They amend it after it gets passed. Amended by the government that is. As I've told many, many people the state of Washington helped write this bill that got voted on by the people and their SOLE intention in the way it was written and the language that was used was to raise revenue. The person who had the largest input was a state legislator who stated and I quote, " I was tired of seeing good programs shut down and people lose their jobs because of revenue short falls and we saw marijuana legalization and taxation as a way to remedy that situation." She was also recently quoted as saying, " I see the marijuana medical community as our biggest market."
They don't care that most medical patients are low income, they are sick and many can't work or can work very little. What money they do have she wants for her pet programs. She sees marijuana as a way to pay for programs she likes. As I've also told people the state will ruthlessly defend it's new monopoly cash cow. I told them, "What do you think the state is just going sit by and let you compete with them and take money from them? Are you fuckin' crazy? Wake the fuck up."
All I heard was that we need legalization and we will fix it later. We'll it's later and it's gotten worse much worse. All you people out there excited about legalization for your state better make sure you are getting what you want up front because once the state sets up a big system to take it's big cut and then if they catch you growing, they will consider it as stealing from them and they will deal with you very harshly. People didn't believe me before and now they realize, they should have already known it's so fuckin' obvious, if the state gets it's greedy little paws on a big revenue source they will protect it like a pit bull protects a steak bone. Believe it. Legalization can be just as bad on growers as it has always been. If you're not a grower and don't mind paying idiotic rip off prices for pot, then knock yourself out. Be a stooge, you'll fit right in with the majority. I went by this pot store the other day and saw a bunch of people waiting outside for the store to open up and I thought to myself, it's like standing in line to get a cattle prod shoved up your butt. Some people like that shit I guess.
If you are a grower you'd better get heavily involved in the legalization effort in your state because if you don't the state will make sure you don't compete with them. They don't even care if you are not selling it. If you are not buying it from them then you are the enemy and they will fuck you up.
This is a fight for your rights and if you give the state any power they will beat you over the head with it. They have all the power and many many ways to use it. Don't let them get their foot in the door because once in they will stomp on you with that foot. We growers in Washington are totally fucked now. The only thing we can do now is move; it's over here and we lost.
Very well written post, hopefully more people will listen to you and start participating before it's too late in their state. Read the proposed text drafts of these laws and get involved! Sad when so many heads would rather look at ten million boring bud porn pics than participate in getting the best law possible.