Two years ago, California Ballot Initiative 19 failed by 4%. Very probably, this margin would have evaporated if Eric Holder didn’t threaten the states AND if the cannabis community and growers had been supportive.
This time, Eric Holder, although strongly encouraged to do so, did not fire a shot over the bow of 502 in Washington nor any other cannabis ballot initiatives. This seemed telling in recent weeks that MAYBE we will see some ??
Check out great news. This is the very best news I have heard in a very long time. In Washington State, even BEFORE the launch date of the new law, hundreds of possession charges were just dropped yesterday. No Jail time for any of these hundreds of people. In my opinion, the big win in Washington has already paid off.
Somehow, after this week’s election, the idea of incarceration seems vulgar even to the Washington DA. He clearly stated that the people have spoken and there is just no need to wait until January. I love these guys. GOOD WORK!
This is great work and responsible enforcement of the people’s wishes. At the same time it is equally just a practical matter. They go on to say it would be impossible to find a jury that would convict for simple possession anyway; so what is the point? GOOD THINKING.
Exactly. That is exactly the point. I just don’t think juries are going to convict anyone for what they consider reasonable cannabis practices. The people have spoken and now local officials have the duty and I believe pleasure in most cases, to just stop the insane prosecutions.
What will happen with state licensed cultivation and the current collectives? I don’t know, but I am certain that, as I have stated before, “Medical” Cannabis will become what it should have been in the first place; DOSED. PERIOD. Now that patients in Washington (as well as Colorado) can light up as they wish. These citizens/people/patients will not be going to see physicians to get permission to spark up. It is not so much that recreational and medical will be clearly delineated; they can never be. It is more that people will have freer access to choose whatever and however they wish to use cannabis. The physicians and other providers of medical cannabis had better begin coming up with something special to offer and it will all start with serious education.
This was a great week.
