit and allow home cultivation. People are lazy, they’ll still buy from the state smoke shops but we will enable those who can’t afford their medicine to grow it themselves.
But then all of this would be unnecessary if our president had an eighth oz of backbone.