Reefer referendum

The Evergreen State may find itself at odds with federal laws regulating possession and sale of marijuana as an initiative to legalize recreational use of the drug is set to go to voters this November.

If passed, the initiative would allow state-licensed stores to sell marijuana products to all adults at least 21 years of age. Customers could purchase up to an ounce of dried marijuana, a pound of marijuana-infused solids, such as brownies, or 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids.

Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, told the Associated Press Feb. 9 that the Legislature decided not to act on the initiative and would instead send the measure to a public vote.

"We will have more opportunities on the campaign trail this year to discuss this issue," Hunt said.

If the initiative is voted into state law, Washington would become the first state in the nation to legalize the drug for recreational use.

Members of an organization called New Approach turned in more than 278,000 valid signatures to the Washington secretary of state's office Dec. 29, which was more than enough to qualify the measure.

A 25 percent excise tax would be imposed on wholesale and retail marijuana sales, some of which would be earmarked for health care, education, research and substance abuse prevention. Since the measure includes a tax, the Legislature would need a two-thirds majority to pass it.

The initiative asks that the regulation of marijuana and hard alcohol be treated similarly. Driving under the influence would be prohibited. The initiative proposes that a limit of no more than five nanograms (five billionths of a gram) of THC per milliliter of blood be set for drivers. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Some medical marijuana users are concerned that the levels of THC in their systems would be inconsistent and potentially put them at risk for a DUI. While that concern has yet to be resolved, some people with conditions such as epilepsy would not be able to drive at all if it weren't for marijuana. Law enforcement officials are required to have probable cause based on fact or evidence to pull a driver over. Any evidence obtained by a police officer without probable cause would not be admissible in court.

The federal government currently bans the outright use of marijuana. Along with heroin and LSD, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. According to the DEA, "Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision."

The FDA also dismisses its medical qualities. Spokesperson for the administration Susan Bro said on April 20, 2006, that "no sound scientific studies" have been found regarding the drug's use as a legitimate medical treatment.

Conversely, a report on marijuana from the Institute of Medicine, the health branch of the National Academy of Sciences, found the drug to be "moderately well suited for particular conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS wasting." The digest also concluded that there was no evidence that marijuana acted as a gateway drug.

Cannabinoids (cq) are active chemicals in Cannabis, a.k.a. marijuana. Despite the FDA's dismissal of its benefits, cannibinoids may be a practical remedy for the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Anti-inflammatory activity, blocking cell growth, including cancerous cells, preventing the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors, and antiviral activity are all qualities that The National Cancer Institute says cannibinoids may possess.

The Independent conducted an informal poll in hopes of better understanding student and faculty perspectives regarding the legalization of marijuana. Of the 27 participants, 20 said that they would be for marijuana legalization, three were against it and four were undecided.

"From what I've seen, marijuana can be very helpful for people with cancer or other illnesses," said Brittney Jacobson, a 25-year-old medical student. "I've also seen it help those with ADD or ADHD. So, because of that, mainly I think it should be legalized for those who need it."

Dr. Kathy Bobula, a professor of psychology and early childhood education, believes that saying marijuana impairs the safety of drivers is a red herring. She believes that if the government was really worried about the safety of drivers then it would lower the speed limit to 40 mph.

"I think marijuana is clearly a drug that doesn't have the harm that other illicit drugs have," Clark English Professor Donald Erskine said. "It's not dangerous. The war on drugs is a horrible mistake. It creates criminals out of people who are not really criminals and it's long past time that it be decriminalized."

He continued to say that while there are drawbacks with the drug, the laws that are in place have proven to be ineffective. "I think, obviously, driving while intoxicated on either alcohol or marijuana is dangerous. But that speaks to driving laws, not to the legality of marijuana."

In the event that the drug is legalized, President Bob Knight said that the college's rules on the use of the drug are unlikely to change.

Other states may see similar initiatives going to a vote this November. Colorado recently fell 3,000 signatures short of getting the initiative put on their ballot and were given 15 more days to collect the remaining signatures needed. Activists are also seeking signatures in California, Michigan and Montana.