Wash.: Ask Gov. Gregoire to stand up for Washingtonians

Published: April 15, 2011

Earlier this week, the Washington House of Representatives passed SB 5073 – a bill that would require the Departments of Health and Agriculture to license medical marijuana dispensaries, producers, and processors. Yesterday, it came to light that the U.S. Attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, told Governor Chris Gregoire the federal government could go after state-regulated providers if the bill becomes law. Please email Gov. Gregoire today, and ask her to stand up for Washingtonians by signing this bill despite the saber rattling of these rouge USAs.

The Obama administration has made it clear: the Justice Department should “not prosecute individuals who are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws." In accordance with this policy directive, the U.S. Attorneys in states with medical marijuana laws that clearly allow for regulated medical marijuana dispensaries – Colorado, New Mexico, Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Arizona, and Washington, D.C. – have neither cracked down on dispensaries, nor have they threatened to do so. Why should Washington be any different? Gov. Gregoire should sign this bill into law and give Washington patients what they want and need – safe, reliable access to their medicine.    

Gov. Gregoire’s communities have called for regulation and control. Ask her to deliver by signing SB 5073.