I just want to be able to use cannabis. Regardless of the reason. Without being considered a criminal by anyone. Legalizing access (any access at all) isnt happening fast enough for people like me.
Marijuana and Cannabis News
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| KPLU |
| Norm Stamper, LEAP: "Everyone knows that marijuana prohibition has failed" |
Law Enforcers Say Ending Prohibition Will Improve Public Safety
A group of police officers, prosecutors, judges and other criminal justice professionals - including Seattle's former chief of police - is endorsing I-502, the Washington initiative to regulate and tax marijuana that voters will decide on this November.
Norm Stamper, the former Seattle chief and a spokesman for the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), said, "Everyone knows that marijuana prohibition has failed. When even those who once worked to enforce these laws are saying this, the only logical next step is to enact a system that legalizes, regulates and controls marijuana.
"Doing so will not only take money away from the gangs and cartels that sell marijuana now, but will generate new, much-needed revenue that can be used to pay the salaries of police officers and teachers and for substance abuse prevention and education," Stamper said.
"Replacing the criminalization of the marijuana trade with a public health approach grounded in science will allow our criminal justice system to fully focus on stopping and solving violent crimes and crimes against property," added David Nichols, a retired judge in Bellingham. "We don't need the backs of our police cars, our courtrooms or our jails filled with people caught on marijuana charges."
(I hope that goes for marijuana DUI charges as well, since I-502 also creates a new per se five nanogram per milliliter [5 ng/ml] blood THC limit, superseding Washington's current law, which is based on actual impairment.)
If I-502 is passed, there will be penalties in place to punish driving with a blood THC level more than 5 ng/ml, or use by persons under 21 years old (for whom a zero tolerance DUI rule would apply).
I-502 would strictly regulate the sale of marijuana to adults over 21. The initiative would not change laws regarding medical marijuana or impairment in the workplace.
"By regulating and controlling marijuana, we will make it less available to teenagers," said James Doherty, a former prosecutor who lives in Seattle. "Ask any high school student whether it is easier to get marijuana or alcohol. Most will say marijuana, because alcohol is regulated and controlled under the law, and marijuana is controlled by illegal dealers who don't ask for I.D."
Recent statewide polling shows a double-digit margin of support for the initiative.
Other high-profile criminal justice professionals who have endorsed I-502 include former FBI special agent in charge Charles Mandigo and former US Attorneys John McKay and Katrina C. Pflaumer.
Coloradans will also vote on a statewide initiative to legalize and tax marijuana this November.
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124 comments
If marijuana were legal, it will cost ~ $10/lb or close to what good table grapes go for as it takes similar labor and resources to produce. Thank god, that scam hydro fertilizer market will also finally come to an end.
Your an idiot or involved in the black market if you think that after I-502 passes police will be more likely to pull you over than they would now when mere marijuana can get you a felony.
Washington state lawmakers on the House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness will vote on two pending marijuana law reform proposals, House Bill 1177 and House Bill 2401. House Bill 1177 seeks to reclassify the possession of forty grams or less of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a class 2 civil infraction punishable by a $100 fine. House Bill 2401 seeks to “remove all existing civil and criminal penalties for adults 21 years of age or older who cultivate, possess, transport, sell, or use marijuana.”
Talking about it in the comments, here, is great and all, but if you really want to make a difference, go to the state's website, whch is http://wwwDOTsosDOTwaDOTgovSLASHelectionsSLASHelected_officialsDOTaspx and email all of the government officials listed on the page with your concerns and criticisms of the bill. THAT is how you get things changed.
502's language is already written in stone -- it ain't gonna change. It's going on the ballot exactly as written, and as approved by Secretary of State's office.
Which is just fine, considering the good it will accomplish FAR outweighs the temporary imperfections. Yes, they WILL be modified soon after re-legalization. The millions of marijuana consumers who will then have their gags removed will make sure of that.
Which is horrible, considering the harm it will cause FAR outweighs the trivial benefits. No, they WILL NOT be modified for a long time. The millions of marijuana consumers who have failed to change the laws in 40+ years will have no say once it is enshrined in statute.
To fairhill below:I take everyone's sentiments, etc, into account. I have been doing so for more than forty years.
It is the naysayers who will lose the battle. If they get their way, we won't even engage the enemy. If it weren't for the money they are making off prohibition, I'd have to call them cowards.
I-502 fully engages the enemy and will prevail. The naysayers contribute nothing and only plant roadblocks to reform. It's highly likely that some in their ranks are agents working for prohibitionist forces.
When and if, you can't accept or take a persons strong sentiment, opinions, feelings and political beliefs into account for their thoughts and words, you will lose the battle and never see the light of day for the war. What I get from you is your right and no one else has a valid opinion, by now it's obvious to most here.
