420 Policies and Laws

[Crow]

12:39
[Comment From jim bags:]
If marijuana is a gateway to the harder stuff ...why is it scheduled more dangerous than the harder stuff???

12:39
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
On potency: The technical question is beyond my knowledge. But surely, if cannabis were legalized and regulated, the potency could be set by law, just as the potency of alcoholic drinks can be set by law. For years, for example, beer was limited to 3.5 percent--not a rule I support, but it was the rule, and it stuck. I assume that something like that could be done with marijuana--but only if it were legalized. It certainly can't be done now.

12:39
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
obviously, we dont know what a legal marijuana distribution system looks like exactly but there is no doubt the price will go down, the question is tax rates and such. i believe this can be worked out to avoid a reintroduction of unregulated markets.

12:40
Commander Pat Slack:
Mr. Hiatt - In Rand Study, it points to the fact that if the cost of the product being provided is accessive there will be a black market. Under the current bill, anyone can have a 50 square foot garden. It's only common sense that there will be people that will be providing this product at a cost less than it will be provided by the state.

12:40
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Mr. Bogan, if cannabis was legal couldn't the government control its potency?

12:41
Commander Pat Slack:
Mr. Ramsey - Again, in the Rand Study, it shows that this will only have a slight impact on drug trafficking organizations and that they will continue to supply their product to meet the demand.

12:41
[Comment From Steven:]
Commander Slack, you say 25% of your activity is related to marijuana. Wouldn't legalization mean you could spend your time solving other more violent crimes? Wouldn't your case loads on other crimes go up by 25 percent?

12:41
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
S.B. 1550, Rep. Dickerson's bill, would allow small private grows as well as the sale of commercially produced cannabis in liquor stores. Some people assume that most users will grow their own, in order to save money. Some will, I suppose, but I think if it's made available in a state store, that most lawful users will simply buy it.

12:41
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
no, pat. not necessarily the case, you dont see home brews taking over the market and you wont see the vast majority of people fool with growing it either. not a real worry, and it is a very benign substance.

12:41
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
We have Four Lokos "beer" that is 13% alcohol content and this is being marketed to youth with flavors that adults would never drink-any assurance that dealers that are legal would not be marketing pot to kids?

12:41
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Unless they have a real green thumb, Bruce.

12:42
[Comment From Clint:]
When was the last time a home beer brewing operation was busted in a paramilitary style raid?

12:42
Commander Pat Slack:
To Bob - Yes. There will be a negative impact to drug trafficking organizations. But there still will be a significant amount of profit and they will continue to operate. I believe that these individuals will be here no matter what. As this is their line of work. Legalization is not going to cause them to go out and get a real job.

12:42
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Commander Slack: I'm not familiar with the Rand study. But I'm skeptical of the claim that most people will buy cannabis from illegal sources if it is legalized and made available at the liquor store. Didn't bootleg alcohol die out after Prohibition was ended in 1933?

12:43
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
they will have no demand, pat, when it is legal and regulated and controlled for pesticides etc. no one is going to be buying mexican brickweed anymore. tehy wont have to. choice. the american way.

12:43
Commander Pat Slack:
Steven - Again, the individuals that we are dealing with are providing multiple types of drugs.

12:44
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Do the gangs supply any drug that is legallty available to adults over the counter? I haven't heard of such.

12:44
[Comment From Randy:]
Look at all the violence in Mexico - they aren't doing that over Tequilla now are they.

12:45
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
With legalization, we're going to have farmers in Eastern Washington growing cannabis, and they're going to put the Mexicans out of business.

12:45
[Comment From Phil Mocek:]
Pat: More importantly, prohibition is not stopping them.

12:45
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
potency arguments are a red herring. it is a plant. it only varies by a certain amount and now that labs in colorado and california are doing testing the proof is in the pudding so to speak

12:45
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
you bet they are, bruce!

12:46
[Comment From Ron:]
Why are we making legal decisions based on what children may or may not do. We do not have to meet that criteria in any other aspect of commerce. I think using children as the basis for your argument is simply a ploy meant to elicit emotion and has little or nothing to do with the actual issue

12:46
Commander Pat Slack:
Bruce - Bootleg alcohol, by my understanding, is much more difficult to produce than marijuana. I'm not an expert. All I know is in my years of experience, I've seen more sorrow than I've seen happiness from this product.

