The Seattle Times editorial board has yet to chime in on Attorney General Rob McKenna’s misguided lawsuit to undermine the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but they did publish an editorial this morning calling for an expansion of our state’s medical marijuana law to allow for licensed dispensaries, so credit where credit is due.
Ironically, it’s under the leadership of our state’s top law enforcement officer, Rob McKenna, that the spirit of our existing, voter-approved medical marijuana laws have been undermined to the point of being useless. No mention by the Times of McKenna’s role in our state’s war on medical marijuana, but then, no surprise there.
Wouldn’t it be simpler just to authorize the State Liquor Stores to sell pot to anyone holding some sort of ID card stamped with an authorization?
Simpler is better.
SJ @1,
I agree, but that would require an implicit endorsement of maintaining our State Store system, whose closure and privatization the Times sees as the key to ensuring balanced state budgets in perpetuity.
or ….
adding MJ to the stores would make liquor sales of more concern to the conservatives (who know MJ is the devil) and increase SLS profits as well.
or ….
adding MJ to the stores would make them more attractive t private investors and create a rational model (and financial incentive) for how to sell the stuff when it is legalized.
SJ & Goldy,
I don’t have a problem with the state liquor store idea. It’s a means to the goal of getting us out of this crazy, insane prohibition against marijuana. The state system will be fine with me for the channel of distribution. After all, it’s already in-place, fully staffed, and can be brought up to speed on selling marijuana to adults in short order. Also, I see it as a way to regulate the sale of this substance to those who choose to enjoy it.
I’m definitely OK with SJ’s idea.