POT LEGALIZATION IMPORTANT FOR WA

In 1998, Washington became one of the first states to recognize
marijuana as a legitimate form of medicine. Since then, many more
states have followed suit, and recent polls show that a majority of
voters in the country see marijuana as having legitimate medical purposes.

However, the medical marijuana system is frequently abused. First
started by legalization activists as an intermediate step, medical
marijuana isn't a medicine at all for some people, but merely a
doctor-validated excuse to get high. When "doctors" use The Stranger
to advertise their willingness to write marijuana prescriptions for a
fee, you know something isn't right.

The Spectator supports I-1068, the proposed initiative to legalize
marijuana sale, possession and growing for adults in Washington. It's
already been decriminalized in Seattle and made the lowest police
priority, so it makes sense to just drop the bureaucracy surrounding
the substance and allow adults to use it with regulations similar to
alcohol.

While the bill is still gathering signatures, this is an important
issue that deserves attention on the ballot in November. Not only will
it allow marijuana users to safely grow their own or buy it without
going through risky third parties, it will also allow farmers to
cultivate hemp, an extremely versatile, renewable fiber created from
the marijuana plant. Hemp can be used to create rope, clothes, food
and more.

While the current initiative doesn't include taxation, and can't
because of the way initiatives work in the state, we hope that
eventually marijuana can become a useful source of revenue for
Washington and can be enjoyed by adults who wish to use it.