I-502 is an Initiative to the Legislature in Washington State that would remove certain penalties for those possessing an ounce of cannabis or less and would setup a distribution system through the State's Liquor Control Board (http://newapproachwa.org/). Although this sounds like a positive step forward, it's an undoubtedly faulty and scientifically unsound initiative that puts further stress and
fear on the cannabis-consumers and patients in our state, and it's clearly NOT what it's being presented as. This initiative is setup for a political victory and doesn't address the reality of what will truly bring lasting and effective change. Initiative 502 would mandate a DUI infrastructure that would persecute anyone over the THC limit of 5 ng/mL. This will be a destructive policy that will result in the prosecution of a huge amount of innocent individuals - especially patients. Regular smokers will fail a 5 ng/mL test many hours after smoking, meaning if an individual smokes a joint, and they decide to drive 10 hours later, they could get a DUID, regardless of the fact that they won't be impaired. In many instances this is worse than getting caught with less than an ounce of cannabis which Initiative 502 would "legalize". For those under 21 it would be a complete zero tolerance policy, meaning patients aged 16-20 could fail a DUI test days after smoking. This seems to be a mandate that lacks compassion and is scientifically unsound. This type of limit has been fought back strongly in many states including an identical limit in Colorado earlier this year (a commission specifically appointed by the Colorado Legislature to discuss this issue decided that there was no scientific consensus for a 5 ng/mL limit, or any specific per se limit at this point: http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/09/marijuana_working_group_thc_driving_limits.php). Taking away the driving privileges of smokers, even when they're not impaired, is not fair policy. Individuals can claim that if you drive fine, then you'll be fine, but that's clearly not true when you give police officers such power over cannabis consumers, who many of them harass to begin with.
2. The initiative is entirely pre-emptable. I-502 creates a distribution system through the State's Liquor Control Board which would instantly create a direct positive conflict with the Federal Government and the Federal Controlled Substances Act (especially considering it forces the state to accept taxes from a Federally illegal substance), meaning that the entire distribution system would be destroyed and rendered moot - immediately after passing. So, after pre-emption, all that you're left with is "decriminalization" of only 1 ounce, and a terrible DUI limit.
3. The initiative is not true legalization (it only creates a legal exception for those possessing an ounce or less or are registered to grow through the state), yet they are claiming it as such, which will set the movement back years if it is accepted as a reasonable method for changing our cannabis laws. This is clearly not true reform, and with the DUI limit attached it's clearly more of a step backwards, and quite dangerous if other states try to legalize following a similar model. Please visit http://www.nooni502.org/