12:46
[Comment From Randy:]
@ Bruce - wouldn't the mexicans move to a legal market too? Ending alcohol rohibition didn't put jose cuervo out of business

12:47
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Commander Slack: I have seen sorrow from drugs, but it wasn't from cannabis. Not to deny that some people have problems--but the big disasters I've seen were from heroin (an overdose death), cocaine (a business ruined) and meth (a home lost).

12:47
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
you have been looking in the wrong places, pat. come with me to the hospitals and the cancer wards. come to hempfest where thousands gather peacefully with no violence to celebrate this plant. get out of the jail.

12:47
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Mr. Bogan, does this state do enough to fund treatment? Couldn't the money spent fighting cannabis be better spent on treatment?

12:48
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
Potency has meaning when I work with youth that are binge smoking high potency pot and getting almost sick and incoherent-the potency takes the drug beyond the 1.5 % thc in the mellow Woodstock days of yore....

12:49
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Randy: If marijuana were legallized nationwide, the Mexicans would become suppliers under NAFTA. But the issue here is legalization in the state of Washington only (and that, in conflict with federal law). State Rep. Dickerson's bill would not allow the import of drugs into the state (since that is controlled by federal law, under the Interstate Commerce Clause).

12:49
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
what treatment? there is no adequate funding for treatment of any kind. and you have to treat the stuff that is going to kill people first.

12:49
Commander Pat Slack:
Douglas - I would be more than happy to sit down and try to understand the other side. I have asked to meet with a couple of people in the past and have not been taken up on the opportunity. I tried with both Rick Steves and Ken Shram, I have not received a response. Give me a call and we can have a cup of coffee in Snohomish County.

12:49
[Comment From cascadecannahelp:]
Commander Slack what about the millions of people put into prison, jobs lost and families destroyed by this failed war against people just because of cannabis

12:50
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
Ryan-the state I believe meets the demand of about 30% of youth needing treatment in Wa., and the majority of those youth state that pot is their primary drug of abuse. Cutbacks in funding area happening and less youth and adults will get treatment, especially those with no insurance and no ability to pay.

12:50
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
done, pat. i would be happy to.

12:50
Commander Pat Slack:
Cascadecannahelp - Individuals that are in prison for cannabis for the most part, are because of the profiteering. It's about money, not about the drug.

12:51
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
If the drug is legalized, the money goes into legitimate hands.

12:52
Commander Pat Slack:
Bruce - If marijuana is legalized, the individuals involved will switch to another drug. They will not get a real job.

12:52
[Comment From John Hines:]
@Slack, even if they're arrest for "profiteering" they're still arrested. If it were legal, they wouldn't have been tempted into trying to sell it.

[Crow]

12:53
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Yes, they will switch to another drug, if they can. But will there automatically be more demand for another drug? Part of the goal of legalization is to dry up their opportunities to make big money at an illegal business.

A lot of those bootleggers back in the 1920s had to get real jobs. And I'm all for that.

12:53
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
the single largest cause of death, other than traffic in washington state is prescription overdose, that is why many doctors advocate cannabis for pain, no overdose potential, simply not possible, good doctors at the u and other places are advocating this change to cannabis over opiates

12:54
[Comment From Alex:]
Are those other drugs more harmful or dangerous than cannabis?

12:54
[Comment From robert:]
stephen what percentage of our youth need treatment for drugs, and are there any common factors that lead to abusing drugs? also, how severe are the side effects to kids with marijuana dependency vs. other drugs - are they less, or more?

12:54
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Alex: Yes, other drugs can be much more harmful. Meth. for example. Read Nick Reding's book, "Methland." It's horrifying.

12:54
[Comment From ReasonablePolicy:]
Commander Slack, what about the high statistic of "simple possession" charges? Leading to criminal records, lost jobs, inability to receive federal aid and student loans?

12:55
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
if it can kill you, in my book that makes it more dangerous. doctors taught me about the lethality issue long ago and it still impresses me greatly

12:55
Commander Pat Slack:
To all - Law enforcement only enforces the laws on the books. We don't pick and choose. In my position, again, I see the worst of this. In the families, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters...they are telling me the problems that it is causing in their family from the addiction.

