Legislators Hear Why We Should Tax and Regulate Marijuana
Last week the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee dedicated an entire two-hour hearing to HB 1550, which would tax and regulate adult marijuana use. It seems that legislators are finally giving this issue the attention it deserves.
As reported by numerous media outlets (Spokesman Review, KOMO News, Kitsap Sun, Associated Press), the hearing featured testimony from a variety of influential Washington stakeholders. As reported on Kirotv.com, here are a few choice quotes from the hearing:
- "Marijuana prosecutions place a large and unjustified burden on courts and law enforcement," said Mark Fordham with the King County Bar Association.
- The bill’s revenue “could preserve home care services for 40,000 seniors and people with disabilities," said Heather Villanueva, a representative of SEIU Local 775, the union that represents many of the state's health care workers.
- "It makes no sense for this state to be so deeply in debt and look the other way as this underground cash flow goes through," said former Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor Ken Valz.
You can watch the entire hearing by clicking here.
Thanks to Chairman Christopher Hurst for giving HB 1550 a fair hearing. Look for a committee vote on the bill in the coming weeks.
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Dear Chairman Christopher
Dear Chairman Christopher Hurst,
I know that you are probably getting a lot of emails and letters regarding HB 1550, so I don't expect you to have time to read my whole message. With that in mind, I just want to say thanks for bringing the idea of marijuana use to a rational conversation in the capital. I have never smoked, and I am whole-heartedly invested in the idea of legalization and controlling marijuana use. The main reason I have this opinion is that it is a waste of our states resources. I'm a student at WSU, so I am following the state budget discussions, praying that more education money isn't cut. A measure like HB 1550 would really help a great deal in these financial times, and help our state move to one that is able to provide great services to its citizens rather than supply great punishments. Have a good day!
Thank You,
Daniel Antal
Hb 1550
I was just convicted of posession by lakewood,i didnt have any choice but to give into the deal the prosecuter was offering.i am ashamed by this because
i thought things had changed with marijuana laws,i was wrong...i now have to
pay hundreds in fines for crumbs.my wife and I are hard working parents and
cant beleive how easy it is to get our lives turned upside down for simple possession.ignorance about the truth is everywhere.i have socially used for 14 years and will contininue to do so.please change this horrible law and stop this true injustice from continuing,its time.thank you
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