Jolt
House Approves Medical Marijuana Bill and Transalta Bill
Today's winners: Rolling Stone magazine readers circa 1975. Pot is in. Coal is out.
Legislators in Olympia fiercely debated amendments to Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Ballard) medical marijuana legislation Monday afternoon before approving the bill 54 to 43. A total of 27 amendments were up for consideration, including Rep. Glenn Adnerson's (R-5, Fall City) goofy (and failing) pizza amendment (the state should reimburse medical marijuana users' pizza bills).
Kohl-Welles' legislation, which passed the senate in early March 29-20 with four Republicans going for it, establishes a regulatory system for producing and distributing medical marijuana and establishes certain protections from arrest for patients using medical marijuana. The legislation establishes restrictions on where marijuana dispensaries can be located—at least 500 feet from a school—and a limit for how many dispensaries can be located in cities—one dispensary for every 20,000 people.
Four GOPers went for the legislation today in the house: Anderson and Reps. Cary Condotta (R-12, E. Wenatchee), Mike Hope (R-44, Lake Stevens) and Maureen Walsh (R-16, Walla Walla)
[pullquote]House minority leader Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-20, Chehalis), who works for TransAlta, was excused. DeBolt has fought the bill for years.[/pullquote]
Most Republicans, however, objected to the bill. Rep. Brad Klippert (R-8, Kennewick) said the "the problem with this bill is that it will make [medical marijuana] more accessible." And Rep. Vincent Buys (R-42, Lynden) said that Kohl-Welles' legislation "makes a mockery of the medical system and [the process of getting prescriptions]."
But the GOP concerns weren't enough to stall the bill, which also comes with key arrest protect provisions. Now, it's back to the senate for reconciliation.
The house also passed the Transalta bill today, which phases out coal at the controversial Centralia plant. The bill passed 87-9. House minority leader Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-20, Chehalis), who works for TransAlta, was excused. DeBolt has fought the bill for years.
Legislators in Olympia fiercely debated amendments to Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Ballard) medical marijuana legislation Monday afternoon before approving the bill 54 to 43. A total of 27 amendments were up for consideration, including Rep. Glenn Adnerson's (R-5, Fall City) goofy (and failing) pizza amendment (the state should reimburse medical marijuana users' pizza bills).
Kohl-Welles' legislation, which passed the senate in early March 29-20 with four Republicans going for it, establishes a regulatory system for producing and distributing medical marijuana and establishes certain protections from arrest for patients using medical marijuana. The legislation establishes restrictions on where marijuana dispensaries can be located—at least 500 feet from a school—and a limit for how many dispensaries can be located in cities—one dispensary for every 20,000 people.
Four GOPers went for the legislation today in the house: Anderson and Reps. Cary Condotta (R-12, E. Wenatchee), Mike Hope (R-44, Lake Stevens) and Maureen Walsh (R-16, Walla Walla)
[pullquote]House minority leader Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-20, Chehalis), who works for TransAlta, was excused. DeBolt has fought the bill for years.[/pullquote]
Most Republicans, however, objected to the bill. Rep. Brad Klippert (R-8, Kennewick) said the "the problem with this bill is that it will make [medical marijuana] more accessible." And Rep. Vincent Buys (R-42, Lynden) said that Kohl-Welles' legislation "makes a mockery of the medical system and [the process of getting prescriptions]."
But the GOP concerns weren't enough to stall the bill, which also comes with key arrest protect provisions. Now, it's back to the senate for reconciliation.
The house also passed the Transalta bill today, which phases out coal at the controversial Centralia plant. The bill passed 87-9. House minority leader Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-20, Chehalis), who works for TransAlta, was excused. DeBolt has fought the bill for years.