12:55
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
I have kids in counseling 12 and 13 that tell me that they mask their pain with pot- they use it to take the edge off their stressful lives-pot masks pain and does not allow a person to adequately develop the tools they need to handle emotional angst while going through adlescence.

12:56
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Bruce, How much would Washington state have to worry about the Feds if it was legal here? Will it depend on the administration? Would the Obama administration come down on us?

12:56
Commander Pat Slack:
Reasonable Policy - It's the law. The same can be applied to higher insurance and loss of drivers license to people that disobey the speed limit. Again, I don't make the laws. We just enforce them.

12:56
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
i see it too, pat. i just dont want to criminalize it anymore. i want you to be able to go after the real bad guys that hurt others, not have to worry about social health issues like addiction

12:57
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Commander Slack: Yes, you see the worst. And we in the news business tend to, also. But the law cannot be written for the worst cases only. It has to be written to the great middle--and I think the great middle of America--at least much of it--wants to have this relatively harmless intoxicant available for adult use.

12:57
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
they really cant ryan. there is constitutional doctrine that should prevent it, commandeering doctrime

12:58
Commander Pat Slack:
To Bruce - This is outside of my expertise and is my personal feeling. We are trying to move towards giving the adults something and not caring about our youth of tomorrow. I think that's very wrong and I think that's very selfish.

12:58
[Comment From one love:]
Just like the Great Middle wanted it in California, put it to a vote of the people lets see what happens

12:58
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
Another relatively harmless intoxicant like alcohol? Lets not legalize another risky drug after failing so much to keep youth from seeing alcohol in our society as a rite of passage into adulthood. Wrong message, wrong reasons, wrong time.

12:59
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Ryan: Would the Obama administration come down on us? It might. It does not support legal marijuana for uses other than medical. And if Rep. Dickerson's bill were passed, there would be a fight about it in court. You can count on it. My point is that such a fight is coming, and the State of Washington might as well start it.

Heck, we've got an attorney general, Rob McKenna, fighting with the feds over Obama's health care law. This fight is over the same sentence in the Constitution, Article I, SEction 8: "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."

1:00
[Comment From Lee:]
Ryan, it would be risky from a political standpoint for the Obama Administration to interfere, but it's possible they'd do it anyway.

1:00
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
we are going to try to get the initiative on the ballot this year and get it done first here in washington state, as ryan said in the excellent editorial sunday, total repeal of prohibition is the goal please visit sensiblewashington.org to help

1:00
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
Passing 1550 would put the Obama administration on the spot. And that would be a good thing.

1:00
[Comment From YellowJuana Cake:]
way to keep all the activists out of the conversation. after an hour of not being able to take part, I'm sorry I shared this multiple times with my thousands of facebook friends.

1:01
[Comment From one love:]
Why are we wanting to put in liquor stores. Users will be encouraged to use both substances which significantly increases the impairing effects of each substance one plus one does not equal two

1:01
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
sorry cake. i hope it gets better

1:01
[Comment From Jeff Hines:]
What is the difference between Sensible Washington and NORML? are they not trying to achieve the same goal???

1:03
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
On liquor stores: Well, where else would you have it be sold? Bartell Drugs? Safeway? The Times is not enthusiastic about the state liquor monopoly, and we supported an initiative last Nov. 2 to abolish it. But it is the system we have, and the logical place to offer legal cannabis to adults. Also if there is to be a fight with the feds over legalization, it's probably better to have the actual sellers be employees of the State of Washington.

1:03
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
yes we are trying to achieve the same goal and they endorse and support us, however we are a political committee running an actual reform initiative this year in this state it will have a new number in a week or so

1:03
[Comment From Kippersnacks:]
Hey what is the projected revenue expected to be generated from Marijuana if it were to be sold by the state. Could it help out the teachers in this state in the long run??

1:03
Commander Pat Slack:
To all - I am only answering the questions that are directed to me by the editorial staff. I will be as responsive as I possibly can, as this is just business.

1:03
[Comment From Bucket O Truth:]
I respectfully disagree that the anti-commandeering doctrine would protect the state of Washington if SB1550 were passed. It isn't about the federal government imposing an obligation on the state, it is about the state passing a law that directly conflicts with federal law.

1:04
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
might be true with 1550, not true with the initiative, bucket

1:04
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
I fear that with pot being seen as so safe, why not sell it in 7-11s, grocery stores, gas stations? Even more kid eye level exposure.

