I am sure that many of you saw Wednesday's article by Carol Ostrom in the Seattle Times regarding the "proposed" new rule for Wa. State medical cannabis patients. Well, it's a load of garbage, and is only going to make life worse for some very sick people.

After a years worth of research, study and public meetings, the WA. Dept of Health had recommended (based on science) that a patient could have up to 35 oz. in possession, and up to 100 square feet of "plant canopy".

This is NOT what the Gov. has released...no, she took it upon herself to interrupt the Rule Making process and come up with her own figures. Her figures are NOT going to work. Period. Not so much the amount (24 oz.) but the plant limits are not achievable.

Why?

Because the restrictions they have placed on the "plant count" are impossible to achieve. It can't be done, and as a result even MORE horribly sick people will be arrested, be jailed, have their personal lives ruined and their possessions taken all because they are sick, and the only medicine that seems to offer them any relief is medical cannabis.

If you ain't figured it out, yer damn right I am an advocate for these people! My own illness left me few options, and I found that medical cannabis was the only medicine that could/would control the violent vertigo attacks I get with my illness.

I am still able to live a fairly normal life, but I have several friends with cancer, late stage Hep. C, Chrons disease and others that barely get from one day to the next. They can't take the opiates or other med's for pain any longer as their livers and other organs are all but destroyed by "modern and safe" medicine...and compared to most any other medication cannabis is fairly harmless, and can not be overdosed.

Essentially (in the short form) here is what happened in WA.

Last year: The Legislature directed the Stete Dept. of Health to define what a "60 days supply" is for a patient.

(this was not defined under our current law...the current law says "patients may have a 60 day supply", but until there was a definition of that amount LEO continued arresting sick folks!)

Well, that report by the DoH came out Tuesday, and as we suspected, the true villain in this whole scenario is Governor Christine Gregoire.

This is taken from a note from Steve Sarich, the Exe. Director of CannaCare, the largest voice for MMJ users in WA State.:

"...(speaking of the Governor) "The current problems we have with law enforcement stem from her days as the state attorney general. She gathered law enforcement together in Olympia after I-692 passed and told them they could enforce whatever they wanted to in their counties...and that's what they've been doing ever since. The whole time she's been claiming that she "supports medical marijuana"...and I have some nice swamp land for you if you believe that one."

Basically, the Governor took what the DoH had developed under the Rule Making directive from the Legislature (a legal process for making new laws), tossed it out because SHE didn't like the amount the DoH was suggesting based on their extensive research, scientific and medical evidence as well as public input at 4 separate "town hall" meetings around the state, and then cut a deal in the backroom with her Law Enforcement friends so she can get their voting support when she runs for re-election this year.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!! We are going to fight her at every turn, including filing multiple lawsuits asap. We have the paper trail of the entire matter, clearly showing where the Gov. has interfered in the legal Rule Making process.

She just tossed out the science, facts and research that was accurate and honest, and basically gave us a rule that is impossible to follow, and a duplicate of Oregon's law. Makes me wonder why the hell we (taxpayers) paid for the meetings, all that proper research at the DoH, and the rule making process if they had no intention of using the data?

Folks we need your help. This is not a bunch of teenage "stoners" out to have a good time, but mature adults (average age of a WA. MMJ patient is 50) who have serious illnesses that are helped by no other medicine, in many cases they are dying, and could use some support so the Gov. does not toss out their health and quality of life to get a few more votes in the re-election campaign.

It's just not right.

Please, take a moment to comment on the issue at the DoH website, https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/AddComment.aspx?ID=486

or call Governor Gregoire's Office at 360-902-4111. Please tell them the patients NEED the ruling the Dept. of Health suggested, and NOT what the Gov. came up with in her back-room deal with Law Enforcement.

Just for clarification, I have -0- issues with Law Enforcement. I respect the hell out of cops, but they are not doctors, and have no basis in medical science for their position. Nor does the Gov.

I'll explain what the issue is with the Proposed Rule" in the next post. Here is Carol Ostrom's article:

"24-ounce limit proposed for medical marijuana

Patients authorized to possess or grow marijuana for medical reasons under Washington law would be limited to 24 ounces of harvested marijuana...

By Carol M. Ostrom

Seattle Times health reporter


Patients authorized to possess or grow marijuana for medical reasons under Washington law would be limited to 24 ounces of harvested marijuana, plus six mature plants and 18 immature plants, according to an official draft rule filed by the state Department of Health today.

The filing of the draft rule starts a rule-making process and a public-comment period. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 25 in Tumwater, Thurston County.

The draft reduces amounts earlier considered by the health department and revealed in a "talking points" memo used to brief Gov. Christine Gregoire in February. Health-department officials said in the February memo that they planned to recommend 35 ounces of harvested marijuana plus 100 square feet of plant-growing area.

Gregoire's staff told health-department officials the amount appeared to be on the high side, and that law enforcement and medical providers should be consulted. The health department convened an advisory panel that included law-enforcement officials, advocates and a single doctor — a public-health HIV/AIDS expert who does not care for patients directly.

Law-enforcement officials have said their main concern is being able to distinguish legitimate patients from those who are hiding behind the law to grow and sell large amounts of marijuana. They said they consider 3 ounces a reasonable amount for the 60-day supply specified in Washington's law, passed by voters in 1998.

That law allows patients with certain chronic, fatal or debilitating diseases to possess a 60-day supply with a doctor's authorization.

Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com"



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