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Thom's blog
What world do Conservatives live in?
You need to know this…. Conservatives live in a fantasy world, and nowhere is that more clear right now than in Washington State.
Right now, the Evergreen State is trying to streamline its policies on medical and recreational marijuana. Back in 2012, Washington State voters approved the creation of a legal recreational-marijuana market. That market is now heavily regulated and taxed.
Unfortunately, there was nothing in the measure voters approved that talked about the state’s medical marijuana market, and how it should be regulated.
So now, there are two competing bills sitting in the Washington State senate that both seek to address that state’s medical marijuana market. One of the bills is from a Republican state senator, and the other is from a Democrat state senator.
The Republican measure, introduced by State Senator Ann Rivers, would put much of the control of Washington State’s medical marijuana market in the hands of a few very wealthy individuals. Those very wealthy individuals, led by millionaire Martin Tobias, a former Microsoft executive, are behind the Washington CannaBusiness Association.
That group, also known as WACA, lobbied heavily for the Republican-backed legislation, and gave multiple donations to Republican lawmakers in the Evergreen State. The WACA-fueled measure would essentially destroy independent growers and non-profit growing co-ops, retailers and sellers who have been around since the birth of Washington State’s medical marijuana program in the late 90’s.
Meanwhile, there’s the proposed legislation from Democratic State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Her bill wouldn’t put control over the medical marijuana market in just a few hands. Instead, it would allow anyone in Washington State who’s 21 years or older to grow up to six marijuana plants and to share up to an ounce of marijuana. with other adults, as long as money isn’t exchanged.
The Democrats’ bill would also pave the way for more marijuana growers to be licensed and for more retail shops to pop up across the state - you know, let a thousand small businesses grow!
-Thom
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