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December 28, 2011 in Opinion
Editorial: I-502 offers smart path to marijuana legalization
Since the federal government and Congress are unwilling to heed the wishes of the electorate when it comes to regulating the sale and distribution of marijuana for medicinal purposes, it’s up to the states to engage in pressure politics.
States are known as the laboratories of democracy, so it’s appropriate that they would also be the places to plant the seeds of sensible change.
Sixteen states have adopted medical marijuana laws, despite the fact that federal law considers pot to be more dangerous than prescription pain pills, and on par with heroin. Nearly 15,000 people died from pain pill overdoses in 2008, but nobody is calling for OxyContin and the like to be pulled from pharmacy shelves. Lethal overdoses of marijuana are unheard of, but pharmacies aren’t allowed to stock pot under federal law.
Facts and science have not been able to sway the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency or Congress, which passed a law in 1970 that remains the controlling authority over marijuana. So it’s up to public opinion and strategic agitating by the states to shake the federal government from its long slumber.
A November KING-5/SurveyUSA poll found that 57 percent of Washingtonians think the possession of 1 ounce of marijuana by an adult ought to be legalized. The public had already demonstrated that it is receptive to legalizing small quantities in a public health context when it passed a medical marijuana initiative in 1998. So backers of Initiative 502 have tailored a measure that addresses those wishes. It would compel the Legislature to either pass it or put it on the ballot. In seeking public approval, I-502 supporters also added a strict DUI provision.
This incremental approach to providing a state-controlled framework for the sale and distribution of marijuana has irked proponents of a much broader-based effort to decriminalize marijuana. They pushed Initiative 1149, but failed to gather enough signatures. That measure would have broadly repealed civil and criminal penalties for marijuana use. Proponents make good points about I-502’s DUI provision, because the science on the effects of pot on driving is not solid.
Nonetheless, I-502 ought to be viewed through the lens of what can be realistically passed and adopted without federal interference. A state law that broadly decriminalizes marijuana would come in direct conflict with federal law. Any attempt to implement it would be dead on arrival.
I-502 is the better approach, because it reflects popular sentiment, which is the key to grabbing the attention of federal politicians. We believe the goal ought to be a rewrite of the federal law that classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug – the most dangerous kind. Gov. Chris Gregoire recently co-authored a letter with the Rhode Island governor seeking a federal reclassification.
Smart pressure politics from the states can help achieve that goal. Unrealistic attempts to remove marijuana from governmental oversight only serve to scare people.
Marijuana has medicinal value. It should be available to patients with a doctor’s prescription. I-502 would help make that a reality.
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SpokyDaBear on December 28 at 8:10 a.m.
What are editors down at the Spokesman smokin’?
MikeA on December 28 at 5:40 p.m.
Another typical Washington State initiative — and more reason why I always vote ‘No’ on initiatives. We have an initiative here allowing one ounce of possession for adults, and no way to legally buy it? Also a so-called “DUI” provision that is almost laughable in its lack of scientific backing?
One of the reasons I vote no on (and never sign) initiatives is that if you actually read them, it always turns out they were either 1) written with a particular narrow, goofy agenda in mind and/or completely ignore the costs involved; 2) are unconstitutional or unenforceable on the surface or 3) written by someone with a barely-literate eighth grade education and pass neither the laugh-out-loud nor the ‘smell’ test.
engelhardt62 on December 28 at 11:47 p.m.
I am all for any thing that will change the stupid marijuana laws. 502 will not change medical weed, but it will get employers who piss test off our backs. This is a vital thing for us who need this medication but wii not because of retalion from our employer. Think about your vote people.
mmspowaus on December 30 at 4:09 a.m.
I see the brain trust at the S-Review is workin’ overtime….
Hey S-Review ed board…do you guys EVER think through or research ANYTHING before you pontificate for the S-Review tower of power?
Take a little trip to a local downtown pharmacy. Ask to see their warring labels…notice the ones that say…DO NOT TAKE WITH ALCOHOL…..DO NOT TAKE IF PREGNANT …DO NOT TAKE WTH FOOD….etc Notice there are none that say…DO NOT TAKE WHILE SMOKING POT….
