POT BILLS GO UP IN SMOKE AS HOUSE PANEL STOPS BOTH

OLYMPIA -- 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.

Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, did not agree. "This is a time to
challenge the federal government. The only way we are going to do it
is to legalize it and see where it goes," she said.

Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, argued that legalization would allow
the state to regulate a product that has potential hazardous
consequences. "A vote 'yes,' " he told his fellow committee members,
"is a vote for control. A vote 'no' is a vote for continued chaos."

The debate between lawmakers was not always black and white.
Committee Vice Chairman Al O'Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, voted
against the state-store bill but liked the idea that
decriminalization would take pressure off local police departments.
Reps. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, and Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma, both said
they would like to discuss possible changes in marijuana laws
further, perhaps in a work session when they would have more time to
devote to the topic.

"Don't count me all the way out, but count me out today because this
is not the [bill]," said Kirby.

But before voting "no," Kirby said that an issue as monumental as
changing the regulation of marijuana should be put to the public for
a vote. Next November he might get his wish.

An initiative filed a week ago Monday by the activist group Sensible
Washington would legalize all adult marijuana possession,
manufacturing and sales under state law.

Douglas Hiatt, a Seattle lawyer who is sponsoring the initiative,
said volunteers are lining up to collect the more than 241,000
signatures required to place it on the November ballot.

Don Skakie and Pam Haley, members of Seattle's Cannabis Defense
Coalition, were present at Wednesday's vote.

"I feel today's inactions were a lack of political courage and
leadership," said Skakie.

"Now it is up to the people to lead," Haley said.