This is exactly what I've been telling folks! Wow! Finally someone else has written about whats really going on in the Mmj movement...Doninic Holden Thank You for validation. Now if someone would only take a closer look at Seattle Hempfest/Seattle Events they will find the needed drug trafficing accross State lines and money laundering!

Marijuana legalization will do nothing to stop the cartels from killing people. They will always find a drug to illegally sell to millions of Americans. And as long as they are in business people are going to get killed.

@103: Yeah, the Mafia sure is making a killing off of alcohol these days.

Reminder: Decriminalization = change from criminal offense to civil infraction (still unlawful, but instead of a court summons, you get a citation that you can probably pay in the mail, and you're considered guilty as charged until proved innocent -- you've no right to jury trial). Legalization = change from unlawful to lawful.

I don't know anyone who wants possession of cannabis decriminalized. We want to make it legal. We shouldn't lock people in cages because they're found with this plant, and we shouldn't take their money because of it, either.

I've been following 1-502 for awhile, reading as much as i can on it. I'll be voting yes come november.

@94
Thanks for your post, I did not know that you could get that so easy at Hempfest. I think for the most part though the mm doctors would like to see some medical paperwork to back up your story, and that does require time and money.

I've been reading everything i can about i-502. I will be voting yes in november.

@106: "youre here to Troll other people"

No, I'm here to roll my eyes at you when you lie and fabricate disinformation.

"you make claims about the Mafia in your last statement"

Which obviously flew over your head.

"Let me guess you dont have a job, you just have a computer and prob you're on welfare & sitting around your apt and over stuffing your mouth!?"

Ah, nice to see such a classist douchebag supporting his own grey market over the right of ANYONE to self-medicate. I bet you've even got "DRUG TEST FOR WELFARE" or something so shitheaded on your facebook.

Look, you don't have to like me, but if you're going to go apeshit over I-502, use facts. Not rhetoric. What you (as in the majority of anti-502-ers) claim is in I-502 isn't. Stop lying, stop taking the word of whatever people in your clinic's administration as fact.

It isn't, and my reminding you of that isn't "trolling".

"you imply that the whole mmj industry is a sham for $$$"

I'm saying that their political motivations and willingness to lie about the initiative indicate care for their continued employment over the concerns of their patients, who shouldn't have to be put through these hoops to medicate.

Not all are lying, there's plenty to discuss, but there's more than a fair share of people just making shit up outright here, and I find that distressing.

You pulled a lot of wool by straw manning the DUI provision as the main problem. The main problem is that basically only a limited amount of companies can grow and sell pot legally. All the simple possession charges for people that will go away don't mean shit when I as a potsmoker will be paying way more for crappy pot. But more importantly, the fact that people like me can only legally get expensive, crappy pot, will LEAVE THE BLACK MARKET IN PLACE for cheaper crappy pot or expensive good pot. So you still have cartels and people getting busted for growing good homegrown. This solves nothing. It makes shitty pot a state industry. And the DUI is still a bit of a concern.

You pulled a lot of wool by straw manning the DUI provision as the main problem. The main problem is that basically only a limited amount of companies can grow and sell pot legally. All the simple possession charges for people that will go away don't mean shit when I as a potsmoker will be paying way more for crappy pot. But more importantly, the fact that people like me can only legally get expensive, crappy pot, will LEAVE THE BLACK MARKET IN PLACE for cheaper crappy pot or expensive good pot. So you still have cartels and people getting busted for growing good homegrown. This solves nothing. It makes a small supply of shitty pot a state industry and frees up resources to go after growers of plants. This doesn't legalize SHIT. I want to be able to grow a garden of pot in my fucking basement and smoke it. Until then, I'll vote with the option that leaves me out of jail and with the best pot. And that option would be the status quo. This law does nothing to distinguish between peaceful, crunchy, enlightened, friendly, positive, socially-active growers of pot and angry, violent, horrific people who run drug cartels and capitalists. Yours, Responsible Pot Love

And yes I posted it twice with differentversions because Im stoned. Better not get behind the wheel.

Incarceration is expensive to the tax payer. I wonder how much our state would save if our jails weren't being used to detain marijuana users.

Change is needed! People are dying in Mexico, and cartels are spending everyone's money.

and also...

Fuck a doctor's recommendation.

VOTE YES.

I-502 is not a re-legalization initiative:it is a decriminalization initiative.If you want to see a true re-legalization initiative,then investigate the one in Montana (or Colorado,for that matter!)http://legalize2012.com

Anything shy of no limits to quantity,quality,and method of cannabis cultivation is NOT compatible with the facts.Cannabis isn't ethanol,and shouldn't be treated like it (or like Heroin or cocaine,for that matter!)YOU CAN'T PATENT A PLANT,THAT'S WHY BIG PHARMA -CUNTROLLED DEA IS SUCH A HARD-ASS ABOUT GANJA!!!(Pfft!!!)

Legalize it to full on commercial enterprise. The State of Washington is known world-wide for our incredibly powerful advanced strains of marijuana. It has been this way for several decades. I have not seen a seed since 1975.

