Washington’s Full Legislature Passes Bill to Close Dispensaries, Reduce Patients’ Rights, Implement Patient Registry
Washington’s
full Legislature has given approval to Senate Bill 5052, a proposal that would drastically reduce the rights of patients in the state, including shutting down every medical cannabis dispensary and implementing a patient registry.
The proposal was approved by the House of Representatives with a 60 to 36 vote on Friday, and was concurred this afternoon in the Senate with a 41 to 8 vote. The measure now heads to Governor Jay Inslee, who is expected to sign it into law.
If signed by the governor, or allowed to become law without his signature, Senate Bill 5052 would shutdown every currently operating medical cannabis dispensary, would reduce the amount of cannabis a patient can possess from 24 ounces to 3, and would reduce the amount of plants they can cultivate from 15 to 6. The measure would also establish a patient database, which patients would be required to join to receive legal protections. If a patient doesn’t join the registry, they’ll only be able to possess an ounce, and cultivate up to four plants.
Those wanting to contact Governor Inslee to urge him to veto this bill can find his contact information by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog
shannon
Hallelujah
Anonymous
Friday April 10 , 2015 will be remembered as the day Olympia destroyed medical wmarijuana in Washington. As both states are expanding patients rights ,Washington legislators chose to instead to
throw it’s sickest citizen’s under the bus. This in order to further enrich the bank accounts of a privileged few. The passage of this bill had nothing to do with policy and everything to do with vulture capitalism and sheer unmitigated greed. I cannot imagine a worse day for sick and suffering patients living in Washington.
Anonymous
The only people happy and celebrating the passing of this travesty are those popping the corks off of champagne because they just made a fortune on the backs of Washington citizen’s.
Dawn
That is just so wrong we the people of washington passed the bill and ya’ll have no idea what is going on and how helpful this plant is, it saddens me on y’alls uneducatedness to this plant that save lives and r willing to put patient’s in a bad position while u pocket all the money it brings in… god gave us this plant not the goverment therefore if its bad god would of taken it away, like your jods and your saleries need to be taken/yanked away right from under you like you are doing to the ppl who use it for medical uses! wow get over it! Marijuana is here to stay!!!!!!
Connie Pierre
This just angers me. I didn’t start smoking marijuana until I was 51. Because of it’s effectiveness for my type of pain and problems, I’m off 13 drugs including methadone and morphine for pain control. Why aren’t we allowed to vote on this or speak to this. Will there be a public meeting where we can be heard. Many people, myself included, would be willing to come to Olympia or Seattle, or wherever to maintain safe and available medical marijuana for those of us who dpend on it for quality of life.
David
It’s too late. That said, don’t feel bad. This was going to happening no matter how many people showed up. Those of us who did attend hearings and testified were ignored. It was obvious they were simply going through the motions. In fact I watched stunned when bill’s author (Senator Anne River’s-R) got up flapped her arm’s in frustration during a fully paralyzed Iraq War veterans 3 minute testimony. He gave up his arm’s and leg’s in battle and he apparently was too boring her so she just got up and walked out of the door on him. That’s when I knew Washington’s MMJ patients goose’s were cooked by these thugs in business attire.
doug lamy
fb me-doug lamy.
same here connie. a lot of morphine to none. little 5mg oxy if it gets outrageous.
and no cancer; i’m 68. the present efforts are an attempt to corner the market…. and for this now poor man,
the effects with be a surely higher price or driven “underground” again.
Marco
Great news, finally everyone can grow their own.
Marco
Great news, finally everyone can grow their own
Trevor
This isn’t the bill that allows everyone to grow their own. That billed failed. This one destroys medical cannabis with no benefit to anyone else.
David
He’s right. You can thank your new Republican State Senate for this additional little nugget of failure. This is what happens when people don’t fill out their voter ballot’s and mail them in. Voting matter’s.
Anonymous
This would have happened vote or no vote. This is about politics period. If voting mattered you wouldn’t have that right.
David
I agree it was going to happen. However, the cannabis hating, small town Republican’s did not have to control Washington’s most powerful political body, the State Senate. The bill’s author Sen. Anne River’s-R is from La. Conner, a town with less than 2000 population, yet just set policy that affect’s millions.
Republicans pushed back and defeated every attempt by the Democrat’s to amend this bill it except for one: The House amendment made the patient registry an option. The Republicans wanted the registry to be MÄNDATORY.
Therefore, voting matter’s because election night 2014 in heavily Democratic Seattle, had the Democrats won the Senate, any resulting regulatory bill would not resemble anything like this Right-wing Republican stinker.
Yep
It’s also fucked up that republicans are the one usually screaming about unjust laws being forced on them by the evil liberals. They’re just a bunch off small-minded shitty hypocrites.