Drugs interact with each other….DUH….there are thousands of over the counter drugs (OTC) There are thousands of prescription drugs…already available….
There is an army of researchers that work to make sure not to mix drug A with drug B….they are currently not yet looking to see what interacts with POT….
The guy or gal in the white coat behind the counter at the pharmacy can tell you all kinds of stories about drug interactions….it is there job. But not about interactions with POT….no one knows….
Yet you GUYS at the S-Review Ed Board…just think that we should just legalize POT; ASAP on to an unsuspecting public….and have it dispensed by a non-expert in drug interactions….this is ill-conceived and reckless…
PEOPLE WILL NEEDLESSLY GET HURT OR DIE YOU DOLTS
It is epic idiocy and irresponsible not to wait and test pot with known available drugs. This takes time, research and money.
The wiser, safer choice would be to ease in pot after testing over a decade or two and dispense it at a pharmacy since it is MEDICAL….
Folks, don’t be fooled by the politicos who are looking for a mountain of cash to cover-up their mismanagement of tax dollars…or the junkies who are looking for some legal way to get high …. or the garden variety dolts who don’t think through issues very well…but like to blather on about them anyway…
One life it too high a price to pay for immediate medical pot legalization….
Here is a Gedankenexperiment for ya…
If one took the money factor out of legalization, (the state can’t profit from medical pot via taxes since it is for medical purposes) would the State still be looking to readily legalize medical POT?
Considering the amount of tax dollars we already spend on DUI thanks to alcohol, and the medical cost associated with alcohol abuse I’d bet not….
FYI folks….any politico who is for immediate legalization of pot is either stupid or reckless and is therefore unworthy of public office….VOTE THEM OUT,,,
SR-Board….do better before you lose what’s left of your dwindling readership….
Ed Byrnes on December 30 at 10:19 p.m.
I-502 is a step in the right direction.
The government has no business criminally prosecuting people who choose to alter their own consciousness in a benign way.
Those who seek to maintain the cannabis prohibition status quo tend to be those with a financial stake in it, such as corrections, law enforcement, drug companies, the treatment industry, or the drug testing industry, to name a few.
These groups do also have a small handful of their sycophants and minions.
Ed Byrnes
a_different_Pete on December 31 at 12:53 p.m.
Don’t forget that the beer industry has been a big contributor to defeat similar marijuana initiatives.
mmspowaus on January 01 at 7:57 a.m.
Ed:
When you malign your opponent in debate instead of addressing their valid points, it is an indicator your argument is weak. Since 65%+ of your comment was nothing less than accusing others disagree with your cause of having a financial motive, it is fair to say your argument is feeble…
You cannot simply dismiss others concerns about drug interactions because they interfere with your political agenda, Ed.
You also can’t dismiss the fact that owners of medical weed dispensaries have absolutely no training in drug interactions. If it is truly medical POT then why not dispense through pharmacies ED?
Why should the State of Washington be able to tax medical pot if it is indeed for medical use only, ED?
Try to look beyond the immediate needs of your petty cause of pot legalization and think of the needs and safety of the general public and your fellow citizens.
People DIE from drug interactions ED…this fact is undeniable.
Legalizing a recreational drug or ANY drug for the masses without first thoroughly testing it with current available drugs as well as the long term concerns (like we already know with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) is irresponsible and reckless, ED.
There is no reasonable urgency to legalize Pot. Therefore the logical, conscientious step towards pot legalization would be to require drug companies to test pot with their products.
The public should also be made aware of the long term consequences of pot use. (i.e. cancer, increased paranoia, reduced attention span, tunnel vision, increased narcissism etc)
Needless death due to known drug interactions is a heart wrenching tragedy; one I hope you never experience.
Unknown drug interactions maim and kill just as efficiently as ones that are known.
It would behoove us as an intelligent culture to use the knowledge and skills we have available to reduce or eliminate potential dangers with ANY drug for the masses; including POT.
greenlibertarian on January 01 at 8:12 a.m.