The money is immense and harmless. I see bio-domes in Woodinville growing highly advanced strains to perfection created in scientific greenhouses at St. Michelle. And high level competition is immense.

The price of product is pretty well set as i feel our current illegal market sets a good price. Say an oz. of St. Michelle premium growth sells at $500. It is worth every penny. Not possible for an individual to smoke that in a month. Otherwise, you are smoking too much pot!

So, $250 of that amount is to tax. $250 provides grower and retailer profit. Tax it heavy. don't wimp out on this deal.

The tourist industry in the NW should be cashed in on. Visit Seattle and legally smoke the finest herb possible anywhere in the universe... have stoner tours where you wake and bake and get a nice breakfast at a local cool eatery, the to the Market (and freshen up while walking) and see an art house film then see a band afterwards then go back to your hotel downtown and bake and watch TV for a minute and zzzzz. Start the next day with a latte. See the Sounders that night. Get back to your hotel to see the films of the game on the news. Seattle's Best??? We'll show ya... The State Tourism people should be all over this one and pushing for legalization....

The medicinal marijuana is a good thing. Advancements need to be made there in dispensing and perscribing proper amounts in need for said ailment perscribed for. We are the Guini Pigs (in a good way) to advance medical usage of such.

best,
Douglas Mays/NewSoul Enterprises

Wow, simply astounding! It really *IS* about money, not “medicine”! What a bunch of douche bags.

Finally, we get a proposition for legalization that actually has a decent chance of passing, and the biggest opposition comes from the medical marijuana crowd? You can all go fuck yourselves. This law is looking after EVERYONE, not just the poor patients and their sellers. A vote against it is a vote for putting pot smokers behind bars, just because you don't want to lose your own privileges and profits. And Michael Lick sounds like a champion douche. He can lick my sack.

Some of the opponents of 502 remind me of Nader supporters in 2000. They didn't want the moderate Gore. They wanted someone much Greener. So instead we had eight years of Bush, who was one of the worst Presidents for the environment (or anything else for that matter). Meanwhile, the "not quite Green enough" Gore goes on to enlighten the general public about the worst environmental threat (or long term threat in general) of our time. The profound political ignorance of those who want the perfect instead of the good always astounds me.

Thank God that the gay rights leadership doesn't feel this way. Otherwise, we wouldn't have civil unions (because, after all, we all know that civil unions will only reduce our chances of getting gay marriage). Civil unions aren't great, but at least they are a step in the right direction, as is this bill.

Pass the law and we will amend it later. Worse case scenario we send a clear message to Washington D. C.. If it fails, only the political wonks will say it was because a few cannabis proponents weren't happy with the bill. Most will say it was because the country just isn't ready (or simply doesn't want) legalized marijuana.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2…

Munch Bush

Bolivia, the biggest cocaine producer after Peru and Colombia, has been trying to promote coca's health benefits and develop legal uses for coca leaves.

Bolivians have chewed the leaves for centuries as a mild stimulant that reduces hunger and altitude sickness, and
Morales has asked the UN to decriminalize the traditional practice.

"We are very much aware of the damage that can be done by cocaine and we are working against drug trafficking ... but we want the recognition of these ancestral rights," Morales said

it is a good idea that has maybe finely come to pass but yes maybe it needs to be fine tuned. states would make a fortune on taxes on the sale of it. I live in Oregon but plan on moving back to Washington soon for a job. I have family and friends there that use. I agree, good idea, bad wording.

This war on drugs thing has failed long ago and I believe it is time for this country to move into the twenty first century by using common sense again. Long over the days should be for locking up 1/2 the general public for mere possesion. Even though it has not been taxed among the dealor/brother/pusher....etc. it has taxed this nation into oblivion in our judicial circuit. I believe it is long overdue for A new approach on the matter and all the shit I just read hear is the whole reason I smoke it in the first place....."s t r e s s e d o u t ! " OMG...THIS WAS A BOOK...NOT AN ARTICLE....FUKITALREADY...WE WON THEY LOST....JUST DO IT....LEGALIZE THE CANNABIS AND FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS AS WE GO YOU BUNCH OF STUPID NON DOPESMOKEING ASSHOLES.

I-502 is not legalization. If marijuana were legalized in the way that alcohol has been legalized, it would be legal to grow your own, and to sell the materials for doing so, including seeds and plants.

Here's the problem: If that was actually done, prices would collapse, and so would the hopes of significant tax revenue.

The cost of growing one's own is 1/25th, or less, than the current "dispensary" price. Enough people, and especially the heavy users, would grow their own that the prices for those who bought commercially would collapse.

No way will the state go for that, so instead we see things like I-502, which places an absurdly low cap on personal possession, and retains criminal penalties for doing the equivalent of brewing your own beer without a license.

Until I can go to my neighborhood nursery and buy marijuana seeds and plants, any "legalization" proposal is a sham erected mainly to prop up prices while letting state governments in on the action.

