First a lawsuit. Then, a lively debate on this blog. And now, a bill in the legislature aimed at clarifying the legal use of medical marijuana.
Senate bill 6032 would primarily attempt to protect medicinal marijuana users — and their designated health care providers — from legal or criminal action, as well as allow those whom law enforcement determines to be using pot legally to keep their supply, rather than see it confiscated.
It would also protect law enforcement from legal action “for failure to seize marijuana,” when they determine a person’s use falls under the state’s legal definition.
The bill is scheduled for its first hearing at 8 a.m. Feb. 27 before the senate’s committee on health and long term care.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that though many states have medicinal marijuana laws on the books, the federal government still bans it outright.
The medicinal marijuana debate hit our shores more locally when a
Kitsap woman has sued TeleTech, a company for which she
worked briefly, for firing her after a drug test. The woman alleges
in the lawsuit that she disclosed her use of medical marijuana, and
TeleTech tested her anyway, and then terminated her employment.
The debate on medical marijuana doesn’t end there. In January, CannaCare, an Everett-based organization whose web site says is aimed at educating the public about medical marijuana, was raided by the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team.
While CannaCare has contended in media reports it has done nothing outside of the law, WestNET claimed the organization had more marijuana than allowed under state law, as well as federal law, (which, again, prohibits any possession of marijuana, medical or otherwise).
With new, potential legislation on the topic, this debate is sure to continue.
It seems to me that no matter what State laws are passed, Federal law will always be the upper hand if someone is out to get someone. I wish West Net would focus on the drugs that are really killing people.
Elaine,
As someone who’s been involved with this issue since 1998, I can tell you WESTNET focuses on medical marijuana patients for two reasons.
1) MONEY-WESTNET depends on Fed money for their budget and medical marijuana patients are easy marks.
2)SAFETY-Sick people who use cannabis for health reasons aren’t violent and don’t offer resistance. Path of least resistance.
So then … DID CannaCare have more medical marijuana than allowed by state and federal law?
Isn’t that the issue?
Sharon O’Hara
Sharon,
I’m not sure about Canna-Care. The Washington State rule allows for a “designated caregiver” to grow the cannabis for a sick person. It appears from what I’ve read Canna-Care tried to become the customer/patient de facto caregiver.
If that is the case, then how much is too much when you’re a caregiver for 500 or more patients? This is one of the issues I believe the legislature is trying to address.
West Net’s 27 plant limit is illegal.
It has to be posted in a WAC,orRCW.
It is not so it does not have to be resorted to nor can it be enforced.