Wash. legal marijuana group launches television ad campaign
SEATTLE (AP) - A group pushing a measure to legalize and tax marijuana in Washington state is launching a three-week television ad campaign.
New Approach Washington, the group behind Initiative 502, says the advertisement will begin airing throughout Western Washington on Wednesday, including on KOMO-TV.
The advertisement features a woman who says she doesn't like marijuana, but it's a multi-million-dollar industry that doesn't benefit the state. She says that if marijuana is taxed and regulated, the state would control the money - "not the gangs" - and it could go toward schools and health care, while freeing up police to go after violent crime.
The campaign has plenty of supporters, but also has its critics.
"I don't know how it makes good sense to legalize something that serves no other purpose than to cause impairment," said Ed Holmes of the Washington Association of Sheriff's and Police Chiefs.
Holmes, who is also Mercer Island's chief of police, said simply taxing and regulating marijuana will not make the job any easier for law enforcement officers.
"People (using marijuana) say things they wouldn't say, they do things they wouldn't do, they commit crimes they otherwise wouldn't commit and that's the concern we have with smoking marijuana," he said.
Voters in Washington, Colorado and Oregon are voting this fall on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
New Approach Washington, the group behind Initiative 502, says the advertisement will begin airing throughout Western Washington on Wednesday, including on KOMO-TV.
The advertisement features a woman who says she doesn't like marijuana, but it's a multi-million-dollar industry that doesn't benefit the state. She says that if marijuana is taxed and regulated, the state would control the money - "not the gangs" - and it could go toward schools and health care, while freeing up police to go after violent crime.
The campaign has plenty of supporters, but also has its critics.
"I don't know how it makes good sense to legalize something that serves no other purpose than to cause impairment," said Ed Holmes of the Washington Association of Sheriff's and Police Chiefs.
Holmes, who is also Mercer Island's chief of police, said simply taxing and regulating marijuana will not make the job any easier for law enforcement officers.
"People (using marijuana) say things they wouldn't say, they do things they wouldn't do, they commit crimes they otherwise wouldn't commit and that's the concern we have with smoking marijuana," he said.
Voters in Washington, Colorado and Oregon are voting this fall on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
"I don't know how it makes good sense to legalize something that serves no other purpose than to cause impairment"-Ed Holmes.
Â
My question is why people don't believe we could all use a little "impairment" at times. I think scheduled breaks from reality can be a good thing. In these stressed out times, we all need to take time out to relax a little.
That's why prohibition never worked.
Pot addiction is very serious....Making pot legal will cause too many problems.
I do not think there is a way to synthesize "THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)" No matter how advanced we are it seems that nature has better ways at doing Chemistry then we Humans.
What is medical marijuana?
It is the same marijuana/cannabis as that which is smoked recreationally but is used to alleviate pain or improve the quality of life in certain patients.
Which diseases does it help with the most and how?
⢠Cancer: It is an anti-emetic, which helps especially for chemotherapy patients suffering from nausea.
⢠AIDS: Also as an anti-emetic.
⢠Stimulates hunger
⢠Neurogenic pain
⢠Multiple sclerosis because it has muscle relaxant properties.
How does it help?
Marijuana contains the compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Some research has showed that it can help as a pain reliever. Itâs a mild analgesic and affects parts of the brain that are controlled by anandamide, a neurotransmitter that is believed to play a role in pain sensation, memory, and sleep.
Whatâs the benefit of using medical marijuana over regular drugs?
It takes less toll on the liver, kidneys and other organs.
People might do or say things on marijuana that they wouldn't say or do otherwise - silly things. Not bad things. Not crimes. The only crime that stoned people commit is the fact that they used marijuana. Nobody commits a crime solely because they're high on pot.
"I don't know how it makes good sense to legalize something that serves no other purpose than to cause impairment,"---- Ed Holmes, you are an uninformed public servant. The plant is more useful than you know. Hemp is not just for getting high. For centuries, it has been used for many textiles like rope, paper, and fabric. It outlasts cotton by a long shot, and is much softer. Also, it grows faster, and requires less acreage to grow more, than cotton. Our Constitution was written on a hemp paper. Most servicemen in WW2 used many items made from hemp, like parachutes, and rope. Do some research yourself before you blast the plant for having no other use.
 @XLRG Yup, the fabric is stronger then Cotton and it is very soft to the touch. Not sure though on its insulation properties. I imagine it being dense would make for insulation as well. and doesn't it have a Pest repellant side as well?
@XLRG The same could also be said for cigarettes, but amazing how Mr. Holmes forgets that. Just another ignorant follow-the-law-without-question public servant.
 @BigNeil  @XLRG Hehe, Our parks here in Washington just went Tobacco free Lake Sacajawea, has new signs up. and the state this is a Tobaco Free Zone. Which I having asthma can thank the state to help be to breath easier.
