I-1068 to Legalize Marijuana in WA State Needs YOU!

Now that I-1068 to Fully Legalize Marijuana is on the streets it's our job to get it signed.
We all live some where, and chances are there are other marijuana supporters living there too. If your like me you would prefer to have someone else collect the signatures.
Why? 
Because I'm not the type to stand in front of the grocery store bugging folks to sign the thing, I hate when it happens to me.
Because I don't want every cop in town to know my face as a "Damn pot head". Because, Because, Because!

Well, the truth is if we all think this way this is just a waste of time for everyone. There are lots of pot smokers in every town but just a few who are "in the know" about efforts to Legalize. If your reading this thats YOU!

I have decided to admit my weaknesses and find a way to collect signatures that does work for me. I live in Skagit County, I thought I would run a few Adds on CraigsList, local papers or the Little Nickel. In these adds I would list the name of a local park and the date/times I will be there with the petition Ready to Sign. Hopefully I will meet some others willing to also collect signatures at a park close to there home. If I did this 1-2 times a week I think I could get a few signatures on the petition for I-1068.

Also, everyone who signs the the petition MUST be registered to vote. This can be done quickly via the internet. If I had access to a internet phone(3G)(4G), I could register folks at the park also.
Register to Vote HERE

I can't do this by myself! If you live in Skagit Co or think this would work in your town please contact me at Contact@wamjlawreform.com.

I am very interested in YOUR ideas! Leave your ideas in the COMMENTS below!

SB 5615 to Decriminalize Marijuana is Officially DEAD

Not that it's really news but SB 5615 proposing Marijuana Decriminalization failed to get a vote by the Senate yesterday, missing it's deadline for action in 2010. 2010 is the end of our two year legislative cycle. This means SB 5615  is gone for good, history gone by.
This for sure wont be the last time we see this in WA. Please contact the sponsors to thank them and encourage them to re-introduce similar bills in 2011. Find the Sponsors HERE.

Look I Made the Cover!

I literally made the cover.
I baked the sugar cookies, Lemon Haze....

Awesome TV coverage of Marijuana Law Reform in Washington

Seattle City Channel 21 did a great job of covering the topic in this weeks episode of "City Inside/Out" titled Pot Policy. Watch it Here
The new City Attorney for Seattle is interviewed along side Allison Holcomb of WA ACLU, and two random prohibitionist. Douglas Hiatt Co-author of I-1068 and my favorite nut job conservative Pam Roach(I could do a whole new blog) are also featured.
I would like to point out how Pam holds her hands to show the approximate size of 40 grams of weed. I believe she is mimicking ME, as I was the "guy in the back of the room" holding my hands up to show the Senate Judiciary Committee "How much is that, Really?" in the Feb. 09 Public Hearing for Sb5615. Watch that video HERE

I-1068 Hits The Streets

I-1068 an Initiative to Fully Legalize Marijuana in Washington is Ready for your signature. Before I get to when and where you can sign the petition I should touch on a few other bits of marijuana news that have happened lately.
SSB 5798 adding to the number of health care professionals authorized to recommend Medical Marijuana has passed a vote in the Senate and has an up coming Public Hearing in the House. Visit the Cannabis Defense Coalition site to find out more on that effort.
“State lawmakers are considering making marijuana possession legal. Do you think legalizing marijuana is a good idea? Or a bad idea?” When King 5 ask this question last month 56% thought legalization was a good idea.8% weren't sure how they though. 36% opposed. See the detailed results.


NOW, What you really need to know is Where, When to sign the petition for I-1068.
Sensible Washington has already held it's first Volunteer Organization meeting in Spokane and there are several other meetings planed for areas across the state. We only have around 3 1/2 Months to gather the required 241,000 signatures. It's important that we hit the streets right away, if there is an event or place where you know marijuana supporters will gather, GO GET' EM !!! Visit www.sensiblewashington.org to find out how to help gather signatures. Also, Sensible Washington has an active FaceBook page with all the updates and news.

So, I've been lazy!

I haven't Posted for a few days and I missed coverage of the BIG VOTE in Olympia.

Here's the video of the Vote.

You can make up your own mind weather you agree with me that Rep. Hurst is a Cop with a heart who can't seem to face the fact that he was WRONG in arresting and pursuing marijuana offences. As long as he pretends nothing has changed he doesn’t have to accept the reality of his involvement in the Drug War. Put Rep. Klippert in there with Hurst. Both still on the dark side above reproach as "Peace Officers" and un willing to face the inevitable change in marijuana policy.

I save a special place in my heart for Rep. Pearson. See, he is my state Rep in the House and I believe him to be particularly spineless and unfit to serve. He is clearly ashamed of his stance on Marijuana as he is forced to cower to the will of his Republican masters. He for sure knows that he does not represent the people of his district and is lucky the majority of voters in this area are over 65 years old.

Reps. Kirby and O'Brian seem to fall into the same crowd as most folks "in the know". The idea of Marijuana Reform is clearly here to stay but they are still looking for the way to make it happen. For different reasons these two opposed the bills as written. I think Kirby and O'Brian are open to future conversation and reform.

Thanks to Rep. Goodman, Rep. Appleton, and Rep. O'Brian for their Yes votes.

WA House Speaker Frank Chopp Endorces Marijuana Decriminalization (Maybe...)

Washington States Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp was interviewed by Inside Olympia's host Austin Jenkins, this Sunday. Towards the end of the interview Austin ask Chopp about marijuana legislation currently happening in the state. Chopp instantly recites the "Fed's will not allow it" argument that is clearly the first line of defense when you have no substantive arguments against Marijuana Law Reform.

