A Whole Lot’a Legislating Going On

What? We now have a dozen cannabis related bills in the grinder? Half are series or needed? Here are a few that will get some attention. Participants in the debate keep saying that if the state does not provide for a cannabis production and sales regulatory platform that respects both the formal and informal direction from the feds, and respects a fragmented but long standing MMJ community, our little experiment into recreational use of cannabis will be for not.

One of the major questions before the citizens currently is, can local governments pass prohibition ordinances based solely on a decision to allow production and selling of cannabis? (some argue the Federal Law conflict opens the door for the locals to just say no)

Thursday’s Irony

Cities and counties have never met a fee, tax, or handout of money they did not love. Thursday’s Government Accountability and Oversight Committee will hear a bill that assures local governments some proceeds from the cannabis transactions. Association of Washington Cities’ legislative staff have not returned email inquires yet, but most likely they will oppose two bills that prevent them from prohibiting the cannabis transactions. Really? They want the money but not the enterprise that generates the money? They want it both ways? How surprising.

Hearing Notice Below:

Government Accountability & Oversight* – 01/30/14 10:00 am
Full Committee
House Hearing Rm E
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED on 1/23/2014 at 1:16 PM

Public Hearing:

HB 2144 – Concerning the establishment of a dedicated local jurisdiction marijuana fund and the distribution of a specified percentage of marijuana excise tax revenues to local jurisdictions.
HB 2322 – Prohibiting local governments from taking actions preventing or impeding the creation or operation of commercial marijuana businesses licensed by the liquor control board.
HB 2638 – Concerning the establishment of state preemption of laws and ordinances of local governments regarding provisions of the controlled substances act, chapter 69.50 RCW.

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