Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Police would be allowed to auction off marijuana seized during drug busts under a bill that has the support of Commerce Committee Chair Rep. Chris Hurst.
The police departments would be allowed to keep any funds raised during auctions.
Under current law all seized drugs must be destroyed.
Hurst, a Democrat from Enumclaw, sees the proposal as one way to crack down on pot's black market.
"When you have the financial stake in the legal market you're going to help enforce it if it adds to your bottom line," said Hurst.
Hurst estimates only 2 percent of the pot sold in Washington state is legal and taxed.
He considers most of the state's medical providers part of the black market.
"So-called medical today, for the most part is a joke," said Hurst, "We're going to change all that."
Hurst also supports a bill to require all medical providers obtain licenses to sell marijuana similar to recreational sellers.
He thinks the state should also share some of the revenue generated by pot sales with counties and cities to go after illegal pot sellers.
Counties or cities with bans on the sale of pot would not qualify for the funding.
Patrick Seifert, owner of Olympia's Rainier Xpress, a collective garden for medical marijuana patients, is not opposed to getting a license.
But Seifert is worried about the state making his patients go to recreational stores for their medicine.
"Those are for recreational," Seifert testified to lawmakers Monday, "Recreational is different than medical."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmaker: Allow police to auction off seized pot
Author: Drew Mikkelsen
Contact: Contact Us | king5
Photo Credit: Ukiah Police Department
Website: KING5.com | Seattle Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports
The police departments would be allowed to keep any funds raised during auctions.
Under current law all seized drugs must be destroyed.
Hurst, a Democrat from Enumclaw, sees the proposal as one way to crack down on pot's black market.
"When you have the financial stake in the legal market you're going to help enforce it if it adds to your bottom line," said Hurst.
Hurst estimates only 2 percent of the pot sold in Washington state is legal and taxed.
He considers most of the state's medical providers part of the black market.
"So-called medical today, for the most part is a joke," said Hurst, "We're going to change all that."
Hurst also supports a bill to require all medical providers obtain licenses to sell marijuana similar to recreational sellers.
He thinks the state should also share some of the revenue generated by pot sales with counties and cities to go after illegal pot sellers.
Counties or cities with bans on the sale of pot would not qualify for the funding.
Patrick Seifert, owner of Olympia's Rainier Xpress, a collective garden for medical marijuana patients, is not opposed to getting a license.
But Seifert is worried about the state making his patients go to recreational stores for their medicine.
"Those are for recreational," Seifert testified to lawmakers Monday, "Recreational is different than medical."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmaker: Allow police to auction off seized pot
Author: Drew Mikkelsen
Contact: Contact Us | king5
Photo Credit: Ukiah Police Department
Website: KING5.com | Seattle Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports
