WA Legislation to End Dispensaries, Reduce Patients’ Rights, Passes Senate
Washington
State’s full Senate, with a 36 to 11 vote, has given approval to Senate Bill 5052, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. Its passage in the House will send it to Governor Jay Inslee, the last necessary step for it to become law.
Senate Bill 5052 would combine the medical and recreational cannabis systems by shutting down all currently operating dispensaries in the state, renaming the Liquor Control Board the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board, and by allowing recreational cannabis retail outlets to apply for a medical cannabis endorsement indicating they’re knowledgeable in the medical use of cannabis.
The proposal, which is opposed adamantly by activists groups such as Sensible Washignton, would also establish a mandatory patient registry, forcing individuals to put their name on a list admitting to committing a federal crime in order to receive state-level legal protections.
Senate Bill 5052, without any legitimate reason, would also drastically reduce the amount of cannabis a patient can possess and cultivate, from 24 ounces to 3, and from 15 plants to 6.
On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced House Bill 2058, a proposal to explicitly provide arrest protection for medical cannabis patients, and to allow dispensaries to become legally licensed with the state. That measure has been assigned to the House Commerce and Gaming Committee.
– TheJointBlog
Leslie Wong
This is BS… the medical dispensaries who originally started this get screwed by a bunch of greedy business men… corruption at it’s finest
David
One for the Dispensaries in Seattle owes over 1 million dollars in back tax …and they were only required to pay 2.9% tax and they refused to pay. AND this is based just on the donations that they said they received. They could have easily did 3 million in sales/donations..then claimed $300,000 and paid $8700 in taxes. In addition, they are supplied by growers…that didn’t have to pay ANY tax either. This is the definition of a “black market” industry. This is the Cartel operating under a different name. They don’t check ,if it was grown by a 17 year old kid. I am sure there are several dispensaries doing it the right way. However, the majority of dispensaries that I have been in …dont.
David M
Why Americans insist on making money on your sick is something I’ll never undrstand
Leslie Wong
Those places should be shut down. But legit MMJ dispensaries already doing things right shouldn’t be penalized for the greedy State Cartel benefit.
Kannabis Kerri
This is crap. This is money grubbing politics at its despicable, finest. The medical community and the professional way they’ve approached cannabis sales to medicinal patients over the last 20+ years, is the ONLY reason we are one of two states to Decriminalize and sell to adults. So what do these cannabis patients get in return for the State’s big revenue bonus? They take away your very life by 1:) Making medications toxic with their 200+ approved pesticides that medical grade growers wouldn’t touch with a hazmat suit, 2.) Tax the everloving $h!t out of it so that the disabled couldn’t afford to buy it anyways, 3.) Let cities create “Moritoriums” So that it isn’t available for retail within 5 zip codes of their location 4.) Do away with delivery services that serve the homebound patient that is physically unable to “grow their own” 5.) Make certain via plant and quantity limits that they’ll never have enough to last them more than a month, even if they could grow their own 6.) Limit the genetics by not offering the high CBD, LOW THC strains that people that many patients that LIVE in CHRONIC pain or cancer stricken aults and children would need to function in a working world, are no longer available. I call BS and if this bill passes, I will be very distraught and beome an activist to overthrow this crap, for LIFE.
Grandma Lizzy
I agree. Pesticides in cannabis is an issue.
I grow, make tincture and balm. EVERYTHING is organic, no pesticides. I make my fertilizer out of the organic food scraps I eat. Egg shells, coffee grounds. It’s a lot harder and time intensive; I use mosquito netting and organic essential oils (clove bud, rosemary, lemon grass, peppermint) to keep out the moths and caterpillars.
NO pesticides, NO sprays on the leaves.
NO BUTANE extractions.
ALL ORGANIC, NON-GMO.
The bottom line for me is: if I eat all organic, non-gmo, etc.; WHY would I put cannabis in my body not knowing how it was grown?
cheryl
Patience with hiv or aids need lot more… i know
eddie
How can you take away an initiave voted on by the people for the people…I urge a NO vote on 5052.This is a bad law… Please rethink this and vote NO. thank you.