I have a hard time believing that the Democratic Leader and WA Speaker of the House, Frank Chopp doesn't understand the 10th Amendment. This is a States Rights issue; it is our responsibility to make this type of decision at the state level, signaling to the Fed's that WA citizens will not allow this injustice any longer.

But! Listen closely

"Certainly, reducing sentencing for non-violent drug offenders should be done"
"This decriminalization thing should be taken a look at in order to PROTECT the tax payer money"
"We don't want to WASTE money just dealing with non-violent drug offenders. We have to be SMART about this"

It sounds to me like Chopp is OK with decrim....

This Wednesday’s vote will be very interesting. The Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee is made up 5-3 in favor of the Chopp lead democrats. Since Chopp generally leads the conversation on weather or not a bill will move through the legislative process or die, this vote will surely tell us if it's the end or a beginning for Washington Marijuana Law Reform in 2010.

Marijuana Reform Defended by Alison Holcomb fron the ACLU and Rep. Dickerson

OMG! I'm about to go to bed then I see this.

TVW's "The Impact" Covers the Washington Fight to Legalize Marijuana. This is over 15 min of quality reform coverage, it had my heart pounding.
I'm completely impressed with Rep. Dickerson's ability to swat from the airwaves any and all Reefer Madness tossed out by the opposition. Allison Holcomb from the ACLU is a veteran marijuana defender. She always repersents.

Watch it for yourself...

How about that now? Wasn't it incredable?

Please leave me a comment if you have anything to add to the conversation.

"We're not going to prosecute marijuana possession cases anymore"

In his first few days as City Attorney, Pete Holmes has sent a major message to the Citizens and Legislature of Washington State.

"I meant it when I said it"
"We're not going to prosecute marijuana possession cases anymore"


Several marijuana possession cases have been dropped already and 50 more are being reviewed. Barring "out of the ordinary circumstances" the City of Seattle will be the safest place for a toker in the state.

So! What about the rest of us?

We are living in a State that sits firmly atop the Marijuana Law Reform podium.
1- We have bills working through or legislature to both decriminalize and Fully Legalize Marijuana. Neither of these bills is perfect but dose represent a huge stepping stone in the fight.
2- We have an initiative filled by Sensible Washington, that pressures Olympia to make real changes this year or WE The People will take the issue out of their hands.
3- And NOW!
The City of Seattle, our largest population center, with marijuana already set as it's "lowest law enforcement priority", has a Mayor who states publicly that Marijuana should be legal and a City Attorney who says he will not prosecute any "out of the ordinary" marijuana possession cases. WOW that’s a lot to grasp.


How will each of these efforts affect the other? (My novice POV)
First off, I feel the State's HB2401 has less than little chance to become law in 2010. It is a hugely symbolic bill that was not written with any of the nuance this complicated issue needs. HB1177 & SB5615 both proposing what I call $100 Decrim, have a “better” chance of passing but, that’s still a long shot in 2010.

All this is simple until Sensible Washington walks on the playing field!
With their ONE page simply written initiative filled, they put real pressure on the legislature to do something or Marijuana might be on the ballot in November. It might Pass!

Sensible Washington would have you oppose the legislative efforts because all of it is null and void if their initiative passes. I support the initiative process completely but also recognize the possible benefit of a well written law that draws in reasonable income for the state and supplies funding to drug education/treatment programs. Such a law would 100% have to protect my right to grow for recreational use and not alter the states Medical Marijuana program in a negative way. I don’t think thay can do it!

Here we are. What should the reformer do…?
I will continue to pressure the state to find a workable law to pass AND Put considerable attention towards the initiative. If it passes, it should cancel out all of the laws anyways.

Washington Lawyers & Activist File Ballot Initiative to Fully Legalize Marijuana.

As many of you may know by now a citizen group called Sensible Washington filled the papers to put a Marijuana Legalization question on our 1210 ballot. Come November, the world of marijauna activisam may have a new focus. If passed, this initiative should completly remove all criminal penalty for marijuana possession, distribution, and cultivation.
No one would face jail time or have a record if caught with even a TON of marijuana growing in the field directly behind your drive-through MarijuanaMART. That is until the DEA raids the Capitol via helicopter and rope, to declare martial law on a state that is clearly in the grips of Drug Lords. (probably MEXICAN)
Now, for sure I just made that up but thats what the opposition would have you think will happen if we as a state  choose to send a big Bald Eagle flying back to the ONDCP headquarters.

 This is the Full Text of the iniative as obtained by Washington's own Cannabis Defense Coalition. The CDC had a nice sized group in Olympia on Wed.

1. Whereas the State of Washington wastes tens of millions of dollars a year in taxpayer funds senselessly prosecuting responsible citizens of Washington State for use, possession and cultivation of marijuana, a benign therapeutic substance, and whereas citizens of the state face arrest, prosecution and loss of rights including property, employment and education for use of marijuana; and,

2. Whereas the State of Washington's medical marijuana law, enacted by the People in 1998, has proven ineffective at protecting the rights of citizens of Washington State; and,

3. Whereas Washington State farmers and landowners are prohibited from growing industrial hemp on their land, denying them the ability to grow a valuable, environmentally friendly crop; and,

4. Whereas the State Legislature has proven ineffective at offering appropriate legal remedies to the citizens of the State of Washington:

The People of the State of Washington hereby repeal any and all criminal penalties for the adult use, possession, possession with intent to deliver, delivery and manufacture/cultivation of marijuana.

The intended effect is to remove all criminal penalties relating to the above~enumerated crimes and their penalties. Specifically. the People of the State of Washington call for the following changes to the Revised Code of Washington .....

If the Washington Legislature doesn't make moves on the topic of Marijuana Reform the People will do it for them.