1:04
[Comment From Kevin:]
"Bruce - If marijuana is legalized, the individuals involved will switch to another drug. They will not get a real job." Commander Slack, can you cite any evidence or statistics which back up this claim?

1:04
Commander Pat Slack:
To all - If 1550 passed, and individuals in the state grew marijuana and distributed it outside the state, they could be charged federally. And potentially in any state that deemed it illegal.

1:05
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
i agree, stephan, as long as they check id and dont sell it to them. ever seen a liquor ad

1:06
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
We're not saying that cannabis is "Safe" for everyone at all times. Certainly I don't recommend that you use it and drive a car. But there are a lot of substances, from beer to dynamite, that are not safe in all circumstances, but that are sold legally, in a regulated way.

1:06
Commander Pat Slack:
Kevin - Yes. Recently, with the change of oxy 80's, the individuals that we know that were involved in the distribution of those has now switched to cocaine and methamphetamine. I think logically, you can apply the same to marijuana.

[timoteo]

[Crow]

1:08
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
no, you cant, pat, the market for those other drugs is far far less than for marijuana and some of those guys are going out of business, period, if it is legalized

1:08
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Mr. Hiatt, Wouldn't it be better if cannabis was decrimelized before jumping into legalization?

1:09
[Comment From Bob Bainsfield:]
Why is this forum soo censored? I have had multiple respectful and important questions submitted and only one posted...

1:10
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
As we come toward the finish line here, I propose a thought: Adult Americans want intoxicants. They want them, they are willing to pay for them, and they will have them because the market, legal or otherwise, will provide them. Our choice is to define what intoxicants are lawful and what are not--to devise a menu of the OK ones. I think our point of view is that cannabis should be included on the "allowed and regulated" ones rather than the "go to jail" ones.

1:10
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Sorry, Mr. Bainsfield. We are getting swamped with questions and we can't post everything.

1:10
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
no, we have had enough of idiotic half measures in this country lately. we know what the problem is, it is prohibition and we have the solution at sensiblewashington.org and we need to implement it this year, now!

1:11
Ryan Blethen, Times:
We have about five minutes left. Will be taking a couple more questions.

1:11
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Also welcome any final thoughts from the panel.

1:11
Commander Pat Slack:
Douglas - you sound like a baby boomer that it is your way or the highway. Not trying to be sarcastic.

1:11
[Comment From Carlos F.:]
EDITORS: This "censorship" isn't because of the drug CZAR call that you all recieved is it?

1:12
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
a georgia sherriff said we have to figure out who we are scared of and not just mad at when we put people in jail. he is on to something there

1:12
Bruce Ramsey, Times:
The drug "Czar" comes tomorrow. He has not asked that we censor anything.

1:13
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
no boomer here pat. and no my way or highway, to pardon a pun. just time to stop ruining lives and do something right, embrace a little freedom, it wont hurt much.

1:13
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Carlos F., come on. Of course not. We regularly deal with folks who don't agree with us. From what I know, the Drug Czar was already going to be in Seattle and asked to meet with us. The request did come two days after our edit. But it doesn't matter becuase we believe what we believe and welcome a good discussion with Kerlikowkse.

1:13
Commander Pat Slack:
Douglas - thanks. Look forward to meeting with you. Give me a call and lets set something up for next week.

1:14
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
right on, pat.

1:14
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
I support less criminal consequences, more funding for prevention and treatment for youth and adults. We need to get closer together on the risks of marijuana use before we decide to legalize. There is strong evidence of addiction risks, and lifelong consequences, but the hype, and the romance with this drug keeps us from ever seeing that as fact, not rhetoric.

1:15
[Comment From Phil Mocek:]
Ryan and Bruce: Will you report to the public on the content of your meeting with Kerlikowske?

1:15
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Of course, Mr. Mocek. Our edit board meetings are on the record. We might get an edit out of it. Maybe a column. Blogging for sure.

1:16
[Comment From CLDavis:]
Going to ask again, please explain to Mr. Bogan how legalization would better protect our children by changing the suppliers from criminals to regulated stores that would check their IDs.

1:16
[Comment From jeff:]
to ryan, doug, bruce....even pat and steve..... thank you for this meeting.

