A bill to clarify the rules surrounding medical marijuana is being forwarded to Governor Gregoire. 36th District Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D) introduced Senate Bill 5073 with Sen. Jerome Delvin (R-Richland). “This is huge step forward in ensuring that qualifying patients have safe, consistent and reliable access to their medicine,” Kohl-Welles said. “Currently, unless patients grow for themselves or obtain medical marijuana from a designated provider, the law doesn’t offer a legal pathway for patients to access their medicine. This bill creates a much needed regulatory framework so both patients and law enforcement have a bright line in knowing what is legal and what isn’t.”
The measure would establish a regulatory system for the growing, sale and purchase of medical marijuana. Authorized patients with qualifying medical conditions would be able to purchase medical marijuana products from dispensaries licensed through the state Department of Health (DOH) or by taking part in a patient collective consisting of no more than ten authorized patients.. The state Department of Agriculture would create a licensing system for the growing of medical marijuana and DOH would do the same for dispensaries. The bill would:
Establish a regulatory system for producing, processing, and dispensing cannabis intended for medical use. Establish protection from criminal liability, including arrest protection, for certain qualifying patients, designated providers, health care professionals, licensed producers, licensed processors, and licensed dispensers. Establish a voluntary registry in which qualifying patients and designated providers may enroll and receive protection from arrest and prosecution.
The bill now moves to the governor for her consideration.
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Rome is burning and these folks are fiddling with a joint.
I have to agree with Kim. WTF does this have to do with making America thrive once again? This is all the have to do? I also agree the MJ issue is a joke, and getting our wonderful government more and more involved means it’s going to be a huge mess. But then again, this is what Ballard yupsters find “important” in their daily lives. Never mind that man behind the curtain f-ing up everything else for them.
There’s very little the state government can do to help the national economy. Especially since the state can’t deficit spend.
Why are we still futzing around with only medical marijuana? Why can’t I buy pot at the drug store next to the tobacco?
The government is already involved and has been for decades. You remember marijuana is illegal? Instead of managing pot arrests, seizures, and convictions, the government would be managing regulation, quality-control, and taxes.
Theoretically the feds could bust her for conspiring to violate federal drug laws…
Just sayin…
The man was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he died from his injuries. The nearest branches for Fremont residents are in Ballard and Queen Anne and After the first reading in the State Senate today, the bill has been legalization of marijuana bill to broader issues including education.Medical marijuana overhaul gets lukewarm reception from industry, Ballard state senator spearheads medical marijuana billMy Ballard.