Washington Senate Passes To Overhaul Medical Marijuana Industry

[Jacob Redmond]

The Senate has passed a measure meant to reconcile Washington state's medical marijuana industry with its heavily-taxed recreational sector.

Senate Bill 5052 passed Friday on a 36-11 vote and now heads to the House for consideration. It is one of several measures brought forth by lawmakers this year after attempts to address the dual markets died in the House last session.

The measure, sponsored by Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center, would exempt medical products from the state sales tax - though not the heavy excise taxes that have helped drive up prices in recreational stores. It also does away with the current collective gardens but allows four-person cooperatives to exist. Also, stores licensed under the recreational system could obtain an endorsement to sell medical marijuana products.

Among its many other provisions, it would create a database of patients who could possess more marijuana than allowed under the recreational law.

News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: WA Senate passes to overhaul medical marijuana industry
Author: The Associated Press
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[MightBeHigh]

It requires us to register, and it gives police access to the database. What do you think will happen if we get pulled over on a traffic violation?....cop will check the database, will then declare you to be impaired, and will haul you in for a mandatory blood test. If you are a medical patient, your Active THC level will exceed the 5 nanogram limit (even if you haven't used your medicine today), off to jail you'll go, you'll pay a big fine (and don't forget attorney's fees, as you won't want to be unrepresented in court), and your Driver's License will be suspended.

If that's not bad enough, this bill also reduces the amount a mmj patient can possess from 24 oz. to 3 oz., and it will take away our right to grow our own!

Who the hell said Cannabis was legalized in Washington State? All we can do is hope the Cannabis lobbyists can defeat this in the House.

 

[MightBeHigh]

It requires us to register, and it gives police access to the database. What do you think will happen if we get pulled over on a traffic violation?....cop will check the database, will then declare you to be impaired, and will haul you in for a mandatory blood test. If you are a medical patient, your Active THC level will exceed the 5 nanogram limit (even if you haven't used your medicine today), off to jail you'll go, you'll pay a big fine (and don't forget attorney's fees, as you won't want to be unrepresented in court), and your Driver's License will be suspended.

If that's not bad enough, this bill also reduces the amount a mmj patient can possess from 24 oz. to 3 oz., and it will take away our right to grow our own!

Who the hell said Cannabis was legalized in Washington State? All we can do is hope the Cannabis lobbyists can defeat this in the House.

It appears I was wrong about one detail; rather than taking away the right to have personal grows, it seems 6 plants will be allowed. Sorry, I haven't read the bill, and am relying on news articles. My bad.