Good news, pot smokers and freedom lovers: Today, the Secretary of State’s office provisionally certified marijuana-decriminalization Initiative 502 to the Legislature, a move they’re constitutionally obligated to do but is nevertheless exciting*. Basically, it means that the Legislature can now get the ball rolling in Olympia and assign the measure to its proper hearing committee while Secretary of State Sam Reed finishes up a random, three-percent check for valid Initiative signatures (or 10,638 signatures).
For those of you new to the process, Reed’s office explains that once in committee, the Legislature can:
·Pass the measure
·Reject it and let it go to the November ballot
·Ignore it and let it go the ballot
·Let it go to the ballot along with a legislative alternative
It has been seven years since Initiatives to the Legislature were on the state ballot. I-330 and I-336, both dealing with medical malpractice, were rejected by voters.
*At least on a slow news day, when half our staff is snowed in whereverthefuck and no one is answering their phone because everyone is having “fun” in the snow having and frolicking with friends right outside my office window. In other news, Paul Constant just requested that I stop sneaking up on him and hugging him for extended periods of time. I am also not allowed to air hump him from a distance while maintaining eye contact. I am so lonely you guys.
It is okay. In solidarity, I will air-dry-hump nothing in particular while maintaining eye contact with the monitor.
Lonely no more!
There is actually a fourth alternative with an initiative to the legislature: it can be passed by both houses and signed into law by the governor, exactly as if it was an ordinary bill. I’m not holding my breath on that one, but it IS a possible outcome.
Cienna,
At your option, I will defer, whatever be your preference, eye contact, or otherwise (might I suggest that you cross room air hump me while I stare at the ground sheepishly?).
@2 She lists 4 options and the first one is the one you mention.
This is excellent news! Also, once again Paul doesn’t know how good he’s got it.
Best footnote EVER.
yeah, what idaho said…hope you long gone from the office and lonely no more Cienna.
Uhhh, there are two more bills active in this session that call for legalization, regulation and taxation. They are 1550 and 5598.. There are also eight medical cannabis bills proposed, for a total of ten cannabis bills.
It should be clearly stated, not all legalization proponents like this initiative, and in fact many feel that this measure goes backwards in new and unscientific laws that criminalize many, including patients for merely driving.