When was the last time a traffic fatality was caused because someone was high on cannabis? Never, hasn't happened. The problem us cannabis smokers have with this 502 initiative is people like Dominic Holden compare pot to alcohol - They are NOT THE SAME!

Most people drive better when using cannabis AND people know when they are too stoned to drive. How do they know? Because when you are too stoned to drive you are out of your body and out of your mind. Driving is the last thing to be concerned about - too stoned, have to drive, not going to happen.

Who are any of you supporters of 502 to tell the rest of the world that we are too stoned to drive? Have you ever caused an accident while driving stoned? Do you drive better when stoned?

Why should we pay TAXES on something we do not have to pay taxes on now?

502 is not legalizing marijuana!!! It means that people will have to deal with more, not less, government agencies: police,taxes,licencing, dep't of agriculture, state liquor board, and on and on.

FREE the WEED - don't put it into a box where the gangs that run our governments can get their GREEDY hands on our sacred herb.

Cannabis should be free like any other commodity such as coffee. Bought and sold and given away freely like a cup of Joe.

VOTE NO on 502!!!

American Patriot

People should not make brash statements without proof. Prove with science that people driving on THC cause more accidents? Where is the study, the research the science?

If you can't show the world your proof then quit making brash assertions like people need to be tested for THC in order to make our roads safer.

American Patriot, free coffee? Tell it to Starbucks, you stoner idiot.

People like Mister G need to smoke better weed and more often - what a bitch he is.

Having read through all of these comments -- although I am not lucky enough to live any longer in a state that is given the privilege to vote on this bill (I left Washington many years ago, more by necessity than choice) -- I must say that I find the arguments against passing this bill to be, in the main, partisan and narcissistic. The Bill's imperfections are obvious, both from the scientific (proof of impairment should be a requirement for any DUI prosecution) and the humanist perspectives (yes, people should be allowed -- nay, encouraged -- to grown marijuana in their gardens or basements). But the proponents are surely right to stress that these are matters for future remediation, and that the defeat of this bill would be a terrible tragedy, not just for the state of Washington, not just for consumers of cannabis, both medical and recreational, but for the hopes for a better and more just world. Please people -- vote for those of us who can't. Vote yes on this initiative.

The key thing to understand is that neither side is telling the truth. This won't be a vote on the legalization of marijuana. It will be a vote on who gets the profits that emanate from keeping it illegal.

On one side is the dispensaries, which want it to be illegal without a bullshit medical marijuana certificate. On the other side is the referendum, which want it to be illegal to grow your own instead of buying it from the state cartel at a 10-fold markup.

Each side is pursuing its own self-interest, using the law as the enforcer of a monopoly. Either way you vote, you're endorsing corruption and lies. Myself, I'm thinking I will skip this one.

Criticisms against I-502 are legitimate. Why in the world must there be a 3-tier system? The costs of starting a cannabis business under I-502 are prohibitively high, shutting out less connected people in favor of the well-connected and well-financed. I-502 is the wrong model, and unfortunately, a competing petition drive seeks nearly unregulated legalization that the Washington legislature could over-regulate too.

Wow...so much stupidity. These anti502ers make the people against it for religious reasons look reasonable. Who would've seen that coming?

People...politics takes time. The first step is NEVER perfect.

We ended alcohol prohibition by starting with 3.2% beer. No bourbon, no wine, no brewpubs, and certainly no home brewing. We have to be realistic. The mainstream voters vital to any initiative's passage wouldn't touch the kind free-for-all legalization you demand.

502 is the best chance we have to get the ball rolling on the all encompassing legalization you claim to support.

Failing to vote for this initiative will make it MORE difficult, not less, to legalize home growing, allow non-commercial gifting, remove penalties for the possession of quantities greater than 1 oz, and treat under 21 possession like alcohol.

Realistic expectations pass laws. Undiluted idealism alienates important voters.

Vote YES on I-502

I want to go on record my name is Joe and I am the owner of Urban Roots and as the owner of Urban Roots my company nor myself agree with what Michael Lick has said in this article. He has spoken on behalf of my business without permission from myself and it is completely out of line.

We do not agree with the way our state has gone about recreational legalization in regards to medical cannabis. We have served sick and dying people for over four years and I am now being told that I will have to close my business and send all my patients to a state run store that dose not take the proper precautions for people who are sick and have compromised immune systems or truly care about the wellbeing of their patients. I am by no means a greedy person or only after money I have been helping people my whole life and this was my way of providing a truly medical approach to medical cannabis by testing everything for potency to insure proper dosage, we only accepted cannabis from our community garden to make sure no pesticides or harmful chemicals, we specialize in highest quality not whatever we can afford. Washington state has voted to remove state run liquor stores but we think a state run pot store is going to be a better idea? The medical cannabis community has set a standard for ourselves and the few of us that have been aroundas long as we have are oobviously doing something correct or we would not be here still in business. The state should have taken taken a look at Colorado and just integrated our medical access points to I502 approved stores and started collecting tax money immediately.
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Again Michael Lick is no way connected with Urban Roots anymore and I apologize for the misrepresentation. His views are his views not ours