Carmen Schulz
This is going backwards. This is also putting medical and recreational together as if they were the same. They are not. There are medical applications that are completely different than a recreational user would not even consider. Wrong on so many levels. Please do not pass this bill.
Tom White
Well, I live here in Washington State and I really don’t care one way or another about this Bill.
As long as it stays legal, it’s fine by me. I never did think I would see the day of legal marijuana, so I’ll not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Franko
lol you moron, its “lick” a gift horse in the mouth. lolol
Anonymous
But prices do need to fall in Washington State. We should fight for $5 to $10 a gram. The growers I know can grow it for 20 cents a gram. Why should we the citizens who voted for I 502 pay the price for legal weed.
Debbie
20 cents a gram. Are you nuts? There is a lot of cost involved with growing marijuana. Some of us have to buy the plants. Not cheap!!!! High electric and water bills. You have to buy nutrients, and organic fertilizers a lot of cost. Oh and if you get bugs you are either screwed and throw the plants away or spend a small fortune trying to get rid of them.. The time it takes to groom the crop is a lot more than most seem to think also. Making those buds look good and the buyer not getting a lot of stems cost the grower also. So you chicken poster (anonymous) grow up. By the way if you know a grower why do you go to the dispensary?
Gary
Seriously Franko? Do you lick horses on the mouth? Tom had it right, please google it and just for you buddy( moron lol idiot moron lol lol) a little of something you would understand. I couldnt bear to think that someone would read your response and past your falseness along. It stops hear!! Sparta!
Anonymous
If you get a free horse you don’t look it in the mouth to see how it’s teeth are, it free.
David M
It’s odd. Having spent the previous three months up in Vancouver, my being a dual citizen, I know it’s legal here. But it somehow it feels fre’er up there.
ELSA
What a shameful government we are allowing to rule this country, this is our fault.
Cannabis Oil cures Cancer, Lupus, Epilepsy, Depression, and so much more proven by thousands of testimonials medically checked and confirmed even on many near death-ultimate-stage patients, we must fight for our right to planting and harvesting Cannabis for raw leaves use or production of Canna-Oil…!
Recreational Cannabis shall be a matter of choice by the consumer, there shall be less govt. restrictions and total legalization to end the black market and the 2nd uncontrolled economy derived from the drug cartels.
Anonymous
cannabis oil doesnt TREAT anything. it only helps calm the symptoms you idiot lol
scott
research it. I’m calling u a liar read my post above. Ur as ignorant as the fed government
you
are an idiot
Name
I’m not sure of the others, but, thc doesn’t cure depression. I know because I’ve had depression all of my life, and I smoke pretty much every day. Now, it helps, a lot, but cures? No. Don’t get me wrong, marijuana is a wonderful plant that helps me get through the day, but, I don’t like stretched truths to get a point across. The thing is, my depression and anxiety are mostly under control, but, only when I’m high.
Anonymous
you need to eat mushrooms and all that crap will go away proven in canada but treatment is restricted in usa!
victoria khan
This sounds exactly what we are fighting about here in Ohio now with at least 4 initiatives at our feet. Your Sensible Washington sounds exactly like our (notorious) “Responsible Ohio”. The OCRA has it beat hands down as per “peoples choice”, but ‘they’ RO have the money. NOT FAIR.
David M
It’s odd. Having spent the previous three months up in Vancouver, my being a dual citizen, I know it’s legal here. But it somehow it feels fre’er up there.
