News Jan 22, 2009 at 4:00 am

Marijuana Decriminalization Struggles in the Legislature

Comments

1
Please excuse the bad pun, but it's high time that Washington at least decriminalize possession. We are short on money as it is, lets stop wasting money on people not hurting anyone and go after what really matters.
2
Fucking Republicans.
3
Imagine how much revenue one would get from taxing it.
4
So the argument against decriminalization is that Washington state residents "won't be happy" if they end up getting harassed by federal agents?!? Is this guy serious? Is this guy seriously a legislator?? What a joke.

We already are "not happy" with the current marijuana criminalization and we would be much happier to take our chances with the coast guard! If the state legislature is really so concerned about our sensitive feelings, then I dare them to let us vote on this issue!
5
"...if they go out on their boat [and are arrested by the Coast Guard], they are not going to be happy with us."

People (voters) aren't that dumb. We understand that state laws might be in conflict with Federal law that we may choose to violate, and that many other states and their citizens are in that situation.

It's a critical aspect of democracy that citizens value the differences between states encoded in state-level laws, *especially* when those may be in conflict with monolithic Federal law. "States legislatures are the laboratories of democracy" and all that.
6
Me and Will, we're on the same wavelength. ;-) Two comments at the same time about same thing.
7
"According to data from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, the state would save $7.5 million a year by passing the law—a figure that's based on the 11,553 pot-possession arrests in Washington in 2007."

Is the $7.5 million based on court costs, the actual sentences dolled out, some averaging of the sentences, a combination of those things or something completely different? I don't like unexplained numbers, so many faulty assumptions can hide within them.

In this case, 7.5 million divided by 11,553 would mean that an average of $650 was spent on each arrest. That seems a little low to me.
8
@ Erika T.) The breakdown is in a Slog post: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
9
Hmm... less non-violent offenders in the system, saving the state money while freeing up more space for violent offenders? Why isn't this a no-brainer?
10
What a lame Repug excuse for blocking that directly contradicts their own so-called philosophy of everyone's "personal responsibility." They are so gun shy about "blame" now, they are really getting even more irrational to keep their ignorant agenda on track.

Not to menition the WA Federal District Attorney has already told the Border Patrol not to send him MJ cases that are small time, because he is not going to prosecute them. What about concern for the Medical MJ patients who get busted by the Feds while they are IN the state?

No lame excuses anymore. Kohl-Welles is my District State Senator, and on this one, she has my support.
11
Saving state dollars might just be the right strategy at the moment plus public smarts which agree with smaller sanctions

Too bad the ACLU and the pot people are not good at the lobbying end

No republicans and no conservatives doom the bill

But, the issue brings members to the ACLU .... so for them, they win something
12
I will never understand why there is such a big deal over a plant. Putting non violent "criminals" in jail over 2 grams of plant material only created jaded individuals who will end up hating the state even more. Not to mention that the only thing jail does is teach people how to be better criminals. So lets spend more of the money we dont have and put more of our peaceful citizens in jail and make them pay a fine that is a mere fraction of what we will spend jailing them....
13
I'm enjoying a big fat joint right now! Being high is so relaxing. I also own a legit business that provides jobs for over 100 people. Just imagine the business and jobs I could provide givin the oppertunity to produce a legit Marijuana product. I'll be waiting.
14
EVERY person who posts here should lobby their reps to sign on to this bill - Jamie Petersen is there - then, even if it dies there is some serious nature to it ...

Sign on, not just support ... lobby them, hard.
15
Here is a flick that should be watched by everyone that has an opinion on this subject.

http://blip.tv/file/1356143/

award winning movie
16
comments here are fine; but has everybody written to Christopher Hurst and their own district's representatives and senators?
17
Dominic,
It would be of considerable help were you to post the title and number of the bill cited, if a number has been assigned. Thanks!
18
Dave Upthegrove's proposed legislation is HB1177.
I have written to Christopher Hurst. I am hoping you all will do the same.
19
Legalize and tax it!
20
Maybe we should just start an initiative and just legalize it in our state. If they want to ignore the will of the people we will just write the law ourselves.
21
that is exactly what they want you to do - a voter intiative. they are too chicken to do any meaningful legislation in olympia that they perceive would jeopardize their chance at reelection ("soft on crime") so they want people to waste millions of dollars instead on a voter initiative. everyone needs to contact chris hurst and the other committee members and convince them to have a hearing, and convince your legislator to sign on to the bill. we elected these people, and pay them $45k/year, to be leaders and make these decisions that are common sense - we need to hold them to their jobs and not let them punt it to a voter initiative when something makes them uncomfortable.
22
I think the decriminalization of marijuana is a topic that is finally being talked about in a serious light and that's good news. Of course it's probably going to be a couple years before we see some real results, but I am optimistic about what the future holds.
23
The real roadblock is the dofuss in the 31st District, Chris Hurst. The California comparison won't affect him; he knows better than we or them Californians!
24
I want to get highhhhh, soooo highhhh.
25
me too
26
You dont save money with Washington state? You could tax crap and toilet flushes and guess what?

the fuckers would be crying for more money as they are right fucking now?

you think your going to save Washington money?

Even if you did they would spend it on what?


to think we could be paying for the monorail right now.

Pot should only be illegal for politypiggys to smoke.

Its 2009! and they are broke?

what part of they are broke from 2009 since jesus was wearing sears tough skin jeans?
27
I wanna see The Stranger really take this on, maybe with pieces directly addressing Hurst's 'issues' with the bill. Show that he's in the pocket of the police guilds and the prison guards unions. We can't let this douchebag stand in the way of progress, god dammit.
28
I don't have a boat to go out on...

I promise I'll keep it at home!!
29
I just blazed some fluffy/sticky nugz in a two footer that rips pretty solid. This stuff was dankimus prime and had more red hairs than a David Caruso film. The second hit was a total cougher!
30
Ideally we could all grow our own,just like other produce.This is a great step forward,though, for millions of people persecuted for loving flowers.
31
Marijuana is Washington's sixth largest cash crop just behind cherries at about $350,000,000 per year revenue.

In 2000 Washington was number 28 in the union in marijuana cultivation, now it is in the top ten.

Pot is a major pillar in this state's economy, and prosperity.

Rep. Hurst thinks people will be unhappy. With so many hundreds of tons of marijuana being grown and consumed in this state, how many people does he think are happy with the current laws?

The people of this state have already amply demonstrated with their votes that they want new, reformed marijuana laws.

Like the DEA raids on medical marijuana providers and patients, Rep. Hurst isn't going to change anything or make marijuana go away, all they are doing is inflicting pain, and violence on lots of people.

When will Rep. Hurst respect what the people of this state have already voted for?



32
Chris Hurst is a hack. Democrats in the 31st need to organize and fire this guy. How can this one man prevent something so important from even being discussed?

Does he actually believe any of the crap that comes out of his mouth? Give it a hearing, this is still a democracy right? Let the people come testify and tell you what we are really worried about.

I think some Democrats are worried that this could hurt their re-election campaigns. Well, they are right. Don't vote for Chris Hurst in the 31st. Anyone who isn't a co-sponsor on this bill deserves the boot.
33
We really need someone to write up an outline describing the amount of money currently waisted/spent on marijuana law enforcement /imprisonment costs coupled with the amount of money that it provides organized crime vs the amount to be made by using it as a cash crop for law abiding farmers and the funds saved by not running around chasing and locking those folks up. America needs a new cash crop and weed is it.

Please wait...

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