Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2012
Source: Mukilteo Beacon (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Beacon Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.mukilteobeacon.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5282
Author: Sara Bruestle

SHOULD STATE LEGALIZE POT?

Washington state may decriminalize marijuana for personal 
consumption, and add another source of revenue to the state, if an 
initiative legalizing the drug passes this November.

With the vote only months away, the Snohomish County Health and 
Safety Network is opening the discussion on Initiative 502, calling 
for the legalization of marijuana for residents 21 years or older.

The Health and Safety Network will host a Town Hall-style debate on 
the initiative from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Mukilteo City 
Hall, 11930 Cyrus Way.

State Rep. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, will moderate the debate, with 
New Approach Washington in support of the measure and the Snohomish 
County Regional Drug Task Force in opposition.

"We've seen a little bit of pushback from the community at large, 
many of whom are unaware that I-502 is going to be on the ballot," 
said Chris Jury, the program coordinator. "They assume any talk of 
marijuana and legalization is some kind of pie-in-the-sky crazy idea.

"There's a lot of confusion, and a lot of people feel nervous and 
uncertain about even acknowledging that this is taking place."

I-502 removes state criminal and civil penalties for the possession, 
sale and cultivation of marijuana. It would tax marijuana sales and 
set a legal driving limit of 5 nanograms of THC  the main active 
chemical compound  in the bloodstream.

Under the initiative, residents 21 years and older could buy up to an 
ounce of dried marijuana, one pound of marijuana-infused food, such 
as brownies, or 72 ounces of marijuana-infused drinks, such as tea.

"How our society treats marijuana is a really important issue right 
now for a lot of people who have very different opinions," Liias said.

"This is not a theoretical debate about marijuana  this is about a 
specific proposal on the ballot. This is exactly what a democratic 
society should do, which is tackle tough issues and debate them, and 
we all make the decision together."

Jury said the debate will be an opportunity for parents, students and 
community members to hear both sides of the issue and to ask 
important questions about topics, such as: state revenue from sales, 
DUI safeguards, reduced crime and criminal justice costs, or 
potential access for minors.

"With this forum, we're beginning to ask all of those big questions 
because this is new," he said. "We're kind of in uncharted territory."

Pat Slack, commander of the Regional Task Force, will be debating the 
cons of I-502. Slack has been in charge of the task force for 12 
years, and has 43 years of experience in law enforcement.

Debating the pros of 1-502 as a NAW representative will be John 
McKay, a University of Seattle Law School professor and former 
federal prosecutor.

Opponents of the initiative are fearful that the initiative's DUI 
provisions are too strict.

Jury said he's heard from several pro-legalization groups against 
I-502, including medical marijuana patients, who argue that making 5 
nanograms of THC in the bloodstream enough to trigger a DUI is overly 
restrictive.

They say that patients using high-THC medical marijuana could easily 
show that amount in their bloodstream a day after using it.

He said other groups asked to join the debate panel, but the Health 
and Safety Network is set on limiting the debate to two 
representatives  one pro- and one anti-legalization.

"We want to let both sides make their cases but be less specific 
about the initiative and more about the bigger picture idea of why is 
Washington state considering this? What are the implications?" Jury said.

As moderator, Liias said he is going to have Slack and McKay 
introduce their sides of the argument, but then designate the rest of 
the time to a Q&A and open discussion with the audience.

"There's a lot of people who have opinions and a lot of different 
people you could invite to this, but we really wanted to focus on a 
good Q&A and get as much audience participation as we can," he said.

The state Liquor Control Board and Department of Revenue  which would 
license and regulate marijuana under I-502  estimate that if the 
initiative passes, the state would make $2 billion in tax revenue by 
2018, according to a fiscal note released March 20.

Washington already has a voter-approved medical marijuana law that 
allows doctors to recommend  but not prescribe  marijuana for 
residents suffering from cancer and other conditions that cause 
"intractable pain."

Marijuana is an illegal drug under federal law. Currently in 
Washington state, it is a misdemeanor to possess 40 grams or less of marijuana.

An initiative sponsor, NAW submitted more than enough signatures for 
it to make the state November ballot.

Colorado's initiative to legalize marijuana is about 3,000 signatures 
shy, making Washington's initiative the first in the nation to be 
approved. No state has fully legalized marijuana.

Liias signed the initiative because he wanted there to be public 
discussion about the issue. However, he has yet to decide if he'll 
vote to pass I-502 on the ballot.

"The more I hear about it, the more I think there are some big pluses 
and some big minuses," Liias said.

"That's why I'm excited to moderate. I'm just like the audience  I 
want to hear more and learn from people, and hopefully it will help 
me make up my mind."

For more information, contact Chris Jury at 425-252-2668 or  ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom