Tag Archives: legislature

Senate Bill 150., Safe Food?

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Senate Bill 150., Safe Food?

This is very very very very important, even if you do not live on a farm or even raise a tomato plant. Please write your senator and tell them to PLEASE not pass this bill. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-510 Posted above is the text to Senate Bill 150. My canary in a coal mine is to oppose anything that Monsanto and Cargill are for.. as they are usually always 99.99999% FOR anything that I am AGAINST. Monsanto guys are the one who wrote the law and then got a senator to sponsor it. British Columbia did something like this a few years ago due to one of the ‘congress people’ lost her child due to some kind of tainted (STOREBOUGHT PROCESSED) food. What it did was kill farmgate sales (although we just did it where we were anyway) and after a few years, they revoked alot of the legislature on it. It also helped put many farms, CSA’s and ranchers out of business. The new section 418 Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls applies a requirement to all businesses required to register under the 2002 Bioterrorism Act. This will ensure that farmers markets are endangered. This also puts CSA (community supported agriculture) in danger. Interstingly, there is no reference to GMO Foods in this legislation. “Food safety” as referenced in S. 510 is concerned with controlling foodborne pathogens. The bill states food producers will have to register with the FDA, pay a $500.00 fee, submit to on-site inspections, and implement a complex “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System. What’s the cut-off point? Is it acreage? Yield? Average income per acre of the previous year? Is it determined by crop? This sounds an awful lot like NAIS (The brainchild of Monsanto and crew regardling livestock) which is also not dead and just currently under the radar. Here is my rant about that: http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com/Blogs/december_02.htm http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com/Blogs/07_march_4.htm This bill also goes further than just an apple out of hand. Us seed producers, especially seed exchanges and organizations that seek to preserve heirloom seeds will be affected. Did you know that the USA government imposed that Iraq farmers can no longer save seed? At all. This will kill Seedy Saturdays and also put small vegetable seed growers and maybe even larger ones out of business. Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL] is the one who sponsored this bill and these are the newest amendments. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510&tab=amendments In short.. this bill: * It would remove the right to clean, store and thus own seed in the US, putting control of seeds in the hands of Monsanto and other multinationals, threatening not just US security, but we are working our way to famine. * Includes NAIS (see above), an animal traceability program that threatens all small farmers and ranchers raising animals. The UN is participating through the WHO, FAO, WTO, and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in allowing mass slaughter of even heritage breeds of animals and without proof of disease. Biodiversity in farm animals is being wiped out to substitute genetically modified animals on which corporations hold patents. * Threatens all safe and organic food and health itself, while mandating GM food, GM animals, pesticides, hormones, irradiation of food, etc. * It extends the policy Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) – to all food, thus threatening to do to all local food production and farming what HACCP did to meat production put it in corporate hands and probably worsen food safety. This bill S. 150 is very much like the C-6 bill in Canada. Bill C6 allows inspectors to enter and cross private property without a warrant, and it releases them from liability for damages they may cause. Bill C6 has a schedule of listed products that can be added to by the minister without going to parliament for approval. This could be used to restrict the health freedoms of Canadians by limiting access to health supplements and organic products. I am not sure how it stands currently, but I do watch the bills on each side of the border pertaining to agriculture. Basically the plan is that they are voting in the bill and ‘addressing all the details later”. Here is how to contact your senator. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm In the last year ONLY 6,000 people died from ANY food related issues and the majority of that was processed foods, whereas 100,000 ppl died from drugs which were OK’s by the FDA in the same amount of time. tenzicut http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com added by: treewolf39

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Hand Dancing

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

I don't even know where to begin… added by: Almibry

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Montana GOP Policy: Make Homosexuality Illegal

