Furious Seasons

January 12, 2010

So I Filed A Ballot Initiative Yesterday

Over the weekend, I co-authored a proposed initiative repealing the State of Washington's criminal penalties relating to the adult use, possession and cultivation. Then on Monday I drove to Olympia with co-author Douglas Hiatt and delivered the proposed text to the Secretary of State's office and paid the $5 filing fee. So that's why there were no posts on Monday. I can assure you that nothing sucks up all your time like helping to organize such an effort and then hammering out the language and figuring out what sections of state law apply. Needless to say, I am exhausted.

I think the findings and intent of the proposed initiative are covered fairly nicely in language I am about 50 percent responsible for and it should give you all a decent idea of why I am doing what I am doing:

"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."

We await language and code changes from the Secretary of State's office and then proposed ballot title and ballot question language from the Washington State Attorney General, all of which should take a month or so. Then we'll be approved to circulate petitions for voter signature and need 241,000 valid ones to get on the statewide ballot for this November.

The Associated Press has a good article on our effort. In it, I was encouraged to see some support from one county's Prosecuting Attorney for getting the laws around marijuana in this state clarified. But I was deeply disappointed to read the comments of the ACLU of Washington's Alison Holcomb, who hadn't read our initiative yet felt compelled to trash it...probably because her group is pushing the Legislature to adopt one of its bills in its current session. She sure doesn't come off looking either classy or accurate in her assessment of our proposed initiative and what it would do since it is clearly designed to let the State Legislature come back next year--if our initiative passes--and draft appropriate time, place and manner kinds of restrictions on adult marijuana use, possession and cultivation...something the Leg seems incapable of achieving on its own.

So anyway that's what I've been up to the past few days.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at January 12, 2010 12:05 AM

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Comments

Good work!

Posted by: Sally at January 12, 2010 02:24 AM

Bless you.

Posted by: BorderlineNOS at January 12, 2010 04:23 AM

Philip Dawdy a mover and a shaker!

Posted by: mark p.s.2 at January 12, 2010 04:27 AM

You go boy!

(Um, doesn't sound as good as "you go girl" but you and your readers get the idea).

Posted by: susan at January 12, 2010 05:00 AM

Oh you do know this past weekend your former state of NJ passed the pot law....

Posted by: susan at January 12, 2010 05:31 AM

Very cool!

Posted by: Miranda at January 12, 2010 06:48 AM

Thanks for your excellent work on this critical
issue.

Yes indeed, cannabis is a "benign therapeutic"
substance with great medical and psychopharmacologic
potential (not to mention loads of other
potential: environmental, agro-industrial,
etc., etc.) -- stymied for decades by intransigence,
greed, blinkered thinking, prejudice, hatred,
and other wonders of sick human psyches.

The criminals, psychopaths and idiots who
have prosecuted the insane "war on drugs" will
be (are being) exposed as such, and your efforts
are speeding the process.

Thank you.

Posted by: Alan at January 12, 2010 06:57 AM

Great co-author you have there, whom I read about in 2006 and have considered a true kick-ass-hero after reading THIS article (by Dawdy).

"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,

That applies to the article, and it's a must read if anyone has interest in medical pot growing, for pain, MS,aids, etc.

Posted by: Stephany at January 12, 2010 08:01 AM

Philip you are AWESOME. It's time for me to hit that paypal button again. Just damn because you are awesome.

Posted by: Lili at January 12, 2010 09:48 AM

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010786843_apwaxgrlegalizingmarijuana2ndldwritethru.html

Seattle times:

"Marijuana advocates packed a public hearing Wednesday calling for changes to Washington state's drug laws.

Lawmakers are considering two bills. One would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older, and regulate it like alcohol. Another would decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot for adults."

AND

"Under Dickerson's bill, marijuana would be sold in Washington state's 160 state-run liquor stores, and customers, 21 and older, would pay a tax of 15 percent per gram. The measure would dedicate most of the money raised for substance abuse prevention and treatment, which is facing potential cuts in the state budget as lawmakers seek to patch a $2.6 billion hole. Dickerson said the measure could eventually bring in as much to state coffers as alcohol does, more than $300 million a year."

You just have to love this Nanny state, where you cannot smoke in some apartments/condos, or within 25 feet of buildings and not on some hospital property; yet we could end up buying pot and booze all in one stop shopping at a state licensed liquor store!

Posted by: Stephany at January 14, 2010 04:25 AM

Oh yeah, and the money will be used for substance abuse treatment programs.

That makes so much sense.

How can we get more funding for mental health client out patient facilities and residences?

Can someone tell me how we can create a pot/liquor sale tax funding substance abuse program fund, yet still have over-crowded mental hospitals, and little to no housing for discharge and appropriate care out patient?

Many mental health clients have substance abuse as a "duel dx", I wonder how many ppl will end up with a "psychotic NOS" event at an ER and get labeled, and shipped off for a 14 day stay in a psych ward, only to walk out on antipsychotics!

See how this wheel turns?

Posted by: Stephany at January 14, 2010 04:30 AM

Oh, I get it now.

Pharmaceuticals are bad for us.

But marijuana, that's good for us.

Philip Dawdy responds: um, that's a bit of a stretch to put those words in my mouth, so to speak, since it's not something i've said or written.

Posted by: Blackeneth at January 14, 2010 08:54 PM

it was good to meet you...maybe we'll all go out to the mexican resturant and collect signatures next time......then go again next year when the war is over and it's all legal.....? go man go!

Posted by: john at January 16, 2010 04:49 PM