LAWMAKERS NEED TO CLARIFY MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS

Washington state's medical marijuana laws need
fixing, and it is incumbent upon the Legislature
to make good this session. Focus, man, focus.

It goes like this: A patient can be recommended
marijuana by a doctor. That person, who is
stricken with at least one ailment on a
government-approved list, can possess and use marijuana.

That's about it. Left unexplained is a gap to be
filled with an assortment of interpretations when
it comes to the role of police and local
regulation of dispensaries. Because, after all,
how does one actually obtain the stuff?

Considering cities smaller and bigger have
figured out a way to move forward, Bremerton's
decision to just say no to issuing licenses for
dispensaries adds to the whole confusing mess,
and makes it more difficult for sick people to
get a substance they have a legal right to use.

Voters approved the use of medical marijuana by
people with significant medical conditions. U.S.
Attorney General Eric Holder said the federal
government wouldn't enforce federal law =AD which
doesn't allow for medical marijuana =AD as long as
dispensaries followed the law of their state.

Lawmakers need to put down the bong and give
cities and counties explicit direction on how to
regulate the distribution of marijuana for approved patients.