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

(AP) At a time when gays have been gaining victories across the country, the Republican Party in Montana still wants to make homosexuality illegal. The party adopted an official platform in June that keeps a long-held position in support of making homosexual acts illegal, a policy adopted after the Montana Supreme Court struck down such laws in 1997. The fact that it's still the official party policy more than 12 years later, despite a tidal shift in public attitudes since then and the party's own pledge of support for individual freedoms, has exasperated some GOP members. “I looked at that and said, 'You've got to be kidding me,'” state Sen. John Brueggeman, R-Polson, said last week. “Should it get taken out? Absolutely. Does anybody think we should be arresting homosexual people? If you take that stand, you really probably shouldn't be in the Republican Party.” Gay rights have been rapidly advancing nationwide since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas' sodomy law in 2003's Lawrence v. Texas decision. Gay marriage is now allowed in five states and Washington, D.C., a federal court recently ruled the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy unconstitutional, and even a conservative tea party group in Montana ousted its president over an anti-gay exchange in Facebook. But going against the grain is the Montana GOP statement, which falls under the “Crime” section of the GOP platform. It states: “We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal.” Montana GOP executive director Bowen Greenwood said that has been the position of the party since the state Supreme Court struck down state laws criminalizing homosexuality in 1997 in the case of Gryczan v. Montana. Nobody has ever taken the initiative to change it and so it's remained in the party platform, Greenwood said. The matter has never even come up for discussion, he said. “There had been at the time, and still is, a substantial portion of Republican legislators that believe it is more important for the Legislature to make the law instead of the Supreme Court,” Greenwood said. Critics say the policy is a toothless statement, the effect of which is simply to make gays feel excluded. A University of Montana law professor says Montana's 1997 case and the U.S. Supreme Court's Lawrence decision means there's no real chance for the state GOP to act on its position. “To me, that statement legally is hollow,” said constitutional specialist Jack Tuholske. “The principle under Gryczan and under Lawrence, that's the fundamental law of the land and the Legislature can't override the Constitution. It might express their view, but as far as a legal reality, it's a hollow view and can't come to pass.” Montana Human Rights Network organizer Kim Abbott said the GOP platform statement does not represent the attitudes of most Montanans, and it shows that the party is out of touch with the prevalent view of the people they are supposed to represent. “It speaks volumes to the lesbian and gay community how they are perceived by the Republican Party,” Abbott said. “It would be nice if Republicans that understand that gay people are human beings would stand up and say they don't agree with that. But I don't know how likely that is.” Brueggeman suspects that the vast majority of the party believes, as he does, that the Republican party should remove statement. It's against every conservative principle for limited government and issues like this exemplify how a political party can interfere with the relationship between lawmakers and their constituents. “I just hope it's something that's so sensitive that people don't want to touch it,” he said. “Even if there wasn't a Supreme Court decision, does anyone really believe that it should be illegal?” added by: TimALoftis

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Public Opinion: Why be gay?

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

I don't know, I guess it was just something I was thinking about randomly. What convinces someone in their mind to like the same sex as them? Is it that the want to be with someone that goes through the same things as them? Is it because it's just, well, easier? Why is it? Just curious to see how different people think on this certain thing. added by: a_roxanne

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Vote for POP

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

here is what should be done! POP *New Political Party.* *Not Democrat, Not Republican, Not Independent.* *It's called the “PISSED OFF PARTY” (or POP).* *This party is dedicated to vote every incumbent out of office in the next elections.* *If you're Democrat, vote Democrat. Just don't vote for the incumbent.* *If you're Republican, vote Republican. Just don't vote for the incumbent.* *We need to send a message to all politicians, that we're tired of their B.S.* *If the country votes out all the incumbents, the new incoming politicians will get the message..* *It's pretty simple. Nobody needs to change parties and let’s face it, there's plenty of blame to spread around.* *A few good politicians will lose their job but they probably have better retirement and insurance then 95% of the American public.* *You've had to struggle for the last 5 years. Some of you have lost your job and may be working in some other sector just to feed your family.* *I guarantee you, none of them will suffer like this country has.* *If you like what's going on and think this is a bad idea, delete this.* *But if you're fed up and think this is a good idea, then pass this E-mail on.* *If you really think this has legs, then a website and a blog could help get the word out.* *To All 535 voting members of the Legislature; it is now official you are ALL corrupt morons:* *a.. The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.* *b. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.* *c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.* *d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor” and they only want more.* *e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.* *f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.* *g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.* *You have FAILED in every “government service” you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars.* *AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM? * *IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NEED FOR GOOD HEALTH CARE, IT'S ABOUT TRUSTING THE GOVERNMENT TO RUN IT!* *Folks, keep this circulating added by: bailey78