When and if, you can't accept or take a persons strong sentiment, opinions, feelings and political beliefs into account for their thoughts and words, you will lose the battle and never see the light of day for the war. What I get from you is your right and no one else has a valid opinion, by now it's obvious to most here.
To greenlv below:
Thanks for all the cursing. It shows you find normal speech inadequate to respond to the strength of my posts. ( But here's a clue. It doesn't help. It just reveals for the lowlife you are.)
You just don't know how to deal with a world where marijuana is legal again. Don't worry. You'll find out real soon. 8^)
"Which is fine" for you, asshole. Not for voters of Washington State, who want to drive without intimidation or incarceration, who want the State out of their business, or who want to grow at home. Modified 'soon' like we just got rid or a Liquor board started in 1933? After you supposed 'Legalization', 502 would be 'modified' to make more money, Zero tolerance, more government, more assholes like you.
While the DUI provision in 502 is aimed at concerned voters, it is exactly this provision that gives ammunition to the prohibitioners to keep it prohibited. Also just the fact that DUID is in 502 in an unscientific way, only serves to shed unwanted attention on the issue, while alienating the medical marijuana people. One thing is for sure, the polling indicates 502 will only pass by a narrow margin, and if we don't get the mm people, it will go the way of prop 19. It's a shame the sponsors of 502 didn't consult with the mm people before declaring, damn the torpedos full steam ahead.
It's not the MM "people" that are against I-502. Their situation will be improved tremendously by re-legalization. They will be free from police "inspections," arrest, and other harrassment, have exponentially lower prices and generally not be treated like a second-class citizen any longer.
So it's just some MM vendors who are "concerned." I don't believe ANY form of re-legalization would pass their muster. These foxes in the henhouse must be disregarded.
Silly games. You know I'm talking about police encounters on the road and other places
Hahahaha you think 502 will reduce police entounters while driving.....its gives them more ammo
I refute the arguments to your dumb deaf ear, asshole. Thank you for galvanizing people against it be being a smug, know-it-all, asshole and attacking everyone who does not agree with your State paid professional 'Reformer' rhetoric. 502 is Bad Law and will not Pass.
No. After re-legalization, there will be little interest by police in pursuing the prosecution of drivers who are only impaired by statute. Those that attempt it will find their cases routinely tossed out of court, and the fraudulent law will wither quickly.
More Ammo and a standard procedure to follow and DUI quotas to meet. It would become economically institutionalized and Zero tolerance would follow. Maybe punk professional 'Reformer' has never been to Seattle, but as beautiful as it is, the Cops went all Big Brother back in the WTO bullshit. Look at the lawsuits, the payoffs, the headlines. They tell the story about Northwest bacon and forecast how State Power would implement a Nazi law like 502.
502 is Horrible Law and Will Not Pass.
To greenlv below:
When you can't refute the arguments, attack the messenger. Thanks for validating my position.
No, I don't grow, or vend, or sell, or gangster, weed. For the hundredth time. I buy it. I smoke the hell out of it. And I could give a rat's ass for 'jontomas's' or his fifty-cent grass. People on a budget should be grow their own, Oh wait, that something 502 does not make 'Legal'.
What does this food-stamp 'Reformer', 'jontomas' spend on a nice bottle of wine, dinner, a hotel room? Life is expensive, loser. If so-called 'Reformers' spent more time on their own business and less trying to save us all, maybe he could afford to drive a car. Oh, better not do that if you smoked weed At All. I doubt cry-cry, poverty-stricken, 'jontomas' can afford a decent DUI attorney on his pathetic paid professional 'Reformer' gig.
502 is Bad Law and Will Not Pass.
Weed can be grown for $50.00 or less per plant Outside: Unless you get frugal and charge for your labour, and that's a fact, been there done it.
To vapemaster below:
He's not talking about selling it. He's referring to the fact that after re-legalization, no one will pay more than $100 an ounce for a plant that costs $3 an ounce to grow.
Im already free from inspections ....grow my own without any problems,,,, you actually think weed is going to be $50 a oz...hahaha good luck with that
502 doesnt make it legal for any home grows...why... the state doesnt want us suppling ourselves...but rather be good little sheep and go to the stores they deam as your suppler.
Silly games. You know I'm talking about police encounters on the road and other places.
It is ONLY the prohibition premium that causes marijuana's high prices. Did you think it was made of gold? It's just a plant. Think prices for fine tobacco and you will be close.