1:17
[Comment From Frank:]
I thought Gil was her for the SAMA Luncheon which has been in the planning for the past 6 months

1:17
Ryan Blethen, Times:
Frank, I believe that is correct.

1:18
Stephen Bogan, Therapist:
Most kids get pot and other drugs from their parents homes.

1:18
[Comment From Joe from West Seattle:]
I LOVE SEATTLE TIMES!!

1:18
douglas hiatt, sensible washington:
thanks to all, it was an honor to be with everyone. thanks especially to the times for the forum and for their courageous editorials on the subject. douglas

1:19
Ryan Blethen, Times:
That's all. Thanks to the panel and to the public for the questions.

1:20
--END--

[Crow]

All done. Enjoy the read.

[BadAxe]

No need to apologise.

I will add that it would be nice if the President reschedule cannabis,

Actually, they did, just a day or 2 ago, on the federal level. Haven't you heard. Yep, on the Federal level, the DEA just chaging the scheduling of Cannibis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, Pharmacutical. Who woulda thunk they would cave to the Big Pharma? So it remains a schedule 1 plant on the hands of regular people, but its schedule 3 and now ok for pharmacutical to start producing THC pills. (Please don't bring up Marinol.) They also just banned almost all of the synthetic THC's found in the "legal" buds.

I do not see them letting go of the cash cow that MJ is on the federal level. As long as they can keep the sheep convinced its illegal cause its bad, and they just keep rolling in the money that the drug war brings in, I can't see things changing, until a majority of the people take a stand and speak out, and that just doesn't happen anymore. People like being told what to think.

[Crow]

As long as they can keep the sheep convinced its illegal cause its bad

They're having a hard time doing that. Try convincing the average Washingtonian, Oregonian, or Californian about the so-called "dangers of pot".

Sure, some people are gullible, and easy to deceive... But if you have a conversation with some of these people, you will find that most of them think there should be some reform when it comes to cannabis. Very, very few people today think that cannabis consumers belong in jail.

It's no longer a matter of IF it will be legal... It's a matter of WHEN, and it looks like Washington is ready to lead the charge for sensible cannabis reform.

[truthwolf1]

I think the greed of the small time growers blew it for California and put about a decade setback for legalization everywhere.
The bill was not perfect but could of been modified with time.

[Crow]

I think the greed of the small time growers blew it for California and put about a decade setback for legalization everywhere.
The bill was not perfect but could of been modified with time.

They had an opportunity, but the so-called "Stoners against Legalisation" messed things up for the rest of the community.

But it didn't set back reform... Washington immediately picked up the torch they dropped. We'll just have to wait and see if we can carry it all the way.

One thing is for certain... The movement to reform cannabis cannot be slowed or stopped. Like our plant, we are resilient.

[Crow]

An Hour with the Drug Czar

This time around, the word got out, probably through me, that he had asked to speak to the Times Editorial Board. Dominic Holden of The Stranger called me and asked me about it and put out a report on their blog, The Slog. Holden quoted me accurately, but his headline framed Kerlikowske’s visit as an attempt to “bully” The Seattle Times. It was a stretch to call it that. Holden wrote that it was “an apparent attempt by the federal government to pressure the state's largest newspaper to oppose marijuana legalization. Or at least turn down the volume on its new-found bullhorn to legalize pot.”

I couldn't think of anything Kerlikowske could do to squelch the freedom of The Seattle Times, and I never interpreted his visit that way. The folks that did were well-meaning, and regarding cannabis legalization I agree with them. But Kerlikowske was not bullying us, or threatening us, or attacking our freedom to air our opinions. As it turned out, he was cordial and almost laid-back. At one point he steered the conversation to prescription drug abuse, which had nothing to do with our editorial. When we asked him about legal marijuana he did disagree with us, but so gently that some of the attendees wondered why he had come at all.

Like many powerful people, he was careful what he said, responding to some questions without answering them as they were cast. For example, my first question to him related the costs of marijuana prohibition, and ended with the question of whether they were “worth it” (which I think of as “the Madeleine Albright question”). He didn’t answer it.

Not a particularly high priority--but still, the public vote in Seattle, and the subsequent turning out of Carr in favor of Holmes, did matter. Would Carr have tolerated Seattle's first Cannabis Farmer's Market, which took place last week? I'm not so sure. But Holmes did.

