Washington State Laying Ground work for Fed Legalization !!!
How federal weed legalization would impact Washington state
Senate Bill 5069 — one of several marijuana-related bills this legislative session — lays the groundwork for interstate trade.
by John Stang / March 3, 2023
Some Washington lawmakers advocate starting to prepare for federal legalization of marijuana so our state won't be behind others when interstate pot commerce becomes possible. (Matt Mills McKnight/Crosscut)
he Washington Legislature is planning ahead to potentially make a lot more money on cannabis sales. A proposal gaining momentum would prepare the state to jump into interstate marijuana commerce — if and whenever Congress approves pot nationwide.
“It could happen anytime,” said Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center.
Senate Bill 5069 would allow Washington to enter marijuana import/export compacts with other states immediately after Congress gives the green light. If the federal change happens before the Legislature acts, Washington could have to wait months until the Legislature meets again to vote to allow interstate compacts.
“If we are not prepared to commit on a nationwide scale, we are going to be left in the dust,” Rivers said.
This bill passed the Senate Wednesday on a bipartisan vote of 40-8, and now moves on to the House.
At a Jan. 10 hearing before the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, Vicki Christophersen of the Washington CannaBusiness Association said Oregon and California have already passed similar laws. “What we don’t want is other states to get a head start,” she said.
Currently, 39 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis and 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana. “Each of these legal state marketplaces act almost like an island, as import and export to other states are not permitted,” said attorney Tom Tobin of Perkins Coie's Seattle office, whose practice includes some emerging marijuana issues.
“It’s especially exciting to practice in an area of law that is rapidly developing,” he said.
Several proposals have been floated in Congress to legalize or deschedule cannabis at the federal level – to remove the possession and sale of marijuana from federal laws that make it a felony. Marijuana is currently considered at the same level federally as heroin and other drugs.
The previous Congress considered numerous similar proposals, including the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would have removed pot from the federal Schedule 1 drug list; it passed the House. A high-profile bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon. “While Congress did pass a bill to encourage further medical research into cannabis, none of the larger reform bills passed,” Tobin wrote in an email.