Anonymous
Not sure how this hurts patients… actual patients with actual medical needs that is. If you have a legit reason to use medical MJ sign the registry and continue to get your meds as you have albeit from a fully compliant store. If you are one of the majority of “card” holders that have been taking advantage of the system all these years, well man up and pay the taxes. Prices will come down with a streamlined process. Not the end of the world.
Trevor
There are hundreds of dispensaries in Seattle alone, yet only a few dozen recreational stores throughout the entire state. Once this passes there will be many patients who will be several cities away from any cannabis store, which is a huge problem for those with serious debilitating conditions.
Anonymous
The people these legislative Bozo’s just turned Washington’s MMJ over to on a silver platter can’t even get the recreational stores open after 2 1/2 years. This is nothing more than a pay-off to the Washington State Senate’s rich Republican friends. This is what happens when citizens don’t vote and Republicans are allowed to grab power via a minority. Patients suffer Republicans fatten their bank accounts on the backs of the sick and suffering.
Anonymous
No thanks, I wouldn’t buy cat food at a recreational store after this vote. I’d rather stock up at my local MMJ dispensary (btw these are open until July 2016) until the Indian Nations which surround Puget Sound (and elsewhere around Washington begin their Medical and recreational sales this summer. I urge every Washington MMJ patient to boycott all 502 recreational stores. Hopefully most of them can be put out of business by the very MMJ patients they spent millions on attorneys and lobbyists to malign and mischaracterize. In working together patients can deliver a stinging payback to the vulture-capitalist who destroyed Washington’s voter approved 1998 States Medical Marijuana law
David
It hurts because patients because after 2 1/2 years, the Bozo’s at the State Liquor Control Board (what a prohibitionist joke) can’t even handle the recreational marijuana market. What made the genius’s in Olympia believe they would do a better job taking care of sick people’s needs? Hopefully not one year will pass before all of the 502 State cartel stores go out of business. This has been a money grab benefiting the few over the suffering many.
itsAchoice4health
Delusional!!! Would be different if insurance covered the expense. It doesnt. Even just growing enough to alternate the crop just got reduced. You should really man up and get the facts!
Anonymous
You must be a politician or involved in pharmaceuticals. The people voted and the politicians didn’t like it. Point blank.
David
Boycott 502 recreational stores! Stock up at your local medical dispensary and wait for Washington’s Indian Nations to begin their cannabis sales and we can eliminate the State cartel stores . Seattle is very fortunate to have so many Tribes around Puget Sound about to enter the cannabis trade, selling to both the recreational and medical markets. I encourage any and all MMJ patients to do likewise and let’s put these vulture-capitalist 502 stores out of business. The owners paid millions to attorneys and lobbyists in order to malign and mischaracterize Washington’s MMJ patients. Let’s not reward them. They need patients business and we have the power to stop them and send them back to wherever it is they came from.
Robert
Moving out of Washington
David
I hate to say it because I thought the 502 cartel lobbyists would never be able to buy their clients a legislative bill this awful for patients, but as soon as the dispensaries are open on Oahu,(Honolulu), I’m right behind you.
Thomas Laurita
I cannot express my fustration that I have about this issue. It’s the marijuana shell game.
Gambling is more addictive and it’s not even a narcotic. (narcotic: A term used to describe a addictiv and deadly drug which pot dosent fall under).
Curtis
http://www.pelleylawgroup.com/seattle-criminal-defenseblog/sb-5052-medical-marijuana-law-update
^Here is a concise, informative update found circulating social media and many forums. Its worth a read to see what just passed in an easy to understand breakdown.
David
Curtis ,thanks for the excellent link !
Bob
So after the registry is in place do they send in the jack boots with tanks and armored person ell carriers to enforce the new laws? This is a back slide for the movement as a whole.
thebriang
Well if you get entered into the registry, and drive, kiss your license goodbye.
LEO will have access to the registry as well, and having a MMJ prescription is automatic probable cause to pull you over for a DUID.
Meet Any of the other stupid BS signs they use to “determine” possible DUID like: a lighter visible in the car, ashes in the ash tray, any pro pot stickers, hats, shirts, red eyes, looking drowsy, dry mouth, and others, and your getting a blood draw.
Test at or more than the BS number they pulled out of their ass at 5 nanograms and your going to jail, losing your license and you get to pay thousands for a bunch of state classes while you Try to get your license back.
Even better, cops have automated plate cams now so anytime they drive past someone, anyone, it reads your plate and records that in the unconstitutional police plate contact data base.
If your on the registry, their plate cam is gonna go DING Every time you drive past a police officer.
Give it a year or two and everyone with a drivers license in the medical registry wont have a license anymore.
Whoops.
Also going in the registry gives blanket permission for them to show up and inspect your grow whenever they want so you better be home.
Shocker, washington state sold medical down the river just like they said they wouldn’t do.
