Cali + Colorado + Washington x2!!!! GOOD news folks. Now a former leader in the drug war, who is no longer under the full gauntlet of those politics, coming out and saying that prohibition is stupid. This is in addition to the ballot initiative that is already underway and differs in that it defines limits for possesion and whatnot. The importance of that, imho, is that the law makers can use this bill as a way to dodge the initiative. I understand that limits suck but there is some sensibility in their point that limits are important to cut down on interstate shipping. Either way, I think "which version of legalization" is a much more promising battle than "legalization or not".

I have yet to read either initiative, but I thought this would be a good topic of conversation and I would love to hear what you Washington folks think about all of this. I'm excited to see so much buzz around legalization right now... I feel our time will soon be at hand. 2012?

original article

Originally Posted by The Seattle Times

A coalition that includes former U.S. Attorney John McKay, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes and travel guide Rick Steves is launching an initiative that would legalize marijuana in Washington state.
The group, led by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, decided to push the initiative this spring after Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed most of a medical-marijuana bill that had passed the state Legislature.
"We did some more public-opinion research, looked at the numbers and said, 'Yeah, this is the time,' " said Alison Holcomb, campaign manager for the initiative and drug-policy director of the ACLU of Washington.
The initiative would regulate the recreational use of marijuana in a way similar to how the state regulates alcohol.
It would legalize marijuana for people older than 21, authorize the state Liquor Control Board to regulate and tax marijuana for sale in "stand-alone stores" and extend drunken-driving laws to marijuana, with blood tests to determine how much of the substance's active ingredient is present in a driver's blood.
Taxing sales would bring the state $215 million a year, conservatively estimated, Holmes said.
McKay, who spent five years enforcing federal drug laws as the U.S. attorney in Seattle before he was fired by the Bush administration in early 2007, said he hopes the initiative will help "shame Congress" into ending pot prohibition.
He said laws criminalizing marijuana are wrongheaded because they create an enormous black market exploited by international cartels and crime rings.
"That's what drives my concern: The black market fuels the cartels, and that's what allows them to buy the guns they use to kill people," McKay said. "A lot of Americans smoke pot, and they're willing to pay for it. I think prohibition is a dumb policy, and there are a lot of line federal prosecutors who share the view that the policy is suspect."
Supporters would have until the end of this year to gather more than 240,000 signatures to get the initiative before the Legislature. Lawmakers could approve it or allow it to go to the ballot next year.
The coalition pushing the initiative is called New Approach Washington. It also includes Dr. Robert W. Wood, former director of the HIV/AIDS Program of Public Health — Seattle and King County, and state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, who this year sponsored an unsuccessful bill to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. Both McKay and Holmes supported Dickerson's bill.
While Dickerson's effort failed, separate legislation to license and regulate medical-marijuana dispensaries and grow operations, and give patients broader arrest protection, was approved.
Gregoire, however, vetoed parts of the bill in late April, saying it would put state workers at risk of prosecution under federal law, which bans marijuana.
Although the veto wasn't the only factor behind the initiative, that's when members of the coalition began talking more about a measure that would go beyond medical marijuana, the ACLU's Holcomb said.
"The public opinion is there to support full legalization," she said. "If you're going to put the effort into doing an initiative, it doesn't make sense to limit yourself to medical marijuana."
New Approach Washington planned a news conference Wednesday to announce the effort.
No state has legalized marijuana for recreational purposes in such a way, although some have decriminalized it. The initiative would put Washington squarely at odds with federal law.
It would set limits on how much cannabis people can have: an ounce of dried bud, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused foods in solid form, and 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids, or all three, Holcomb said. Limits are necessary to help ensure that people don't buy large amounts for resale in other states, she said.
Holmes called the measure the "first comprehensive legalization, regulation and taxation initiative. It addresses every concern that has been voiced in the debate over the last several decades."
California voters last year rejected Proposition 19, which would have allowed for personal possession and growing of limited amounts of marijuana, 54 percent to 46 percent.
Steves, a longtime critic of the nation's marijuana laws, said he supports the Washington state initiative because "I just care about our community, and I think the war on marijuana is hurting people. ... I think it's flat out good citizenship to address a problem that needs to be tackled in a more thoughtful way."
McKay said he long has considered marijuana prohibition a failed policy, but that his job as U.S. attorney was to enforce federal law, and he had no problem doing so.
But now, he said, "I can say the law is stupid."
McKay added that he does not use marijuana and that his position is based on a belief that marijuana prohibition has failed.
"When you look at alcohol prohibition, it took the states to say, 'This policy is wrong,' " he said. "This bill might not be perfect, but it's a good step forward. I think it will eventually shame Congress into action."
Another group, Sensible Washington, already is pushing a legalization initiative that would remove all state criminal and civil penalties for marijuana use, possession and cultivation in any amount. Their effort is an initiative directly to the voters, meaning that, if it qualifies for the November ballot and passes, it would become law without input from the Legislature.
The Associated Press and Seattle Times reporters Andrew Garber and Steve Miletich contributed
to this report.

[itisme]

Thx!

[Stress_test]

This is part of a consolidated front that many people in WA are involved in. People at the street level are being far more open about mj and some even pushing it under LEO's nose and daring them to interfere. The federal raids really pissed people off, and they learned the feds weakness.

If the government enacts legislation in conflict with federal law then the feds retaliate. But if the "people" vote into law then the feds hands are tied. Well unless the government wants to openly defy the majority of the population, and that would be treason.

No wonder Obama is walking on eggshells around the marijuana issue.

[StevenSteve]

What they need to understand is that there are too many of us to just ignore, too many of us who want to grow and toke without being afraid of the law, and they need to recognize that we deserve rights too... too many to ignore

[StevenSteve]

i think these are good things though, hoping and praying that legalization comes soon so i can start to focus on important things again and not be concerned about getting arrested all the time

[StevenSteve]

Its time to put the choice back into our hands. there are undisputed medical benefits and there are too many of us that know that!!

Nice!!!! I saw a picture of 100,000 people in Seattle at a pro pot rally where this was anounced and it was a beautiful site! I am so happy that you guys are finding your momentum over there!!

[trichrider]

great! but this is better.

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/init...text/i1149.pdf

goes around the legislature (who will fuck up any bill!) and cuts to the chase.
Please lend your time and/or signature for this worthwhile cause.

Originally Posted by trichrider

great! but this is better.

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/init...text/i1149.pdf

goes around the legislature (who will fuck up any bill!) and cuts to the chase.
Please lend your time and/or signature for this worthwhile cause.

I agree that a binding voter initiative is far better, but the congressional bill would be better than nothing for sure. Either way, I think it is awesome that so many people are banding together over this.

1149 is a great one. the new aproach wa deal is garbage. if it gets passed, no homegrowing and your herb comes from a liquor store. how's that freedom?