I see Matt’s back on his ridiculous “Reefer Madness” push.
james_l on January 01 at 2:25 p.m.
The idea that pot has not been tested is, of course, a lie.
Cannabis is one of the most widely studied plants on the planet. To quote from the journal Medicinal Research Reviews:
“Research on the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids has reached enormous proportions, with approximately 15,000 articles on Cannabis sativa L. and cannabinoids and over 2,000 articles on endocannabinoids.”
This record stands in sharp contrast to the virtually nonexistent testing of the vast majority of substances freely available at your local health food store.
Additionally, there are several cannabinoids which are currently available via prescription, including the principal one; THC. These have been studied to determine drug interactions, and in most cases, have been shown to have fewer and milder reactions with other drugs than their counterparts. They are distributed with the standard FDA inserts.
In 1988, the Reagan Justice Department stated: “There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity.”
Ed Byrnes on January 01 at 6:07 p.m.
@james_l:
Thank you for taking this one on.
Ed
mmspowaus on January 03 at 2:02 a.m.
James_I comment is pettifogging the issue. He quoting an abstract from a medical journal about a specific class of chemicals found in cannabis;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18777572
He did not address the delivery method (smoking) or other chemicals present in typical pot and their interaction with known over the counter and prescription medications.
How specific chemicals reacts with the body is a long way from how it gets in the body and how it may react with other metabolized substances already in the body.
James_I or anyone else failed to mention are the long term effects or why if it is truly medical pot that it is not dispensed through a pharmacy….
What was also not addressed was if it is truly “medical” pot why is it to be taxed by the State when other drugs are not?
hmmmmmmmm
To put it bluntly; the pro pot legalization folks are more concerned about their drug of choice than they are about public safety and wellbeing.
It is not unreasonable to ensure a product is plausibly safe and that folks are well informed of the short and long term consequences before it is released to the general public; especially one that is mainly recreational…..
Ed apparently believes otherwise….
Ed, James_I comment did you no favors…..
mmspowaus on January 03 at 2:03 a.m.
Greenlib….you have proven yet again you are nothing more than a petty, poltroon popinjay
greenlibertarian on January 03 at 2:28 a.m.
Eventually the Reefer Madness crowd like Matt Monroe will be defeated by the logical, practical, economical, and humane, like these good folks:
http://www.leap.cc/
mmspowaus on January 03 at 3:19 a.m.
Greenlib has again proven the point of my last post…again…
I believe folks who dedicate their lives to public safety would agree that it is not unreasonable to assure that users of POT are informed of any potential drug interactions and the consequences of long term use….(cancer, intellectual impotence, moronic comments on blogs etc)
Your posting a reference to a website does not address ANY of my points Greenlib…it does serve to show the weakness of the arguments for your cause however…..
Commenting codswallop will not help win your case.
greenlibertarian on January 03 at 4:57 a.m.
Drug interaction vis-a-vis Marijuana as a serious issue is entirely strawman, NOBODY but the ignorant thinks it’s an issue compared to the GIGANTIC, PROVEN, NEGATIVE consequences of marijuana prohibition.
mmspowaus on January 03 at 2:11 p.m.
Greenlib:
Ask anyone who is in the healthcare field with an advanced degree or two about most birth control pills and if smoking is truly a concern….let me know what they say….
If they are honest, they will tell you women have died due to this previously unforeseen lethal combination….
PEOPLE NEEDLESSLY DYING is NEVER a straw man issue, Greenlib….even if it means you legally can’t get high on your drug of choice next year…
The belligerent ignorance and astounding narcissism of folks in the legalize pot crowd is overwhelming….. It is almost as if there is a financial motive behind their zealousness…akin to the actions of the tobacco companies political machine
You have yet to address why we need medical pot stores versus pharmacies or why the State should have the right to tax a substance that is inhaled for medical purposes
These are reasonable questions that will not go away in a lazy puff of smoke….
Instead of addressing them, you prefer to pugnaciously palter pro-pot platitudes ….which is par for you ….