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CBS: ‘Tough’ Pennsylvania Immigration Law, Like ‘Controversial’ Arizona Law, Faces ‘Fierce Opposition’

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On Saturday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Jeff Glor reported on an immigration protest in Boston: “…hundreds opposed to Arizona’s controversial immigration law protested the presence of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer at a meeting there.” One protestor held a sign that read: “Jan Brewer is a Bigot.” Glor then turned to a report on a similar immigration law proposed in Pennsylvania.   Correspondent Elaine Quijano explained how a CBS News poll showed 52% of Americans support the Arizona’s immigration law and that “other states are preparing to follow Arizona’s lead”: “In Pennsylvania, bipartisan measures to compel construction companies to check worker’s status are moving swiftly through the legislature.” She then warned: “Republican state representative Daryl Metcalfe wants to go further, introducing a tough measure modeled after Arizona’s law.” She went on to declare: “Metcalfe’s proposal is already facing fierce opposition.” Quijano described one source of that “fierce opposition,” the Democratic mayor of Philadelphia: “Michael Nutter says the solution lies with the federal government, not the states.” Nutter repeated Obama administration talking points on the issue: “We should not have a patchwork of immigration policies for every state in the United States of America. That’s insane.” Quijano added: “Nutter believes the law could create problems for law enforcement, making illegal immigrants afraid to report crimes to police.” In addition to highlighting Nutter’s objections to the proposal, Quijano began her report by describing the plight of one illegal immigrant from the state: “Every day 23 year-old Jose fears he could be deported. His parents brought him to America illegally from Mexico when he was two.” Quijano lamented: “He grew up in Pennsylvania, feeling every bit American, but it wasn’t until high school that he realized what it meant to be an illegal immigrant. That he could not pursue his dream of joining the Air Force.” While Quijano’s report featured five sound bites from Nutter and Jose, it only included two from state representative Metcalfe. She described how “Metcalfe argues illegal immigrants strain city and state budgets by siphoning off health and social services that Americans pay for.” In the clip that followed, Metcalfe argued: “For decades in the past the federal government has been AWOL in securing or borders and protecting American lives, liberty, and property, so we at the state level need to join together to do so.” Quijano concluded the segment by observing: “As politicians grapple with these issues, people like Jose wait and worry.” Jose remarked: “I don’t remember Mexico. To me this is my only home.” Quijano added: “A country that continues to struggle with this divisive issue.” Here is a full transcript of the July 10 report: 6:38PM JEFF GLOR: In Boston, hundreds opposed to Arizona’s controversial immigration law protested the presence of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer at a meeting there. The law’s facing legal challenges from the Justice Department. Arizona was the first, but likely will not be the last. Dozens of states right now are considering enacting similar immigration laws in the coming months. Elaine Quijano has this report from Pennsylvania. JOSE: We want to come out of the shadows. ELAINE QUIJANO: Every day 23 year-old Jose fears he could be deported. His parents brought him to America illegally from Mexico when he was two. He grew up in Pennsylvania, feeling every bit American, but it wasn’t until high school that he realized what it meant to be an illegal immigrant. That he could not pursue his dream of joining the Air Force. JOSE: I lost all hope. I said I can’t join the armed forces, I can’t get a good job. So basically I got pushed into the shadows like any other undocumented.      QUIJANO: Jose is one of the country’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, whose status is sparking heated debate. Debate and demonstrations have also interrupted over a new Arizona law allowing police to check the immigration of status of anyone suspected of being involved in crime. A recent CBS poll found a majority of Americans, 52%, support the law. Now other states are preparing to follow Arizona’s lead. In Pennsylvania, bipartisan measures to compel construction companies to check worker’s status are moving swiftly through the legislature. Republican state representative Daryl Metcalfe wants to go further, introducing a tough measure modeled after Arizona’s law. DARYL METCALFE: As a nation, we have to set a no amnesty policy and we have to be very black and white about that. That there’s no reward for violating our border. QUIJANO: Metcalfe’s proposal is already facing fierce opposition. Here in Philadelphia, where more than half of the immigrant population is illegal, Mayor Michael Nutter says the solution lies with the federal government, not the states. MICHAEL NUTTER: We should not have a patchwork of immigration policies for every state in the United States of America. That’s insane. QUIJANO: Nutter believes the law could create problems for law enforcement, making illegal immigrants afraid to report crimes to police. NUTTER: We do not want to send the wrong message to victims or witnesses. QUIJANO: But Representative Metcalfe argues illegal immigrants strain city and state budgets by siphoning off health and social services that Americans pay for. METCALFE: For decades in the past the federal government has been AWOL in securing or borders and protecting American lives, liberty, and property, so we at the state level need to join together to do so. QUIJANO: As politicians grapple with these issues, people like Jose wait and worry. JOSE: I don’t remember Mexico. To me this is my only home. QUIJANO: A country that continues to struggle with this divisive issue. Elaine Quijano, CBS News, Philadelphia.