Yes, yes. I know I-502 doesn't allow home growing. But millions of ungagged marijuana consumers will soon be wielding long-suppresse political clout with re-legalization. Home growing and reasonable driving restrictions will come quickly afterwards.
The insistence to NOT consider the grand paradigm change with the end of marijuana prohibition is quite astounding. It could only be accomplished by greedy growers with tunnel vision.
Paid mouthpiece 'jontomas' is a Lame little sheep and want to sell out to Master who will give him breadcrumb. No home grows, State inspected, Insane DUI laws is not 'Legalization' and only a paid politician would call it so. 502 is Bad Law and Will Not Pass
Yes, vote for freedom not a government run system that taxes the hell out of patients. Its crazy, I have no interest not voting for this, I just know the logic of what happens when you put the state in charge of business. Seriously people, I dont want to pay $500 for an ounce nor should a patient who can't afford it. 502 is putting special interests in charge, and as undemocratic as it gets. People wont want to pay that and this will only boost the black market. You are silly to think this will combat the black market, but it will in fact do the opposite. Dont me fools people, this is a trap called legalization. Lets work on a democratic legalization solution without the bureaucracy or special interests.
Nonsense. Re-legalizing marijuana is the FASTEST way to bring prices down to earth. After re-legalization the bulk of the price - the prohibition premium - will be gone, and the price of average quality marijuana will be around $50 an ounce - plus taxes.
Nonsense, that's what this ass says to anyone who dissents this bought-off mouth-peice and his State paid position.
To greenlv below:
I laid out the facts and from them it's easy to see the truth of the nay-sayer position. You make wild, unsupported accusations in desperation to distract from your unethical attempt to perpetuate the persecution of millions of good Americans. And all just to keep your gravy train rolling. - Sick.
The same way jontomas found out that anyone who apposes 502 is a greedy grower and a gang-banger.
Can you please elaborate on what you know about jontomas's being paid by the State? Which state do you mean, Washington State, or "The State"? How did you find this stuff out? Because without any facts to back them up, your simple accusations are ringing a little hollow.
It's clear the only people who are against I-502 are those who make money off of the persecution of millions of innocent Americans. Greedy growers are in league with the cops and the drug gangs on this.
To all marijuana consumers:
DON'T BE FOOLED BY THESE MONEY GRUBBERS INTO VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN INTERESTS!
Vote for I-502 and vote for your FREEDOM! - The heck with these prohibition profiteers!
Vilify everyone who does not want their Blood taken by the State, anyone who want to drive a car, and Anyone who wants to grow their own smoke. IIf anyone is getting paid off it's you State mouthpiece! The Cops are the ones promoting 502 and the State, who want total control, and you. 502 is horrible Orwellian law designed to create revenue for the State and pay-off professional Reformers. War is not piece. Two plus two is four. 502 is not 'Legalization', it is Bad Law and Will Not Pass.
War is not piece? 8^)
You've been outted. You shout:
"Everyone drop the battering ram! It's got a couple of splinters in it!"
In this war on Americans, the people are starting to fight back. If you can't lend a hand, get out of the way. Sorry, but we're smashing the "medical marijuana" paradigm on our quick way to ending the fraudulent marijuana prohibition. I use quotes because it is undeniable a sizeable portion of patients are there primarily for the high. Nothing wrong with it, but this fragile construct was always just a STEP toward reform - nothing close to a destination.
More than 800,000 innocent Americans are arrested for simple marijuana possession each year and made second-class citizens FOR LIFE. They will forever face huge obstacles to decent employment, education, travel, housing, government benefits, and will always go into court with one strike against them. They can even have their CHILDREN taken away.
20 million Americans are now locked away in this very un-American sub-class. That has a horrible effect on the whole country, being an incredible waste of human potential. Further, the fraudulent prohibition causes vast amounts of crime, corruption, violence, death and the severe diminishment of EVERYONE'S freedom. There is NO domestic issue more important than ending what is essentially the American Inquisition.
The wrinkles will be ironed out soon.
To greenlv below:
Your denial of the explosive growth and success of the marijuana reform movement is just another indication you have no intention to EVER support ANY re-legalization initiative. Quit hiding behind the "flaws" of I-502. Your greedy motivation is clear.
The 'wrinkles' he calls them, will be ironed out soon. The Liquor control board in Washington was formed in 1933, we the people of Washington State just now voted them out of the business. You mean soon like that professional 'Reformer'?
*Prohibition* is bad law and must not stand. If you vote down I-502, you are voting to keep prohibition. There are no two ways about it.
Indeed. Marijuana prohibition will soon be tossed on the pile of bad U.S. law - along with alcohol prohibition and laws that maintained slavery and discrimination.
This justice is WAY past due.
