Twelve Democrats are cosponsoring a bill in the state house that would reduce the penalty for possessing up to 40 grams of marijuana to a civil infraction, subject to a $100 fine. It would only decriminalize marijuana possession, not legalize it. Introduced on January 14, this is the first legislative attempt to reform Washington’s marijuana laws in decades. Under current state law, possessing even one joint is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail.
This seems an unlikely year for the legislature to embrace any civil-liberty-lovin’ proposals, considering the top item on their agenda: bridging the state’s $6 billion budget gap. However, the financial crisis may, paradoxically, prove a windfall. According to data from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, the state would save $7.5 million a year by passing the law—a figure that’s based on the 11,553 pot-possession arrests in Washington in 2007.
“I think any chances of passing will hinge on the opportunity to achieve budget savings and whether this proposal is less unpopular than other proposals for cost savings,” says the bill’s prime sponsor, Representative Dave Upthegrove (D-33). “Is it more controversial than closing parks?”
Upthegrove also hopes that, as a suburban representative, he gives the bill “a little political cover.”
But the bill has already hit a roadblock. Representative Christopher Hurst (D-31), a former narcotics officer and ex-cop who chairs the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee, refuses to give the bill a hearing. “I am concerned that [the bill] is in direct conflict with federal law,” which makes possessing any quantity of marijuana a crime, he says. “If we tell citizens of Washington that marijuana is no longer a crime, and they cross the border and get arrested… or if they go out on their boat [and are arrested by the Coast Guard], they are not going to be happy with us.”
The companion bill, SB 5615, has been introduced in the Senate. If you’re in Washington State, click here to contact your elected officials.
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HB 1177 will save our state 7.5 million that’s for decriminalization only.legalization,regulation and taxing just like we do with alcohol now would bring in needed dollars. How are cuts justified when we have this resource parked at curb just waiting for us to hop in.
http://stillahippsblog.blogspot.com/
Let the people of Washington state speak for themselves Mr. Hurst. Im tired of being stressed day in and day out about a lifestyle that I chose. My lifestyle doesnt harm anyone. What is so threatening about the idea of freeing marijuana from its criminal constraints? The state puts away over 11,000 people for possession of marijuana. The majority of these people are great people hard working and trying to provide for their families. I have maintained a respectable GPA and am well on my way to a great career but yet in your eyes because i smoke marijuana my achievements are somewhat discredited? For the same reason some of you go home after a hard days work and have a beer before bed so do we go home and smoke a bowl. Now if you’re saying your reasoning for not decriminalizing marijuana is because youre afraid we will be mad at you if we get in trouble elsewhere (boating, or border crossing) then I say that is weak. Let us speak for ourselves. Despite what you think I feel the majority of this state is behind this fight for freedom and in my book MAJORITY RULES!
I see common sense does not apply to Mr. Hurst… yet! So, with that said, it would appear evident Mr. Hurst needs to expand his awareness (teehehehe).
How do you thing the citizens of Washington would appreciate his view of them; being so retarded they don’t understand it would only be legal in WA STATE (to the level they legalized it).
It’s kind of like the Marine who gets busted for smoking pot and then wonders why he can’t get unemployment or federal assistance. COMMON SENSE must kick in at some point.
So, for those in WA State,
why not contact Mr. Hurst and expand his awareness that a majority of the citizens of Washington are not morons and can understand once they ‘cross the boarder’ or go boating (since the coast guard is a FEDERAL ENTITY) it may not be legal….. yet! :whistl:
Some may just need a little boost along the way.
Common sense proposed this bill, only the old 1930′s Reefer Madness mentality opposes it. Maybe Rep. Hurst Should join his Peers at LEAP, certainly they could educate him into the 21st Century; if nothing else he might at least listen to them with ears open.
Its about time, who is the government to decide what i can and cant smoke. we need to keep other crap like meth illegal but whats weed ever done to you?
Support this initiative at support1177.org!
Representative Christopher Hurst (D-31) is wrong in his assumptions. The people of Washington are not incompetent. We understand that it would be still “illegal” to possess Marijuana, otherwise there would not be a penalty (the $100 fine) and we also understand that it would be Washington State, not the United States that has decriminalized it. So obviously if we traveled across a border (of any kind) we would understand that Washington State Law does not apply. I am offended that Representative Christopher Hurst (D-31) feels this way. It makes me feel like he thinks we are all a bunch of stupid ignorant people. His statements make him the ignorant one. Not to mention it WILL lower our budget gap NATION WIDE if it is decriminalized across the U.S. We Washingtonians need to lead the way into a new day and age. It is time to leave the old ideology behind, and reps like Christopher Hurst.