Gary
Ive been involved in the medical marijuana business for seven years and here is the truth of how dispensaries get their product. A “patient” grows the marijuana in their garage or barn with whatever nutrients they want and treat for pests with sometimes horribe pesticides like Avid but you wouldnt know because if it is tested, its for strength and foreign material so you have no idea whats on it. I have watched as a grower shows up with two pounds in turkey bags and is given $2200 per pound- no paperwork, no taxes. I personally know many people who have been doing this for years and have recently expanded to capitalize on the grey area that the legislature is thankfully cleaning up. Of the dozen of growers and grows ive been to that hide behind the medical authorizations they have collected from friends to justify the 45 plants in each room, sometimes with tape on the floor to desinate another batch of patients, maybe one has actually had someone with a deblitating disease associated with it. Side note- 99% of the patients I know have nothing wrong with them but just had to pay $99 and say their back hurts. Lets keep medical for those who actually qualify and the rest of us who have been using long before medical was around can use like they have been- recreationally.
David
I have to completely agree with you. I have seen this as well.
David M.
I completely disagree with both of you and I’m glad I just added an “M” to my user name so as to not be confused with you
Please read this article and tell me again this stinker Senate Bill is fair:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/01/the-millionaire-who-wants-to-control-washington-s-weed.html
David
Articles have writers that have an agenda that try to sway the reader to their same beliefs. I personally, believe in facts. I read the entire bill and several of the other proposed bills. I also, am very well versed with the medical scene in Washington state. I would say of my 50 friends that have medical cards…one of them actually needs it. How are you disagreeing with that statement?
David M
Perhaps you need to find some new friends ? I too have read the bill I live in Seattle and Vancouver BC. I know for fact what you describe in Seattle is very much true in Vancouver. However, no one cares. That’s because Canadians view people who profit off of sickness and death macabre monsters. In Seattle among my friends they adhere to a much higher standard.for their authorizations. Most of them as myself, had to provide 3 years of medical records clearly showing a state approved medical condition. Is there occasional fraud according to precept’s of American societal views of how it deals with it’s sick and dying? Yeah, I’m sure there is. None of the Seattle friendsI know though have jiggered the system. In Canada we don’t call this fraud , unlike Americans, we call it compassion.
Anonymous
I personally know three dispensary owners. Last year the least any of them took home in net profit was $300k. There is no such thing as non profit dispensary David. It is a business here in washington. Medical makes big money especially when its cash and easy to launder
Anonymous
well spoken!
David
If people read the entire bill instead of the highlights that people with secret agendas post to sway someone’s views…we would have much different arguments. Number one is says 15 down to six plants. ANYONE over 21 can grow 6 plants. Number two it says if a patient has a serious illness that his physician may prescribe them up to 15 plants. It also says that patients with a medical card will be free of sales and use tax. The bill is to regulate the product. No more garage grow rooms or product made with unsafe processes. I know many people who have grown for years and never paid one cent of tax on it. I know people that make product they have to do outside for fear of it blowing up. I know people who sell butane extracts calling them clean CO2 extracts and the dispensary doesn’t bother to check how it was made, because the price is cheap and their profit margin large. The patient thinks they are getting super clean product and most of it isn’t.
David
The bill also says that if patients lives more than 15 miles from the nearest Recreational (medically endorsed) retail store that a 4 person coop garden could be formed for up to 60 plants. However, it must be registered and inspected and none of the product could be sold. Also, a person could NOT “sign in and then sign out” of the coop. They have to stay members, if a member leaves the coop, the coop must wait 60 days to take a new member. The does away will all that gray area that dispensaries are acting in. It also says that the Washington State LCB has the authority to issue far more than the 334 retail licenses to make the product/meds more easily accessible. I have read several of the proposed bills and I believe this is a fair bill. The fact is Washington state wants it regulated and safe and they want their tax money from the growers and sellers. In my opinion, this bill is going to pass.