Kerlikowske offered several arguments against legalization. At one point he cited the RAND Corp. study as debunking the idea that a state would make money by selling cannabis through the liquor stores. I haven’t read the study, but the summary of it tells me the study was about how much legalizing marijuana in one state would affect the revenues of the Mexican drug cartels. It said it wouldn’t affect them a lot because they have other states and other drugs. But judging from the press release, the study does assume that if a state legalized cannabis, the Mexican drug cartels would lose the cannabis trade in that state. In other words, it assumes the very thing Kerlikowske doubted.

At other points in our conversation, Kerlikowske argued against legalization because it would increase usage by a dramatic amount. But if it did that, the state would be making money off it, would it not? (I not sure it would increase use by a dramatic amount, but I think it would increase it some, but that the possible negative effects would be hugely outweighed by the reducton in financial and human costs of prohibition.)

The big question of the hour was about federal response if the Washington Legislature did pass Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson’s legalization bill, H.B. 1550. Kerlikowske reminded us that the feds had agreed not to interfere with medical marijuana in those states that had passed laws allowing it (even though he thought medical marijuana was “an attempt to make it legal…by calling it medicine”). But what if the state law legalized it for general adult use?

“I can’t answer that,” he said. “That would be up to the Department of Justice.”

Really it would be up to one man: Barack Obama. Of course, he's the man who appointed Gil Kerlikowske.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...drug_czar.html

--------------------------------------------------------------

This is an article from last week:

Seattle's first cannabis farmers market attracts several hundred Sunday

As at most farmers markets, table after table came stocked with goodies, touted for their locally grown, healthy, organic qualities. Baby boomers in berets mingled with twenty-somethings in dreadlocks, eyeballing potted plants, pasta, pizza, cute little cupcakes and Mason jars full of green buds — lots of jars.

This was not your grandpa's market. It was the first Cannabis Farmers Market in Seattle. And an estimated 600 medical-marijuana patients strolled through the doors of the Little Red Studio in the South Lake Union neighborhood to partake, organizers said.

One patient from West Seattle said she never expected to see anything quite like it, especially at 11 a.m. on a Sunday.

"Not in my lifetime," said Nancy, 61, who didn't want to disclose her last name for privacy reasons. She uses cannabis to ease her chronic back pain and said it was nice to be able to talk to some of the two dozen pot providers on hand about the effects of various strains.

And what strains they were. The purple- and orange-tinged buds sported names such as Dark Vader, Kungfoo Goo, White Widow, Green Queen and God. And vendor names? Among them, the Herban Collective and Delectable Medibles.

Brochures described their qualities in terms that could have been cribbed from a sommelier. The Black Rhino sold at Ken's Medicine Bowl has a "subtle berry scent" and "full bodied fruity flavor." The White Knight features "complex fragrance" with "hints of citrus" flavor.

There was no sign of police Sunday morning at the event. "It's not a big deal," police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said in an interview before the event. "Our priorities are a reflection of community priorities."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...market28m.html

They held a Farmer's Market yesterday in Tacoma, and the next one will be held this Sunday in Seattle.

Olympia will soon join Seattle and Tacoma in opening its own cannabis farmer's market.

To find out more about Cannabis Farmer's Markets, visit http://cannabisfarmersmarkets.com/

[CannaCare]

SB 5073 - 2011-12

I've read the bill, and these are my interpretations of the Senate bill from the first reading:

All references to "marijuana" (medical or otherwise) will be changed to "cannabis" from the bill's proposed amendments and additions.

If you're a patient from another state (e.g. California, Colorado, etc.), the bill will allow you to have an 'affirmative defense' to the purchase, possession, and use of medical cannabis provided that you don't go over the state limits (24 ounces [1.5 lbs/0.68 kg] and 15 plants), which should be more than plenty since the state of Washington allows you to have more medical cannabis than any state in the Union. To apply for the affirmative defense, you need to have your state-approved medical cannabis ID, recommendation, or prescription on your person.

Dispensaries will be legalised (and owners will need to pay a "Business and Occupation" tax to operate). There are already dispensaries (incl. delivery) in Washington. They're advertised in the local media, newspapers, and Washington's resource site for medical cannabis, thclist.

Medical cannabis users will be exempt from any sales tax.

