RAIDS EMPHASIZE NEED FOR COHERENT MARIJUANA REGULATION

Recent Raids of Medical-Marijuana Dispensaries Underscore the Mess of
Regulations and Rules. It Is Time to Legalize Marijuana, Tax It,
Clarify the Rules and Provide a Reasonable Regulatory Scheme.

RECENT federal raids of medical-marijuana dispensaries in the Puget
Sound region highlight in bold relief our disjointed and out-of-touch
federal and state rules on marijuana.

Few will argue that the U.S. government, which bans marijuana
entirely, is off base for intervening in drug sales to a gang in
Chicago, as one affidavit contends.

Obviously, law-enforcement officers have a duty to try to intervene
in marijuana interstate importation and distribution.
Medical-marijuana dispensaries have a purpose and, done right, should
be legal. Federal law-enforcement authorities raided dispensaries
they believe are acting as fronts for a variety pack of other illegal
activities.

The raids underscore the mess of regulations and rules. It is time to
legalize marijuana, tax it, clarify the rules and provide a
reasonable regulatory scheme.

If sensible regulations were in place, medical-marijuana dispensaries
would not be importing and exporting marijuana across state lines or
allowing felons to sell marijuana or illegal narcotics.

There are many lines to draw and numerous safety issues to consider.
Marijuana should not be legal for those under age 21. It should be
legal for people who are not well and need marijuana to control their
pain and suffering and for adults.

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, who must enforce draconian federal law on
marijuana, said: "The truly sick people, doctors, caregivers, we're
not going to prosecute. They don't have to worry about our
enforcement action. But people exploiting (medical marijuana) laws
just to make a lot of money selling drugs, they do have a reason to worry."

Fine, go after alleged criminals abusing the privilege of a
convoluted state law that allows certain kinds of medical-marijuana
dispensaries.

Washington voters favor medical-marijuana use. They will likely have
a chance to decide if they want to go further and legalize marijuana
for adults, either if a new initiative gathers sufficient signatures
and is passed by the Legislature, or by voters if the measure comes to them.

What is indisputable is the current system does not work. Millions of
dollars and untold hours of law-enforcement time are wasted
prosecuting bit players. Washington needs a more coherent and modern system.