scott
hey anonymous won’t use u r real name u don’t know squat about thc oil. I’m calling u a LIAR like our hypocritical government……research it………It KILLED my cancer stage 4 in 2000 after my civilian MD (im a nam vet sprayed with agent orange the VA told me do chemo and radiation or be dead within 6 months they were puttin me on morphine) I went got a second opinion and my MD recommended cannabis. I researched it found out how to extract oil ( keyword phoenix tears rick simpsons oil cure for cancer) out of the plant. 1 year later I went to VA for my yearly physical which took 2 months to get appointment so it was 14 months. After 5 hours of probing me, vampiring tubes of blood, proding me, mri, cat scans and x-rays I left exhausted… 1 week later I get a call come in ASAP no appointment necessary. Told em I be in in 30 mins. 3 VA Drs. were there in the interview room. I was asked what have u been doing differently since ur last visit? I told em they respond we can take ur big pharm poison pills away if u test positive for THC. I said i don’t care thc oil is all I need for pain. Then they said we can’t believe u are alive not doing chemo and radiation. Then the bomb shell We inform u the tests show u are CANCER-FREE not remission. 15 yrs later here i am alive enjoying life and my 10 grandkids. research sites
nih.gov
letfreedomgrow dot com
rick simpsons oil for cancer.
Jess
So happy to hear your story Scott.. thank you!
David M.
Great story inspiring. Cheers.
Pam
So happy to read your post Scott, I make medicine for folks…. Have been for years. It has helped many.
David
I believe in facts and numbers:
Colorado state had $700 million in recreational/medical marijuana sales for their first year (2014). $105 million of that went to taxes for the State.
Washington State had 18.6 million (4.6 million in taxes) in recreational sales for JUST month of January with only 107 of the 334 retail stores opened. A total of 12.6 million in tax money has been collected just the last three months.
How much tax was collected from the dispensaries, delivery services, and underground growers? How many wages were taxed? Alot of it called volunteer work.. paid cash under the table. How much of their profits is being utilized to better the State? How much of their profits went to Washington State school systems?
Frank
David you sir are an unabashed shill (and clearly several others) …to redirect the narrative toward taxes instead of patients is to ignore a system that has been largely successful for PATIENTS for 16 years. Like many arguments you and others are seeding this comment section with staunch arrogance directed from an obvious point of self interest. You would be better served changing your name for each post at the very least a la Trolls circa 1998. The Bill has a clear profiteering base funneling tax revenue and as noted reduces patient access to medicine (like all medicine please do not suggest that there is a standardized medical quota- min or max that serves different conditions) and this Bill would greatly lower access. And while this Bill does eliminate some tax burden for medical recipients it STILL leverages additional cost and tax based on the 502 recreational store front model (as quoted numerous times from the Associated Press: “The measure, sponsored by Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center, would exempt medical products from the state sales tax – though not the heavy excise taxes that have helped drive up prices in recreational stores”). Lastly using Red Scare tactics that you an others have for “sussin” out the frauders and willfully negligent patients is to suggest that YOU know better than medical professionals who have issued credentials by sittin on your stoop and seein the ‘FAKERS’… and while in ALL areas of business and life there is a statistical curve for malady and misconduct, is this really the area that you and others feel compelled to stand your ground, because if patient rights and access to medicine is truly at the heart of a new Bill and that is what you are interested in there are several other Bills namely Bill 2058 that align with personal, private, medical need, compassion and access to a medicine, not simply to address what is largely playing out as a want to control and accelerate State tax revenue and eliminate the competition by the 502ers, Corp investors and their lobbyist lap dogs.
Cheers
David
Funny, noone is denying the patients their meds. And this bashing of profiteers…you mean the medical dispensaries that operate in a gray area with no regulations that many dont pay taxes, that call their employees volunteers, sos they can pay them cash under the table and pay any of their tax or provide medical benefits for them. Give it a break.
