OLYMPIA, Wa. (AP) - Lawmakers are considering a new proposal to recognize and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in Washington state.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles says she is working on developing an updated plan that could pass out of committee as early as Friday afternoon. She declined to discuss specifics as details of the plan were still coming together.
Dispensaries are not specifically allowed nor forbidden under current state statutes, although that hasn't stopped them from popping up since voters approved a medical marijuana law in 1998. An initial proposal to provide statewide oversight was rejected by Gov. Chris Gregoire last month after federal prosecutors warned that state employees who regulate the industry would not be immune from prosecution.
Senators have more recently proposed allowing local jurisdictions to decide whether to regulate the distribution outlets.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles says she is working on developing an updated plan that could pass out of committee as early as Friday afternoon. She declined to discuss specifics as details of the plan were still coming together.
Dispensaries are not specifically allowed nor forbidden under current state statutes, although that hasn't stopped them from popping up since voters approved a medical marijuana law in 1998. An initial proposal to provide statewide oversight was rejected by Gov. Chris Gregoire last month after federal prosecutors warned that state employees who regulate the industry would not be immune from prosecution.
Senators have more recently proposed allowing local jurisdictions to decide whether to regulate the distribution outlets.
