Taxing and Regulating Marijuana “A Legitimate Idea,” Says Governor’s Office
A website set up by Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire’s office asked citizens to vote on different ideas to help plug the state’s $3 billion budget gap. The most popular—out of more than 1,700 submitted ideas—was legalizing and taxing marijuana. (Not the first time we’ve seen such a result in an online forum.)
So what does the governor think about ending the state’s prohibition on marijuana?
“It’s a legitimate idea,” said her spokesperson, Karina Shagren. “But we’d have to see how the federal government would respond.”
Though it’s not a ringing endorsement, this response is quite encouraging for a governor whose state this year considered both a legislative bill and a ballot initiative that would have made marijuana legal for adults.
The initiative didn’t gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, but with polls showing more than half of Washington voters supporting an end to marijuana prohibition, it’s all but certain local organizers will try again in upcoming years.
Even more promising, this year the initiative received an official endorsement from the Washington state Democratic Party. And Gov. Gregorie just happens to be a Democrat.
Tagged with: ballot initiative and Christine Gregoire and Democrat and Washington by the author
19 comments
This makes me want to smile, but a little sad that there weren’t enough signatures. There may be some better improvements on getting signatures in the future. I’m sure there are many out there in that state who would like to sign.
I’m glad to see that the Governor is open-minded, but I’m a bit tired of hearing that people “have to see how the federal government would respond.” The state has zero legal obligation to mirror federal criminal policy — the two are completely separate entities. The state politicians should concern themselves with state law, and let the federal government worry about its own response.
I have to agree with Rhayader, there is absolutely no reason why the states have to do what the federal government tells them. They can nullify any law or policy that the feds come up with. The states and the people in them need to start standing their ground.
Like California, the feds said they wouldn’t interfere with state medical marijuana laws, but they are still going into California and busting and killing innocent people. If the locals had enough common sense they would tell the feds to get out of their state and stay out, use as much force as necessary to make sure.
The only way to get what you want from the government is to stand together and be bad citizens, then you will truly see the results you desire.
The Feds need to get out of the way and let the states go for the money grab. The money they need isn’t coming from D.C. and D.C. has no f*ckin’ idea where else they or anybody else can get more money to fuel themselves and an upswing in the economy. Hey! Wake up! It’s money you didn’t have before that you need to tap now. Hurry up!
Having a spokesperson to make a lame response is not expressing good leadership of Gov. Christine Gregorie.
To get responses from a spokesperson is a total insult.
They might as well have a person doing a puppet show.
I’m with Rhayader on this one.
I keep saying, with cannabis laws changing from coast to coast, some states will be left behind and some states will benefit the most.
I totally agree this is a great idea long overdue. But there needs to be a provision for people who actually use Medical Marijuana for medicinal purposes. Putting the burden of paying for the government going over budget on the shoulders of people with serious illnesses doesn’t sit right with me.
Rhayader, you hit the nail on the head!
I agree with everybody that Rhayader said it right. That is what made this country great.
Rhayder is exactly right, screw the Federal government. they have proven time and time again that they are incompetent on everything they attempt except war and lying.
Jay #8
you are right, but in this case they aren’t talking about medical marijuana. They are talking about legalizing, most likely for adults over 21 like California is trying.
So it would probably end up being in the patients best interests too, since they would be able to get their medicine even cheaper and easier.
I would like to add my final two cents on this topic:
I think it is time that the United States need to start honoring states rights if wants to remain united. The only glue that holds the states together has always been wars. But when the United States sponsors the war within, such as the Drug War, it tears the country apart because the enemy will always be your neighbor, friends, and family.
unfortunately look at how the federal government is dealing with Arizona…its fkn ridiculous that they are suing AZ when the people have spoken…AZ wouldn’t have to pass this law if the feds enforced the law to begin with. I cringe to think what they’ll do when CA passes making mj legal. its seems our pc of shyt government just picks and chooses what they want to enforce. just like all these douchebags in office…they make up laws, but they don’t apply to them…the hypocrisy is nauseating!
We now have part of the federal government the VA telling us that it can be used in their clinic in the 14 states where medical marijuana is legal. So why doesn’t the Obama administration tell the DEA to back off from the states where it is legal for medical use.
I’m with Rhayder, state law has to have some things that regulated by the federal government, like currency, but marijuana laws do not have to be the same
Why do state leaders feel the need to defer to the Federal Gov’t constantly?
State gov’ts are the closest direct voice of the local populous, the roll of Federal Gov’t is to handle national emergencies, forign involvments and a forum for ALL of the states to come together on national issues.
We are the voice of what we want. If you do not like what a state presents to it’s citizens you can move to a different state and still be an American. If you do not like what the Fed does, your only option is to move from your homeland? That is garbage. Federal Gov’t has gotten to big and to powerful. When the Federal govt over extends it’s power we have lost the republic.
We need to get our Rebublic back.
Mrs. Gregoire
Your responsibility is to the citizens of Washington State. . . not the corporate puppets in Washington DC
#11 Atlanta toker They’re not “good ” at war and lying, just profficient. If they were good at war we would have WON one recently and if they were any good at lying we would never know about it.
People need to open their eyes, it’s all a money game. To legalize MJ would be like envoking peace killing to Gov war machine, and their source of income.
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