James
David you sir are an unabashed shill (and clearly several others) …to redirect the narrative toward taxes instead of patients is to ignore a system that has been largely successful for PATIENTS for 16 years. Like many arguments you and others are seeding this comment section with staunch arrogance directed from an obvious point of self interest. You would be better served changing your name for each post at the very least a la Trolls circa 1998. The Bill has a clear profiteering base funneling tax revenue and as noted reduces patient access to medicine (like all medicine please do not suggest that there is a standardized medical quota- min or max that serves different conditions) and this Bill would greatly lower access. And while this Bill does eliminate some tax burden for medical recipients it STILL leverages additional cost and tax based on the 502 recreational store front model (as quoted numerous times from the Associated Press: “The measure, sponsored by Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center, would exempt medical products from the state sales tax – though not the heavy excise taxes that have helped drive up prices in recreational stores”). Lastly using Red Scare tactics that you an others have for “sussin” out the frauders and willfully negligent patients is to suggest that YOU know better than medical professionals who have issued credentials by sittin on your stoop and seein the ‘FAKERS’… and while in ALL areas of business and life there is a statistical curve for malady and misconduct, is this really the area that you and others feel compelled to stand your ground, because if patient rights and access to medicine is truly at the heart of a new Bill and that is what you are interested in there are several other Bills namely Bill 2058 that align with personal, private, medical need, compassion and access to a medicine, not simply to address what is largely playing out as a want to control and accelerate State tax revenue and eliminate the competition by the 502ers, Corp investors and their lobbyist lap dogs.
Cheers
David M.
I couldn’t agree more. with your comment. One of these medical fraud cry-babies can be found on every blog in this state. We know who they work for and their true interests. They’re certainly not for helping sick people What’s I find odd is I’m one-half Canadian and split my time between Seattle and Vancouver. In BC no one cares who, why, or what for, someone needs a medical card. In Vancouver, if it makes your day go better, get yourself a medical card. No ones going to care. Go for it. As soon as I cross the International border it’s like I’ve entered not only another country but an entirely different planet. It’s call Plant Envy, greed, and anger. I love Seattle but I’m always very happy upon returning to Earth too. So many people here with their hair on fire, so angry and envious. I’ve posted the Daily Beast article: “The Millionaire who wants to control Washington’s weed. I suppose many of the anger stems form this fellow seemingly anti-medical/patient business model. In Canada, we don’t make profit of of our sick and vulnerable citizens. I have French cousins. two years ago they paid a visit and one cousin Henri, became ill overnight prior to their departing on a Hawaiian cruise. Long story short he had a stoke and had to spend 6 months in Vancouver general. The hospital assigned his wife a French speaking liaison/counselor. After he was finally able to return home all of his medical bills had been paid and the French even paid his wifes hotel room bill and meals. I don’t understand why a country as rich as this much richer than France and Canada are able to do this act of kindness and Americans who ar so wealthy as a nation so often lose their homes, have to declare bankruptcy, sell all of their personal items, cars. It is like another planet mentally. But the extremely spiteful attitudes seem to be something new and something I find profoundly troubling. Anyway, there does seems to be a quite a few Davids here. Being new, I will just added my middle initial M. to my my posts in order avoid confusion Thanks.
David
I know several people in the 502 business from producers to processors and retail. None of the ones that I know are getting any of this fantasy funding you magically throw around. Matter of fact, all of them have struggled to raise the funding to get started. Many of them started as medical growers for Medical and have grown to 502. Obviously, I don’t know them all, but its funny..you conveniently group them all together in this negative big corporation, lobbyist evil 502 category…and then get all defensive when someone who does the same for medical…hyprocritical..yes, I believe so.
I know several people in both industries. One is regulated and one is operating in a gray area…where every advantage is taken. One benefits everyone in the state and one benefits only the few. No one is denying patients their meds, if anything they medicine will be grown in a safer manner in many instances.
David M
Business 101 know what it is you’re investing in and quantify the risks. I understand that the taxes are high and that they had an uphill climb to make it a worthwhile investment. If I know this being simply a medical patient living with a disability well they had to know it too. buying from a dispensary which I love whenever I’m in the state. Operating in a gray area”.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that a 502 store owner has had this canard inked into a neck tattoo. It’s lobbyist /political speak like “weapons of mass destruction” repeat until people believe it. One of the posts above say’s it well :t “to redirect the narrative toward taxes instead of patients is to ignore a system that has been largely successful for PATIENTS for 16 years” My aplogies to James for borrowing his line without permission but that one sentence contains so much fine nuance.