Increased protection for medical cannabis users. The bill would change the law so that you are protected from arrest or search & seizure. New additions will protect you from your parental rights being restricted solely due to your use of medical cannabis.

"A medical cannabis user may not be refused employment, discharged from employment, or discriminated against in compensation or in other terms & conditions of employment solely as a result of your off-site medical use of cannabis" (unless you work for a Federal contractor)

"A medical cannabis user may not be refused or evicted from housing solely as a result of his or her possession or use of usable cannabis or cannabis products."

"No person shall be prosecuted for constructive possession, conspiracy, or any other criminal offense solely for being in the presence or vicinity of cannabis intended for medical use".

The bill would remove the misdemeanor for displaying and using medical cannabis in public, and treat it as an infraction (dispensaries are exempt from this part of the law since they are operating legitimately and paying their business tax to the Department of Revenue). For the medical cannabis user, as long as you don't open the package or "consume cannabis in a public place in a manner that presents a reasonably foreseeable risk that another person would see and be able to identify the substance contained in the package or being consumed as cannabis". In other words, don't make your public use blatantly obvious.

The state will allow medical cannabis 'producers'. Producers are considered commercial entities that sell to licenced dispensaries. Producers will be licenced and regulated by the Department of Agriculture.

The University of Washington may conduct scientific research on the efficacy and safety of administering cannabis as part of medical treatment."

"The state of Washington fully occupies and preempts the entire field of authorizing and regulating the production, processing, dispensing, possession, and use of cannabis for medical purposes.

Local laws, ordinances, regulations, and rules that are inconsistent with the requirements of state law and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter may not be enacted and are preempted and repealed, regardless of the nature of the code, charter, or home rule status of the city, town, county, or municipality." ... State law would trump city/county/municipality when it comes to 'restricting' the use of medical cannabis

Individual and collective gardens for medical cannabis users will be allowed. Up to 99 plants and 96 oz. [6 lbs, or a little over 2.7 kg] will be allowed (make sure to have a copy of your recommendations posted at the garden). Also, the definition of "plants" have been clarified to exclude cuttings.

The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on January 20.

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... or to put it simply: a good step towards sensible, cannabis reform.

This bill has now been bastardized and there is now NOTHING good for patients in the bill. 23 new amendments will be heard on this bill when it's voted on in the House tomorrow. This bill will end medical marijuana as we know it in Washington. Again we patients have been screwed by Alison "Spin" Holcomb and the ACLU.

[CannaCare]

I have an Iolite...they are really outstanding!

[CannaCare]

I have seen a few precedent cases in Oregon where a lawful user of medical marijuana had his concealed weapons permit revoked. I would much rather have someone under the influence of marijuana carry a licensed concealed weapon than a drunk. Has anyone heard of such incidents in Washington State?

I'm filing a lawsuit against King County. I'm a patient with a concealed carry permit from the King County Sheriff's Department and they are denying me the right to purchase a firearm.

[Crow]

Yeah, a lot has changed since the original bill was announced.

I'm not really sure where I stand regarding the bill. I've also been informed that there are not enough votes needed for passage of the bill. We'll see how that plays out.

I almost forgot... Welcome to SnusOn! How did you find us? Anyways, its good to hear from another patient.

I would love to hear your story. Please feel free to share in The Cannabis Thread

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CannaCare... Where have I heard that name before?

[Snusify]

Sweden approves medical weed

http://www.thelocal.se/39060/20120212/

This is great news for those who can't get any relief from the most common drugs," said Jan Hillert, an MS researcher at Karolinska Institutet, to the Dagens Nyheter daily.

The agency has said that it plans to closely monitor the prescription of the new drug to ensure against abuse.

According to the agency however, the spray does not give any sort of "kick" as the cannabis content is in such small doses and common side effects include dizziness, nausea and drowsiness.

People suffering from MS, which damages the brain and the central nervous system, often experience problems with stiffness and muscle cramps.

The spray, which is used under the tongue, has been proved to be successful in alleviating MS symptoms by a series of medical studies.

The cannabis spray is already available in the UK and Spain. Earlier this year it was approved by agencies in Germany and Denmark.

It is not strictly illegal today to prescribe medicinal cannabis in Sweden but it is a lengthy and complicated process.

The doctor has to apply for a special permit from the Medical Products Agency and if approved the closest pharmacy has to arrange a special import.