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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Politics Pot Initiative on Track to Qualify for Ballot

Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 3:23 PM

Holy smokes! Eighty percent of the signatures counted thus for a marijuana-legalization initiative are valid, according to election workers at the Washington Secretary of State's office. That's well above the 68 percent validity rate required to place I-502 on the November ballot.

In late December, New Approach Washington submitted 354,608 signatures to the state; 241,153 of those must be signed by registered voters in the state.

Election rules stipulate that the measure can be approved by randomly checking 3 percent of the signatures submitted. In this case, the state is reviewing 10,638 signatures. So far election workers have reviewed about one-third of those (3,835 signatures) and accepted 80 percent as valid (3,067), The other 768 signatures were disqualified for registration or signature problems. Details are posted here.

Obviously, no guarantees here, but it looks like we'll be voting on a measure to legalize, tax, and regulate pot this year.

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

This should be approved by consensus.

I'll start.

No.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on January 25, 2012 at 3:32 PM

Holy cats! We'll get to vote on gay marriage AND legalized pot this fall, or something. Maybe both will pass and Washington will become a seething hotbed of liberal intemperance just in time for Jesus to arrive and kick everybody's ass on December 12th, or whatever is going to happen then.

It's going to be SO AWESOME

Posted by Zebes

on January 25, 2012 at 3:39 PM

May as well ask: what if anything do you think the Federal government will try to do to sabotage this?

Legal action?
Threats of holding Federal funds?

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on January 25, 2012 at 3:53 PM

@3, SWAT invasions of hipster house parties.

Posted by neo-realist on January 25, 2012 at 3:55 PM

@4 brilliant (and horribly depressing).

Posted by philosophy school dropout on January 25, 2012 at 5:18 PM

@1 are you afraid you'll start toking?

Posted by CbytheSea on January 25, 2012 at 6:52 PM

@ 6 No, he's afraid of having a felony charge and years in prison for 1 plant, or more than an ounce. And, if he doesn't get busted for that, then he might get a DUI 4 to 8 hours after takin a few tokes!!

Posted by CptCannabis on January 25, 2012 at 7:09 PM

@7: Welp, keep it illegal.

Posted by Baconcat on January 25, 2012 at 7:17 PM

This is a very strange version of legalization. It carries with it newly created crimes, exorbitant taxes, corporate acquisition and NO FREEDOM to self provide. It bars life long cannabis wholesale, retail and cultivation experts from entry into production, processing and distribution business. (Many of us have prior cannabis convictions) Under this proposal, a gram of cannabis that the grower receives $5 for, the purchaser will pay near $20. Bad Law, very BAD LAW.

Posted by pupuguru on January 25, 2012 at 7:25 PM

@4 for the Gregoire enabled win

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 25, 2012 at 7:34 PM

@8 Some people act like this is the only initiative for legalization. There are other options. This isn't the end all be all initiative. 502 OR BUST!! LOL I will give reason after logical, rational reason why this initiative is bad and it won't matter what I say, supporters will just name call and character bash and not give a chance to listen or weigh the pros and cons. There are good things about 502 but I don't believe it is enough to outweigh the bad. I will support the alternative initiative for legalization this year.

Posted by CptCannabis on January 25, 2012 at 7:44 PM