I didn’t vote on that one

Washington state had a ballot initiative to “legalize” pot.  Problem is had a whole new bureaucracy attached to it.  It isn’t so much to take pot out of the hands of criminal gangs, as to have the state take over as chief criminal gang, taxing the stuff 25% at each stage (production, wholesale and retail).  It ignores the federal law, and provides no means of keeping feds off one’s back, so getting a license to produce, distribute, or retail pot is tantamount to self incrimination on a federal crime.  Oh goody.


So no– either a “yes” or a “no” vote is insane.  I left that one blank, thank you.  I will not actively participate in that level of stupid.  Though it will be somewhat entertaining if it passes being as it will put the state at odds with the feds, it will still stink as bad as the current mishmash of morbid, deeply pathological and unconstitutional stupidity that is the War on Drugs.  And 25%?  Three times?  That’ll guarantee a continued black market with all the attendant problems, even if the federal law were repealed or the Washington State Millita could keep the feds at bay.  Don’t make me come over there to set you straight, damn you.


ETA: 11/06/12; The law takes up several pages in fine print, which alone is grounds for rejection.  It’s near half the size of the U.S. constitution.  All it would take is one sentence– “All state alcohol and drug laws, and rules and regulations related thereto, are hereby repealed.”  Get that on the ballot and I’m with you.

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7 thoughts on “I didn’t vote on that one

  1. I actually skipped that one, too. Filled everything else on my ballot. I skipped it for similar reasons to yours as well as just not liking the idea of the government telling me what I can have or how much of it I can have (in case this nonsense ever gets extended to guns and ammo). For what it’s worth I’ve never smoked the stuff.

  2. While I share those same concerns, I voted for the initiative for two reasons: 1) It’s at least one step closer to completely legal, and 2) specifically BECAUSE it pits state government against federal government. I like the idea that the state has a good reason to finally tell the feds to go pound sand and that their laws are unconstitutional and not applicable. I’d much rather have the considerable forces of the state government standing up to the feds than poorly funded and often disorganized private groups. We’re supporting the state through our tax dollars. Might as well try to get them to do some of the work for a change. I also have never smoked the stuff and don’t plan to start.

  3. I voted for it. I’ve never used the stuff, never plan to, don’t hang with those that do, thought the law was badly worded and would cause all sorts of problems aside from its purported goals, but I thought it would be good to tell the FedGov to pound sand, as Grant said.

    As to the rest of the ballot, it mostly REALLY sucked on the national level. I’ll post about it later.

  4. On the radio last night the state AG was talking about how it was written to avoid Commerce Clause entanglements. More states pushing back on Raich, on a topic the hippies will support, can broadly work for gun rights.

    Also, Obama won the youth vote among others. The press played down his anti-med marijuana activities this term. Assuming he wasn’t just doing the “tough on crime” thing for reelection he’ll either support these laws and show true colors as against the WOD (and thus willing to relax executive authority to a degree, which are both good from an anti-statist viewpoint.

    Or he’ll show himself as a drug-warrior against “the will of the people” in the legalizing states, which will poison his base. Which will be good long-term demographically by keeping the youth vote in play and cognizant of federalism issues. Which a less stupid Republican or new anti-statist party could capitalize on.

  5. Gaaaaa! I was hoping some of the libertarian block would help hold the no on this initiative. It totally fails the attic test. It is not legalization by any means really, it is merely more opportunity for state abuse of authority, ironically superceded by federal law, which makes it possible for all that can be construed as positive about this initiative wiped out leaving only the zero tolerance for under 21 and dui-type measures. Well meaning people voted for this, but if they’d have paid attention, they’d have realized this is stupid. DUI measure especially, given that it’s based more on polling than science…plus this does not empower citizens, only those with huge financial interests in marijuana market. All free card holders are this morning criminals for owning medicinal plants. Stupid.

  6. You pointed out very well, the activity was to make sure that there are jobs in government to moderate fuzzy thinking, since they lost control of the booze. Nothing is going to help stupid, not alcohol, drugs nor government. Stupid will be.

  7. It’ll be interesting to see if DOJ comes after Washington (and Colorado, which passed a similar measure) for this with the same ardor they went after Arizona for their immigration law. Arizona was at least trying ot just enforce what was on the federal books, while this directly contravenes them.

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