The first try at medical marijuana legislation was blocked by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The second upset advocates. Will the third attempt go anywhere?
Eli Sanders at Slog reports about this latest move. The biggest difference between try No. 3 and try No. 2 is statewide registries are removed; medical cannabis proponents didn't like the idea.
Last month Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed critical parts of a medical cannabis bill, Senate Bill 5073, reiterating her concerns that state workers could be prosecuted under federal law the way the measure was written.
The legislation was passed to set clearer regulations on medical marijuana use and to establish a licensing system and patient registry to protect qualifying patients, doctors and providers from criminal liability. Gregoire vetoed provisions of the bill that would have licensed and regulated medical marijuana dispensaries and producers. She also vetoed a provision for a patient registry under the Department of Health, but said she would support legislation creating a registry as long as state workers weren't put at risk.
That measure's sponsor, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has introduced new legislation, S.B. 5955. It would allow dispensaries – called "nonprofit patient cooperatives" – only if local jurisdictions opt in by approving an ordinance. The bill would also create a statewide registry of qualified medical marijuana patients.
Eli Sanders at Slog reports about this latest move. The biggest difference between try No. 3 and try No. 2 is statewide registries are removed; medical cannabis proponents didn't like the idea.
Last month Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed critical parts of a medical cannabis bill, Senate Bill 5073, reiterating her concerns that state workers could be prosecuted under federal law the way the measure was written.
The legislation was passed to set clearer regulations on medical marijuana use and to establish a licensing system and patient registry to protect qualifying patients, doctors and providers from criminal liability. Gregoire vetoed provisions of the bill that would have licensed and regulated medical marijuana dispensaries and producers. She also vetoed a provision for a patient registry under the Department of Health, but said she would support legislation creating a registry as long as state workers weren't put at risk.
That measure's sponsor, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has introduced new legislation, S.B. 5955. It would allow dispensaries – called "nonprofit patient cooperatives" – only if local jurisdictions opt in by approving an ordinance. The bill would also create a statewide registry of qualified medical marijuana patients.
