An initiative to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana in Washington probably won’t get fast-tracked by the Legislature before it sees the ballot this fall, the campaign supporting it says.
Initiative 502 had a work session at the Capitol Thursday. Because it’s an initiative to the Legislature rather than to the people, lawmakers could pass it directly into law or propose an alternative that would appear next to it on the ballot.
However, campaign director Alison Holcomb doesn’t see signs that they’ll do either.
“We’re being realistic about the fact that this is a short session,” Holcomb told reporters after the meeting. “They’re very busy this year and we have a budget problem.”
Holcomb also said the Legislature would likely need a two-thirds vote to pass the initiative into law since it includes a new marijuana excise tax. That alone could deter lawmakers from taking up the cause.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said Wednesday she doesn’t expect the Legislature to take any action on the initiative. If the Legislature ignores the proposal, it goes to the November ballot.
Supporters testified Thursday that the measure would respond to a failing marijuana policy and help fight the black market. Opponents said it would increase youth marijuana use and questioned how effective the proposed system for regulation and taxation would be.
Jim Cooper, executive director of TOGETHER!, an organization that works with youth substance abuse prevention in Thurston County, testified against the initiative.
“We’re proponents of a medical model for marijuana, and the rescheduling of it to be a medicine and regulated by the pharmacies,” Cooper said in an interview. “When availability goes up and access is easier, you’ll see more kids smoking marijuana.”
Last week, more than 40 Washington lawmakers asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to make marijuana a Schedule 2 drug, allowing it to be used for treatment.
Cooper also expressed concern about the state’s ability to regulate the drug.
“I’m concerned that the Liquor Control Board, in the transition they’re going through right now, may not have the resources and ability to regulate marijuana,” he said.
Seattle Democrats Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles spoke in favor of I-502 at a press conference after Thursday’s hearing.
“It is time to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis,” Dickerson told reporters. “... Washington state can be the first state in the country to do this, and I fully believe that other states will follow.”
Some in the medical marijuana community are concerned about the initiative’s proposed limits on THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, for drivers. Dickerson sponsored a proposal that would require law enforcement to use methods other than THC levels to judge impairment, but it didn’t make the cutoff for bills to pass policy committees.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.