cannabisnews.com: State House Passes Medical-Marijuana Reform
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State House Passes Medical-Marijuana Reform
Posted by CN Staff on April 11, 2011 at 17:13:47 PT
By Jonathan Martin, Seattle Times Staff Reporter
Source: Seattle Times 
Seattle, WA -- A comprehensive reform of the state's medical marijuana law passed the state House Monday afternoon, making it increasingly likely that the state would for the first time legalize dispensaries and growers while providing patients with new protections from arrest and prosecution.The bill, SB 5073, now goes back to the Senate, which passed a slightly different version in March. At an afternoon news conference before the House voted 54-43 to pass the bill, Gov. Chris Gregoire said, "At this point, I have concerns about it."
During vigorous debate, the House, passed an amendment requiring legal patients to sign up for a new state-run registry to qualify for pre-emptive protection from arrest, search or prosecution. Mandatory registries are in place in other states, including Oregon, but advocates in Washington fear the registry could be abused by law enforcement.Republicans sought to chip away at the bill with failed amendments, including 1,000-foot buffer zones from schools and banning qualified patients from growing marijuana themselves.Sales and business taxes would apply to dispensaries, growers and processors, producing an estimated $700,000 in revenues next year.The bill is the biggest rewrite of the medical marijuana law since a 1998 voter-approved initiative, and answers many questions that lingered since then. Dispensaries, which currently operate in a legal gray area, would be licensed and regulated by the Department of Health under rules still to be written, and the Department of Agriculture would license and inspect commercial marijuana grow farms and food processors.As part of amendments adopted on the house floor, one dispensary would be allowed for every 20,000 residents, meaning at least 93 would be allowed in King County.The bill's champion, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, said it would expand access for patients while providing a "bright line" for law enforcement. If differences can be worked out with the Senate, "It'll be the strongest medical marijuana protection in the country," she said.Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Jonathan Martin, Seattle Times Staff ReporterPublished: April 11, 2011Copyright: 2011 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/GHq0ef52CannabisNews Medical Marijuana  Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on April 13, 2011 at 11:48:22 PT
 herbdoc215
I'm so sorry. 
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Comment #5 posted by herbdoc215 on April 13, 2011 at 00:58:15 PT
I-Rest-My-Case------bye-bye Washington!
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/04/medical_marijuana_bill_is_stri.phpPeep this as it makes my entire point plus many not even said here...I don't who is worse the cops or the profiteers?
Excerpt...."Douglas Hiatt, a crusading lawyer known for defending medical-marijuana patients, says he's also exasperated by the latest version of the bill, which he says sets up a system of "first- and second-class citizens" depending on whether or not patients register with the state.Not only that, Hiatt points to another amendment (see pdf) that gives local jurisdictions the authority to set zoning, tax, and other regulations on pot production and distribution. That's on top of regulations to be set by the state DOH and Department of Agriculture. Hiatt says he believes the amendment will create extreme variations throughout the state, with some jurisdictions setting "exorbitant taxes" while others offer tax incentives to encourage the pot industry.
 Yet, really, nobody knows everything the bill will do (assuming a version ultimately passes). It's so big and so complex that even the most ardent activists are still absorbing the details, and there are bound to be unintended consequences that neither supporters nor detractors have yet dreamed up." Peace, Steve Tuck
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Comment #4 posted by herbdoc215 on April 12, 2011 at 12:15:15 PT
Have you read about this amendment
Some smart-ass "Senator" put into the bill...the pizza amendment...read about it here, 
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/04/wa_pizza_amendment_makes_light_of_medical_marijuan.php#moreAnd I still am waiting to see that the reconciliation of these Bills will produce because there was many poison amendments in it and they haven't indicted yet which will stay and which will go as well as Governor has said she still has 'concerns" about it? The process was mired by special interest and the "I got mine" crown so bad it changed hourly so far up and down and has about drove me insane! I am going to be closely following this one as I am curious to see how it all unfolds and just how fair they are going to be awarding these permits? Peace, Steve 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 12, 2011 at 11:00:05 PT
Storm Crow
Very true.
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Comment #2 posted by Storm Crow on April 12, 2011 at 10:49:04 PT
But, FoM
They seem to be losing these battles more often, while common sense and the will of the voters prevails! Thank Goodness! 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 11, 2011 at 17:18:28 PT
They Never Quit
Excerpt: Republicans sought to chip away at the bill with failed amendments, including 1,000-foot buffer zones from schools and banning qualified patients from growing marijuana themselves.
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