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CBS: ‘Tough’ Pennsylvania Immigration Law, Like ‘Controversial’ Arizona Law, Faces ‘Fierce Opposition’

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Progress for Ohio’s Farmed Animals | Landmark Agreement Addresses Cruel Factory Farming Practices | Thank You, Mercy for Animals!

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

“Dear Friends, Today great progress was made to lessen the suffering of millions of farmed animals in Ohio – progress that is a direct result of the tireless effort of our volunteers and supporters. For months, Mercy For Animals has been on the ground, in the streets, and behind-the-scenes working diligently to mobilize support and gather signatures as part of the Ohioans for Humane Farm's campaign to place an initiative on the November ballot that would phase out cruel factory farming practices in the state. Just recently, once it became known that animal advocates had gathered enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot, animal agriculture finally agreed to discuss meaningful reforms. And on June 30th, just hours before over 500,000 signatures were slated to be filed, a major animal protection agreement was reached – preventing costly and contentious campaigning. On that day, a landmark settlement was reached between animal protection advocates, Gov. Ted Strickland, and the Ohio agribusiness lobby. The agreement includes recommendations from all of the parties for the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, the Legislature, and the Governor to adopt the following provisions: * A ban on veal crates effective in 2017, the same year provided in the ballot measure. * A ban on new gestation crates in the state after Dec. 31, 2010. Existing facilities are grandfathered, but must cease use of these crates within 15 years. * A moratorium on permits for new battery cage confinement facilities for laying hens. * Regulations regarding the manner in which sick and injured farmed animals can be killed, including a ban on strangulation. * A ban on the transport of downer cows for slaughter. * Enactment of legislation establishing felony-level penalties for cockfighters. * Enactment of legislation cracking down on puppy mills. * A ban on the acquisition of dangerous exotic animals as pets, such as primates, bears, lions, tigers, large constricting and venomous snakes, crocodiles and alligators. While this agreement puts a hold on the planned anti-factory farming initiative for this fall's ballot, the gathered signatures still remain valid for years to come – giving us the option to go back to the ballot if the terms of the agreement are not fulfilled. Mercy For Animals will continue to work diligently to protect Ohio's farmed animals from cruelty, hold abusers accountable, educate the public on farmed animal issues, and advocate for stricter state and federal laws. This landmark, hard-fought progress for Ohio's animals would not have been possible without the determined, selfless, and inspiring work of hundreds of volunteers and supporters. Truly, because of you, we have moved our society toward a kinder future for animals. Sincerely Nathan Runkle Executive Director” Mercy for Animals added by: EthicalVegan

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Is The Washington Legislature Really ‘Too Busy’ To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients?

