Medical Pot Advocate: State's Proposed Overhaul Goes Too Far

[The General]

Washington State - An advocate of the state's medical marijuana industry says the state regulators' proposed rules go too far. State regulators on Monday proposed a sweeping overhaul of the industry, including a registry of medical marijuana patients. Ezra Eickmeyer with the Washington Cannabis Association says the proposed rules go too far.

"The thought of completely merging the two systems and simply creating a database for people to be in if they want a tax exemption for getting some pot to smoke–it doesn't really cover what patients need," Eickmeyer said. In addition to registering with the state, patients would have to buy their medicine at specially-licensed recreational pot stores, but they wouldn't pay sales tax.

The proposed rules also cap the amount of marijuana patients can possess. Patients could no longer possess a 60-day supply of usable marijuana, or 24 ounces. Instead, they'd be limited to 3 ounces per week. Another dramatic proposal: collective gardens and home grows would be banned. Pot patients would instead get their medicine at licensed recreational pot stores with special approval to accept medical marijuana authorization cards.

Eickmeyer said some merger of the medical and recreational marijuana markets in Washington might work. But he objects to the draft recommendation that patients could no longer grow their own marijuana or have collective gardens. The public will have a chance to comment on these proposals. State regulators will then make final recommendations to the Legislature by Jan. 1.

News Hawk - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Kplu.org
Author: Austin Jenkins
Contact: About us | KPLU News for Seattle and the Northwest
Website: Medical Pot Advocate: State's Proposed Overhaul Goes Too Far | KPLU News for Seattle and the Northwest

 

[mk1903a3]

It is all about the MONEY the state is greedy if it works as they think they will get 25% from producer (one licence required) 25% from processor (Another license required)another 25% from retailers (another licence) then add 7.5 and up for sales tax. as i see it if you have a store and are growing they get their cut every time it goes from one operation to another. at a quick glance this is min 82.5% tax now if you figure that the 25% tax is added to the cost of the product at every step and then taxed again it will come in at over 90% taxes does not seem to be a workable plan to me it will allow the cartels to raise their prices