(Washington) State Dems back marijuana-legalization initiative

Seattle Times ^ | Sept. 19, 2011 | Jonathon Martin

[Rennes Templar]

The state Democratic Central Committee threw its support behind a marijuana legalization initiative this weekend, calling the continuing prohibition against the state's second-biggest cash crop a waste of public money.

At a meeting in Bellingham, the Democrats cited law enforcement costs -- "simple marijuana possession charges now account for fully half of all drug arrests in Washington" -- and the potential to raise $215 million in new tax revenue each year if Initiative 502 passes, among other things.

Initiative 502 is sponsored by the ACLU of Washington and most prominently endorsed by former U.S. Attorney John McKay, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes and travel guru Rick Steves. If paid signature-gathering efforts succeed as expected, I-502 will go to the state Legislature this upcoming session. If the Legislature punts, the initiative will be on the November 2012 ballot.

Unlike previous efforts aimed at simply de-criminalizing marijuana, I-502 would allow pot to be sold in stores licensed by the state Liquor Control Board, with hefty mark-ups.

[Rennes Templar]

Gay, pot-smoking soldiers in Washington must be in bliss.

[blueunicorn6]

Lazy, stupid and cowardly American illegal drug users who are too lazy, stupid and chicken to change their reality use illegal drugs in an attempt to ignore their reality for a few minutes.

[Scotsman will be Free]

I don’t care if they legalize pot or not, but I do know this. “Simple” marihuana possession charges result in a ticket being issued on the street. Later, the defendant can pay a fine or have a trial.
Secondly, if those fools in the democrap party think that the illegals running the marihuana farms in the national forests are going to start paying taxes and submit to govt control, they have been smoking crack.

[Iron Munro]

Lazy, stupid and cowardly American illegal drug users who are too lazy, stupid and chicken
to change their reality use illegal drugs in an attempt to ignore their reality for a few minutes.

Liberals believe that reality is a just a crutch for those who can't handle their drugs.

[camp_steveo]

” if those fools in the democrap party think that the illegals running the marihuana farms in the national forests are going to start paying taxes and submit to govt control, they have been smoking crack.”
_________________________________________________________

Actually, I believe that a free market would open up and legal farmers would cash in.

[Bean Counter]

Here locally, both the City and the County have passed one-year moratoriums on implementing this nonsense while they seek legal guidance and wait for this to be challenged by someone in Federal Court.

And is it just me, or does the phrase “Democratic Central Committee” send shivers up your spine as well? Central Committees are what the former USSR used to run things and I find it ironic that the Dhimmies don’t realize that....

...or maybe they do....

[varyouga]

” Lazy,stupid and cowardly American illegal drug users who are too lazy,stupid and chicken to change their reality use illegal drugs in an attempt to ignore their reality for a few minutes.”

You're unfortunately right about many addicts. You're wrong about a few minutes however. The most popular drugs can bend reality for up to a day. Some for several days.

However, there is a large number of intelligent people that believe you should be allowed to responsibly research clean psychedelics on your own dime. Only by altering your consciousness, can you begin to answer the question “what is reality and why does my mind work the way it does”. Living an entire life at your predetermined chemical baseline is like driving a car without ever tinkering under the hood. Most people are afraid to experiment with their engine and many don't even look at it. But only those that take it apart will truly understand how it works and make progress in their view of reality. Of course you can make mistakes and cause damage but the man who makes no mistakes is the man that does nothing.

If you would like to learn more, I will be participating in the Horizons Forum here in NYC. www.horizonsnyc.org

Confirmed featured speakers are:

Steve Beyer, scholar, attorney, adventurer, and expert on both jungle survival and plant hallucinogens — is the author of Singing to the Plants, “the most comprehensive examination of Amazonian shamanism ever written.”

James Fadiman, Ph.D., dean and co-founder, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology; author, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys.

Roy Haber, LLB, attorney for the Santo Daime ayahuasca church in Portland, Oregon.

Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Ph.D., anthropologist from Heidelberg University. She is an independent writer, consultant, lecturer and organizer of scientific conferences and cultural events related to the field of drugs, religion and shamanism.

Ken Johnson, New York Times art critic and author of Are You Experienced? How Psychedelic Consciousness Transformed Modern Art.

Nicolas Langlitz, Ph.D., medical anthropologist and historian of science and assistant professor of anthropology at the New School for Social Research in New York.

David E Nichols, Ph.D., founding president of Heffter Research Institute, Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Distinguished Chair in Pharmacology at Purdue University.

Juan Sanchez-Ramos, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. He is Vice-Chair of the Department of Neurology and the Helen E. Ellis Endowed Chair for Parkinson’s Disease Research.

Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D., Clinical Research Associate at Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

[Rennes Templar]

Yes I noticed that too! I think they know it and revel in it...

[Ken H]

Suppose Washington does vote to legalize. Do you support its 10th Amendment authority to do so? Or, do you think the New Deal Commerce Clause should trump the 10th?

[Ken H]

Stomping your feet will not help at all.

What do you propose be done?

[Bean Counter]

First, the Washington State Legislature voted to legalize, not the voters.

And this issue is really simple. I do not want a State-run marijuana dispensary in every neighborhood in my town. Nor do I care to have “legal” marijuana grow operations in my neighborhood either.

How is that? Does that answer your questions??

[Ken H]

You gave a Clintonian non-answer to a simple question. It sounds like you would support the New Deal Commerce Clause over the 10th Amendment, but that you don't have the nerve to say so.

Are you ashamed to say it?

[Scotsman will be Free]

Did you read the entire article? The liquor control board would regulate it with all of the attendant taxes. The state of Washington is famous for taxing the crap out of booze and tobacco. The indians will sell it for less or it wil still be grown and sold by the mexicans for less than the state. Nothing will change except it will be legal.

[Bean Counter]

Give it a rest Ken.

[Ken H]

I will. When you stop displaying contempt for the Constitution.