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Artwork: Jimmy Wheeler The late Jimmy Wheeler, a medical marijuana patient in Washington, created this artwork. Now a proposed patient protection bill will be named in his honor. ​By Steve Elliott at Toke of the Town As most medical marijuana patients in the state already know, the current medical marijuana law in Washington doesn’t protect patients from search, arrest or prosecution. The recent Washington Supreme Court ruling in State v. Fry further highlighted how little protection — as in almost none! — the current law gives “legal” patients. Medical marijuana activists Ken Martin and Steve Sarich of patient advocacy group CannaCare contacted every Senator and Representative in Washington at the beginning of the current 2010 legislative session, attempting to find a sponsor for their new bill that would finally offer legal patients protection from arrest and prosecution. “We could not find a single sponsor for this bill,” Sarich told Toke of the Town . “Those I actually spoke with told me they were ‘too busy’ this session.” “This made us curious about what, exactly, these legislators were so busy working on (besides new taxes on just about everything),” Sarich said. “What we found amazed us.” “Here are just a few of the bills that our legislators believed were more important than protecting sick and dying patients in Washington,” Sarich said. XB 6255 Concerning mute swans. SB 5192 Allowing dogs in bars. SB 6207 Allowing local governments to create golf cart zones. SB 6284 Recognizing Leif Erickson day. HB 1024 Designating Aplets and Cotlets as the state candy. XB 6128 Concerning taxation of little cigars. HB 1137 Protecting landowners’ investments in Christmas trees. SB 5011 Prohibiting the sale or distribution of certain novelty lighters. HB 1638 Concerning colon hydrotherapy. HB 1993 Allowing fishing license holder to use two poles in selected state waters. “Perhaps these bills are truly important to some people,” Sarich allowed. “That said, I think it’s insulting to tell patients that making Aplets and Cotlets the official state candy is more important than keeping patients from being searched, arrested and prosecuted.” Medical Marijuana Lobby Day: Wednesday, February 24 “It’s time to send the message to our elected officials, and Medical Marijuana Lobby Day is the opportunity to do that!” Sarich said. “Show up and have your voice be heard.” “We are gathering at 1 p.m. on the north stairs of the Legislative Building,” Sarich said. “We’ll have white booths there with literature, posters and special medical marijuana patient scarves with buttons that say “STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS.” According to Sarich, the goal is to educate legislators, “let them know we are voters and activists,” to to gather legislative sponsors for the “Patient Protection Act” for the 2011 legislative session. “The bill will be named the ‘Jimmy Wheeler Memorial Patient Protection Act’ in honor of my friend and longtime activist who was providing medical marijuana to patients before there there was legal medical marijuana,” Sarich said. “Jimmy died recently without ever seeing patients free from arrest and prosecution in his lifetime,” Sarich said. “Please ask yourself how many more of us have to die before they realize we are not criminals.” “How many patients need to be persecuted before our elected officials provide us with the same protections offered to the rest of the disabled and terminally ill patients in this state?” Sarich asked. “I’m tired of being a second class citizen!” “We will do our best to arrange transportation for you to this historic event,” Sarich said. For more information, contact Ken Martin at (509) 235-5485 or Steve Sarich at (206) 407-3017.

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Is The Washington Legislature Really ‘Too Busy’ To Protect Medical Marijuana Patients?

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Victory In Washington: Jury Finds Medical Marijuana Patient Not Guilty

