A busy 60 day session of the state legislature included, for the first time in state history, two pieces of legislation to reform marijuana laws. Although both were voted down in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee, the chances for reform may still have life through an initiative campaign to get a measure on the ballot in November.
“My motivation was to get the criminals out of the business and stop the harm that the current prohibition is doing,” said Rep. Roger Goodman, Kirkland, who cosponsored HB 2401 with Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, Seattle. “Many polls in Washington and nationwide show a favorability toward decriminalization.”
House Bill 2401 would have legalized marijuana in Washington State but it failed to get out of committee in a 6-2 vote.
“Some politicians are of the old generation on this,” said Goodman. “They don’t understand the purpose of regulating it.”
Goodman’s bill would have made marijuana available for sale in state liquor stores and heavily taxed. He argued that legalization would make it easier to control a problem that has gotten out of hand and is very expensive to police.
“Why wouldn’t you want to get criminals out of the business,” said Goodman.
But HB 1177, which would have just decriminalized marijuana, was much closer, going down 5-3.
The state’s economy and the fact that legalization could develop another revenue source was one of Dickerson’s primary reasons for the bill. Goodman said that legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana could raise as much as $300 million for the state.
But the issue of marijuana regulation may not be over. Sensible Washington has filed an initiative to legalize the possession, manufacturing and sale of marijuana. The initiative will need more than 241,000 signatures to place the measure on the ballot in November.
“It will be very easy to get those signatures,” said Goodman.
Douglas Hiatt, a Seattle lawyer who is sponsoring the initiative, said volunteers are lining up to collect the more than 241,000 signatures required to place it on the November ballot.
California is the first state to bring forward a bill to decriminalize marijuana. After it failed, an initiative was started to place it on the ballot later this year.
“They have already stopped getting signatures because they have enough to get it on the ballot,” said Goodman.
The idea of decriminalizing marijuana in Washington State has been evolving for many years. One supporter is newly-elected Commissioner for King County Fire Protection District 41, Toby Nixon. Nixon is also a former State Rep. from Kirkland, who won the seat as a registered Republican.
“I think it is unfortunate that the state legislature is so clearly behind the opinion of the state,” said Nixon. “Most people I talk to share my opinion. Very few people I talk to, including strong conservatives, tell me I am flat out wrong. I think people understand that it is a better way to control the problem. But the initiative that is circulating will show us exactly how people feel.”
A recent poll on the Kirkland Reporter Web site showed more than 70 percent would be in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Nixon said in a letter to representatives that he would have taken the bills that were voted down in committee a step further in allowing private sales by any licensed retailer.
Legalization of marijuana in Washington State could face many legal challenges, including from the federal government. But the announcement late last year that the federal government would not prosecute those who possess medical marijuana in states where it is legal, may pose an opportunity for new laws, said Nixon.