I do think and anyone would have to agree who’s seen a trailer of the TV series ” The Pot Barons of Coloraodo”. that undeniably some of these 502 licencee’s thought this was indeed a time of a “Green Rush” and they too would become as rich as 12th Century Anglo-Norman Marcher Lords. Sorry it didn’t happen but I’m not a consultant and I could have given that advice for free
. To blame dispensaries and worse their patients for tripled tier tax scheme and so much control. How could they not know. What disturbs me is that without any outreach to the medical marijuana community these store owner’s feel they are somehow ‘entitled to our money without having earned it. How can a medical patient NOT be nervous going into a recreational system this so mis-managed. Luckily. As I’ve said being Canadian we don’t mind vendor’s helping patients or anyone for that matter who “operate in a grey area” because people who are sick often live in that grey area. Thank You
David M
Business 101 know what it is you’re investing in and quantify the risks. I understand that the taxes are high and that they had an uphill climb to make it a worthwhile investment. If I know this being simply a medical patient living with a disability well they had to know it too. buying from a dispensary which I love whenever I’m in the state. Operating in a gray area”.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that a 502 store owner has had this canard inked into a neck tattoo. It’s lobbyist /political speak like “weapons of mass destruction” repeat until people believe it. One of the posts above say’s it well :t “to redirect the narrative toward taxes instead of patients is to ignore a system that has been largely successful for PATIENTS for 16 years” My aplogies to James for borrowing his line without permission but that one sentence contains so much fine nuance.
I do think and anyone would have to agree who’s seen a trailer of the TV series ” The Pot Barons of Coloraodo”. that undeniably some of these 502 licencee’s thought this was indeed a time of a “Green Rush” and they too would become as rich as 12th Century Anglo-Norman Marcher Lords. Sorry it didn’t happen but I’m not a consultant and I could have given that advice for free
. To blame dispensaries and worse their patients for tripled tier tax scheme and so much control. How could they not know. What disturbs me is that without any outreach to the medical marijuana community these store owner’s feel they are somehow ‘entitled to our money without having earned it. How can a medical patient NOT be nervous going into a recreational system this so mis-managed. Luckily. As I’ve said being Canadian we don’t mind vendor’s helping patients or anyone for that matter who “operate in a grey area” because people who are sick often live in that grey area. Thank You
MMJ Patient
What can we do as a patient here and now?
What is this registry all about?
PAUL
Finally! No more of this fake medical B.S.
There is no RECREATIONAL Advil. There should be no MEDICINAL Marijuana.
It is a recreational product that has no long lasting effects medically positive or negative. Just admit that this is the evolution of marijuana and get on board or get swept under.
Darin Dedo
It is obvious that you are still living in the dark ages! Marijuana helps people with pain and other disabilities! I have had cancer 3 times and I would not still be here if it was not for being able to smoke or eat marijuana products.I know people that have crohn’s and if not for this medicine,they would be in intolerable pain. Get with the times and stop trying to screw those that actually need this medicine. The only reason they are trying to screw everyone is so the big corp. can make money off the patients. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY MARIJUANA!!!!!!!!!
k thorn
You are positively wrong and willfully ignorant.
David
How so ? Please elaborate. I can’t tell given the brevity of your response with whom or what or even whether you’re agreeing or disagreeing. Thank you
David
Sorry you were responding to Paul’s post. I new here. There’s one medical hater on every blog.
Anonymous
You should tell that to the little boy who had several hundred seizures a day than started using mmj and they stopped. Hmm in fact you should tell his parents that there is no medical benefits to mmj. Ignorant people like yourself is what’s wrong with our country.
Frank
Paul, I sure hope you and everyone you love gets cancer and you sing your merry tune as you struggle to get relief. Seriously, sounds harsh? The crap you just spewed makes me know you know jack shit about what you are talking about.
Seriously, when You, your kids, your parents, someone you really love has to go through this crap, don’t expect any sympathy from anyone. I look forward to that day. asshole
william
Supposed to die in 1999 of chronic liver disease, medical marijuana and diet has kept me here, to all docs surprise. Cancer in 2010 cured, recurrent Cancer in 2014 cured! I have known several people that have cured melanomas in 3 weeks that are supposedly incurable. You are uninformed and need to find another subject to spew about!
John Novak
The lobbyist group that pushed this bill is an I-502 owner and backed by big money from an ex-Microsoft guy. They are also lobbyists for a big pharma corpration, Merck.
The sections for doctors will drastically reduce any patient from ever getting authorized.
It is beyond obvious that this bill is designed to effectively kill off the MMJ model, getting rid of all the mom&pop businesses in both MMJ and recreational, then turn over all of it over to multinational mega-corporations, like Merck.
This is pure evil, giving quazi-legalization to large corporations while busting everyone else.
David
You’re speaking about Rick Garza a Republican former head of the WSLCB and the CEO of the Canna Business Association. Here is a article about his business interests and involvement in writing this Senate bill which closes all of Washington’s medical marijuana dispensaries, conveniently eliminating all of his competitor’s including those who will be losing safe access to medical cannabis under this Senate Bill primarily the Sick and disabled. It’s a very medieval Bill, one the political powers that be seem to want. I had hoped the governor would indicate a veto. Unfortunately he has not and now seems inclined to sign it.
Taken from the Daily Beast: Feb 1st 2015
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/01/the-millionaire-who-wants-to-control-washington-s-weed.html
native
The Governor needs to address this and stop these greedy legislators now.
ken
Truthfully it doesn’t bother me either way. I was growing before my med license, before it was legal, and I’ll keep growing the shit till the day I die. No one but god is gonna keep me from growing a damn plant that helps me. Don’t pass the bill but if it does just tighten up again. Come on people. There will always be an underground!
David
Ken:
Why sanction abject greed if you can help stop it ?. The politicians who passed this bill are former drug warrior type Republican’s. Especially the Bills’ sponsor Sen Ann River’s R-La Center. Senator River’s R-La Center comes from a small town with a population less than 1900 people. This town has already outlawed the growing sale and use of marijuana. If you lived there you’d be peeking out of the blinds a lot. I’ve been keeping up with this and this new Republican’ State Senate chamber represents those constituents who want cannabis banned in as many cities and Counties possible. They will at the very least, attempt to make a strong first law-enforcement presence felt by going after growers exceeding the limits of this very narrow focused bill if it passes or in towns with marijuana bans already in affect. This bill reduces medical plant grows from 15 to 3 plant’s. Flower’s from 24, to 3 ounces. Drastic!
It is not citizen friendly. There was a reson behind the State Senate passing this stinker on Saturday morning follwing Valentines Day.
Anonymous
Very well put ……
James Gierach
Does government always have to be lurking in and out of the shadows of the Dark Ages?
Dave Smith
Please do not pass this bill, I believe that people who are using marijuana for medical reasons and can provide medical records should be able to get the meds at reduced costs and no hassles from the Government and be supplied ample quantities for there needs.
Phil Redd
The problem having to show proof by providing medical records is it violates doctor/patient confidentiality. It is the same problem people have with being on some registry of federal offender.
For those of us with a green thumb and like to grow, the rules for us are, never consent to anything, do not answer questions, never invite the law inside, and only admit to being a medical patient after police have discovered your grow operation and have enough proof to arrest you. Nobody wants to be on a list of federal law breakers, and nobody trust the government.
David
Here is the source of the Senate Bill and admitted as being so by the Bills sponsor Sen. Ann River’s R-La Center
Anyway toting against medical dispensaries and in support of the Senate bill has something to do with this group.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/01/the-millionaire-who-wants-to-control-washington-s-weed.html
Taken from the Daily Beast 02-01-15
Leslie Wong
Medical dispensaries who run legit operations do have their stuff tested and don’t bend and rules. They supply tested and safe medicine and are not there just to make money like 502 businesses. Get on your legislation to make sure they don’t pass this bill. Medical was here first and is not just party supplies like recreational. You’re talking needs vs wants..