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

By Steve Elliott in Toke of the Town Once again, a jury has seen through the lies and distortions and found a medical marijuana patient not guilty. ​Washington state jurors Thursday afternoon found Cammie McKenzie, who grows marijuana to treat her chronic back pain, not guilty of all charges in a case where prosecutors tried to portray her as a drug dealer. The prosecution’s unsuccessful case was notably nasty, even for a medical marijuana arrest in a state where some law enforcement officials have been slow to adjust to the legalization of medicinal cannabis passed by voters in 1998. “This case is not about medicine. This case is about money,” Snohomish County Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Baldock said in his opening statements Tuesday. “The defendant was masquerading as a marijuana patient and was in reality a drug dealer, no question.” One can only imagine the incensed reaction of Snohomish County’s good voters when they realize their scarce tax dollars are being wasted on foolishness like this. Prosecutors and narcotics detectives claimed McKenzie, 24, was using her medical marijuana authorization as a front for an illegal pot farm at her home in Bothell, Washington, reports Diana Hefley of the Everett Herald Net . McKenzie said that prosecutors based their case on the word of her former roommate, a “known drug dealer” who was promised he wouldn’t be prosecuted if he testified against McKenzie. Jurors ultimately didn’t buy the prosecution’s claims and declared McKenzie not guilty of manufacturing marijuana, which is a felony. Baldock called two witnesses, both detectives with the Bellevue-based Eastside Narcotics Task Force in his case against McKenzie. Defense attorney Natalie Tarantino asked the judge to throw out the charge against McKenzie due to a lack of evidence, including the state’s failure to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that her client is, in fact, the person charged with the crime. Superior Court Judge George Appel denied that motion, instead allowing Baldock to bring a detective back on the stand to testify to the defendant’s identity. Jurors were shown a copy of a driver’s license picturing Cameron Scott Wieldraayer. That was the defendant’s name before she changed her gender and her name. The detective identified the person on the driver’s license as McKenzie. McKenzie herself took the stand Wednesday, testifying at length about marijuana growing methods. She currently runs an Internet business selling growing equipment. The defendant explained how medical marijuana alleviates her symptoms. Marijuana “stops the brain from acknowledging the pain,” allowing her to function, she said. McKenzie told jurors she consumes up to a quarter-ounce a day. She adamantly denied that she was selling marijuana or using her grow operation to make a profit.

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Victory In Washington: Jury Finds Medical Marijuana Patient Not Guilty

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Washington Legislature Drops The Ball (Again) On Marijuana Decrim

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Never mind what the people of Washington want. The Legislature thinks pot is just too scary. ​By Steve Elliott at Toke of the Town ​Cowardly career politicians, out of touch with their own constituents and terrified of being branded “soft on drugs,” have once again dropped the ball on decriminalizing marijuana. Senate Bill 5615, which would have freed up Washington’s criminal justice resources by making adult possession of small amounts of marijuana an infraction carrying a fine, rather than a misdemeanor carrying mandatory jail time, failed to get a vote in the Washington State Senate Tuesday. “This means efforts to address adult marijuana use through a civil, public health approach, rather than a failed criminalization approach, have died for the 2010 legislative session,” said Alison Holcomb, drug policy director, ACLU of Washington . “The ACLU of Washington is disappointed by the Legislature’s failure to pass this bill despite strong and consistent public support for it,” Holcomb said. “An overwhelming majority of Washington voters support the modest change proposed by SB 5615 — a change already made in 13 other states, 11 of them as long ago as the 1970s, with no adverse impact,” Holcomb said. According to Holcomb, studies in those states demonstrate no increase in marijuana use among adults or youth, results echoed in jurisdictions like Seattle, where adult marijuana possession has been the lowest law enforcement priority since 2003. “In 2008, police and prosecutors filed 12,428 cases involving misdemeanor marijuana possession by adults in Washington courts — using funds that would be far better spent addressing other priorities, including violent crime,” Holcomb pointed out. “The Washington State Office of Financial Management estimated that SB 5615 and its companion HB 1177 would have made approximately $15-16 million in scarce public safety dollars available to combat true public safety threats, and would have directed significant resources to sorely needed, state-funded treatment and protection services,” Holcomb said. “We applaud Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor of SB 5615, for her tireless efforts to advocate for sensible reforms grounded in reason, science, and fiscal responsibility,” Holcomb said. “And we hope our Legislature will get the electorate’s message in 2011 and pass marijuana decriminalization legislation.” “It’s time to stop wasting money on arresting and jailing adults for marijuana use and invest instead in proven prevention and treatment programs,” Holcomb said.

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Washington Legislature Drops The Ball (Again) On Marijuana Decrim

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