[BigV]

Originally Posted by Griff

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and marijuana decriminalization.

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The marijuana question is to me an easy win. Break organized crime, reduce police spending, and create a huge revenue stream.

We're on it.

I-502 would legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and over, and will appear on the November 6 general election ballot.

Under I-502, privately owned and operated standalone, marijuana-only stores would be licensed to sell limited quantities of marijuana to adults 21 and over. Washington growers and processors would be licensed to provide marijuana to the stores. Yet advertising would be restricted, and a new DUI threshold for THC would operate like the .08 threshold for alcohol to keep impaired drivers off the streets.

Eighty percent of a new marijuana excise tax would be dedicated to health care, prevention, research, and education. The balance of the excise tax, and all retail sales tax, would go to the state general fund and local budgets. Preliminary fiscal analyses published by the Washington state Office of Financial Management estimate I-502 would generate $560 million in new tax revenue annually.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Even with the public opinion poles showing the views on pot swinging in favor of legalization, I think it would have to be upward of 85% before any politician would touch it. Have to remember what people answer on a poll is not necessarily what they will say to their neighbors, too.

I think the best chance is for grass roots (no pun) generated referendums on state ballots. Get a majority of the states in conflict with federal law, and the politicians in Washington would have the balls to make a move.

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These are the state representatives from my district:

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36th District), Representative Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36th District) and 14 other Washington state legislators announced their endorsement of Initiative 502 today.