(Wash. state) Pot bills go up in smoke as House panel stops both

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Times

It is the end of the road for the 2010 pot bills.

On Wednesday, the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee voted against two pieces of legislation, one of which called for the legalization of marijuana, and would, among other things, make it available for sale — heavily taxed — at state liquor stores. The other would have reduced possession of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil one.

The legalization bill (HB 2401) was voted down 6-2. For a moment, HB 1177, which would have decriminalized marijuana, looked as though it might have a chance, but it too died, with a final vote of 5-3.

In his opening remarks to the committee, Chairman Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, said he found merit in all of the arguments, pro and con, but that it came down to the question of whether the federal government or the states should be in the business of regulating marijuana. Although he favors state regulation, Hurst said, he could not in good conscience vote for a bill that conflicted with federal law.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2010846970_marijuana21m.html

[pleah]

1. That sucks. n/t

[Rebubula]

2. Takes time...

...we will get there.

In the meantime, I will continue to break the law every day.

[ixion]

3. ah, so rather than be in the "business" of regulating marijuana, they're in the "business" of

jailing non-violent marijuana users, which is apparently much more profitable.

:grr: :argh:

What a load of crap. Typical hypocritical pol.

[Raster]

4. Prisons are now privatized and BIG BUSINESS.

[Mythbuster]

5. At the very least

They are talking about doing it finally. It's only a matter of time until some of us will no longer be considered criminals :smoke:

[SteveM]

6. This is one of many issues where the GOP has so thoroughly cowed Democrats...

that any meaningful reform of drug laws may originate within the Republican Party. They framed the issue in the beginning; they may re-frame it again in the future.

Dems don't frame issues. Daze scairt.

[Flaneur]

7. If the legislature won't act on this, the people will. Initiative in November.

There will be a full-blown legalization initiative on the ballot--provided organizers gather the 240,000 signatures needed. I don't think that's going to be a problem.

Why fuck around with baby step legislative measures when the voters can do it in one fell swoop?