And what do you want to bet now that this passed, they aren’t gonna drop those FU excise taxes.
Philip
We at BudVape strongly oppose this legislation. Here is our letter to Jay Inslee. You can contact him here: https://fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/ Please consider sending him a similar message: “I am writing in opposition to Senate Bill 5052. It seems that the interests of Big Cannabis have become the primary motivation behind new cannabis legislation. You are a thoughtful person, so I will not remind you in detail of what you already know, that this bill will lead to less access for patients, the shuttering of vital small businesses, and the further concentration of the wealth generated by the cannabis industry in the hands of a privileged few. This will result in a catastrophic loss of income, or criminalization of all those who are engaged in medical marijuana business but who are barred from participation in the “good old boys club” of privileged and well funded businesses that have been approved for operation under I-502. What I will tell you is that these policies will not stand. As I write this, both religious and secular community leaders are organizing to tell the story of how, once again, a thriving middle class industry is being shuttered in the interests of big business and state bureaucrats hungry for tax revenues. If you sign this bill, you will be remembered by history as the governor who turned his back on the mom and pop cannabis culture that has thrived so well in this state and that is feeding so many families. I suppose it is good that the welfare system is so strong here in WA, as this new law will certainly mean many more families requiring state support as their means of income evaporates. Or, what’s worse, these families will be forced to resort to black market activities in order to survive. Are these the consequences you desire? Let me remind you that the black market has been tolerated in Washington state for decades. There is no way that any legal system can compete with this entrenched market while also bearing a unique tax burden. Medical marijuana operations have thrived, and indeed the black market has been reduced, specifically because of the competitive pricing that the non-taxed system provided. In contrast, I-502 growers are going out of business because of lack of demand. Unless you intend to operate a drug war against the black market, the likes of which has not been seen in Washington in recent memory, if ever, then all that this new legislation will accomplish is driving honest and hard working middle-class Washingtonians out of business, or forcing them to turn to the black market. Is that what you want? A new drug war? Please consider the widespread damage this bill will cause and refuse to sign it.”
David
Philip,
Great letter ! Well done. Now if everyone else does likewise maybe together, we can stop this terrible anti-patients legislation. Thanks!
thestardawg
this makes a legal home grower a felon from the second they plant a seed or clone a plant. 3oz is what I average per PLANT.
4 x 3 = 12OZ = FELON.
def boycott all retail.
Tim Bowles
I am glad they passed it. Cannabis is now an OVER THE COUNTER medication. You don’t even need to see a doctor to get it.This whining about patients rights is mainly about the 90% of all pot growers who became “medical ” growers and cannabis smokers who became”patients” so they could shop in stores.
Val
Mr. Bowles get hold of yourself buckwheat. You don’t know the facts. Pot grower’s are not the ones whining. It’s people like you who know nothing about the cannabis population, inclusive of “patients” so go blowviate on a red neck site where your brethren can fall at the feet of misinformation.
David
Tim Bowles,
90%? Sounds like you’re spouting unsubstantiated talking points from the CannaBusiness Association. For who don’t know it’s a grow-op monopoly and lobbying group for Washington’s recreational store take over of medical marijuana . I could say that everyone who drinks red wine is an alcoholic .However, saying repeatedly doesn’t make it true.
Inslee’s hasn’t signed this piece of deck yet. My guess, the Washington State Attorney General just made his recommendation that individual cities and Counties can indeed ban recreational cannabis business’s. Whereas, these same cities and Counties have made no move to ban medical Marijuana dispensaries.
The AG’s ruling upends the State’s rush to close existing medical marijuana dispensaries via legislative Bill 5052 in order to open the State sanctioned recreational stores (and those masquerading as medical dispensaries)
How can recreational and medical be “aligned ” into one system (as the State and recreational storeowner’s want),
if recreational stores are banned and the State moves forward with it’s misguided attempt at closing all existing medical dispensaries? Doing this will only leave gravelly ill medical patient’s bereft, leaving them without any access to their medicine. If the Governor does sign this terrible bill. It could easily become the basis of a lawsuit to stop recreational marijuana sales in Washington until medical patient rights and access are guaranteed. Not good.
Anonymous
This bill is setting people up for failure with a medical need for marijuana I think its bullshit
ani
i wish we even had the choice in Idaho. deialng with cancer an losin 10 bs a month because eating is not alplpeaing .,i may not make it .because im golng to starve to to death before the cancer kills m
Stephen
Well, did you dopers get out and VOTE in the mid terms? NO????
Then you DESERVE THE FUKKING you are gonna get.
Sorry, but VOTING isn’t just a right, it’s HOW you get government to work.
i feel for ya all, but I am in Colorado and I keep My 6 plants percolating just fine. Thought it waslegal to GROW YOUR OWN in WA?