 @BigNeil  @XLRG Oh my Asthma was determined by a docter it was from being exposed to second hand cigarette smoke when I was a kid.Thanks a lot Cancer stick companies. I am a non smoker and I suffer from Asthma because of others who had smoked. Wow, what a freaking Choice I had.
I see big pharma has a loyal following of under-educated agent provocateurs spreading fear by demonizing marijuana now that all the propaganda and old wives tales of its negative effects are being proved for a fallacies they are. (Not just on KATU but other sites I've been to.) I'd be more worried about prescription drug addicts. Guess some people have no idea how to prioritize.
NW liberals will not be happy until workers get killed, drivers go around stoned, people  walking down the street stoned step out in front of a Max train, the list could go on.  Put a stop to trying to legalize a dangerous substance. But I do hope these people spend a ton of money on TV ads. spread the wealth.
@onceagain NW liberals wil not be happy until workers get killed,drivers go around drunk,walking down the street drunk step out in front of a Max train,the list could go on. We should concentrate on a effort to illegalize alcohol.
 @onceagain You act as if there isn't thousands of Washingtonians that smoke marijuana. Most of those users drive, and for the most part, they all drive stoned! Smoking a little pot will not cause someone to be unaware of a train flying at them, it will not cause workers to go out and die. If it had, it would be widely reported.
 @onceagain I'm not a liberal and I'm all for it. Alcohol is far more dangerous and legal. Lets stop wasting tax payer dollars on going after pot, and start looking for real problem drugs like meth.
Legalize it. Let's see what the feds do and how the state handles it. Nice test case.
This comment has been deleted
@2nd Baseman sort of, except not so much. I suggest it as ignornant for anyone to think the legalization of MJ would suddenly make the world smoky. If anything, it would take the drug from the crooks. The ad is right on when it suggests that state could control quality, and of course, tax the dickens out of it. Alcohol, sugar substitues, tobacco, herbicides, pesticides,preservatives.....come on. lets dont be afraid of personal accountability. If a worker tests positive for drugs and it is against policy, they should be fired. Legal drugs or not.
 @rnm  @2nd If I had a company it would have a no drug policy. I would want my employees at their best and many drugs can alter mental status which means they are not on their game. Drugs that don't alter mental status would be fine of course.
 @2nd Baseman I worked in emergency services and the standard policy is no drugs in your system. Not legal, illegal, over the counter, no drugs. If the pee is dirty it is immediate termination.
Â
Most construction and industrial companies have similar policies. Any injuries and if they test positive they are terminated and workmans comp is denied.
Â
Since THC can show up in a test up to 30 days later it will not go over good for most folks in the situations I described.
 @RalphCramdenÂ
That's a good point. Your conditions from employment are not the minimum requirements for meeting the law (although they might). You may very well have to exceed them.Â
Â
Public safety and emergency services are good examples. Many of those folks have to disclose any medications they take and the known and suspect side effects and are sometimes screened to determines if they are "fit" to work.
Â
And not just public safety. I worked in a warehouse and a forklift driver backed into a pole. He was screened (as standard practice in most places) and it was found to have opium in his system (from a bag of muffins he ate THE WHOLE BAG) and he was suspended. He was on "probation" for another year and tested weekly. I don't recall him ever eating any muffin in the morning again.
Â
So your employer can choose to test you if you have consented as a term of your employment. Legal or not. They do it every day fro truck drivers.
 @Repoman I know of several paramedics that have been fired for testing positive for legally prescribed narcotics while on duty.
Â
For EMT's, I could be mistaken here so if someone wants to correct me go right ahead, they have to be alcohol free for 8 hours and have a BA of zero if tested while on the job.
Â
Cops vary by agency but all the ones I know have zero tolerance even for OTC meds other than ASA, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other NSAIDS.
Â
Since most firefighters are also EMT's they fall under the same criteria as paramedics.
Â
As you state, most companies have a drug testing policy for all accidents especially in industrial, construction or transportation.
Â
My guess is only those who don't work or the company they work for doesn't have a drug policy will be using cannabis.
This comment has been deleted
 @2nd Baseman So do narcotics, benzodiazepines, NyQuil, diphenhydramine, and other prescribed and OTC meds.
Â
Agreed it was a pretty stupid comment.
"commit crimes they wouldn't otherwise commit" I normally keep my mouth shut on this one but this guy is a joke.
I do believe it would bring a tremendous amount of income for the federal government, but I hate the idea of walking down the street with my little cousins and all of us getting a contact high. Unlike cigarette smoke, I tend to get a bad reaction to marijuana and I know I'm not the only one who would hate walking through the green cloud to work every morning.
 @TelecasterMaster The legalization effort isn't about allowing public marijuana use, but about allowing responsible adults to use it safely in their own homes without fear of repercussion.
Like the name. Its dbl fat strats for me.
""I don't know how it makes good sense to legalize something that serves no other purpose than to cause impairment," said Ed Holmes" ~ Like Booze???
Â
Whether someone has one beer to take the edge off or a pint of tequila to get floored... its all impairment of one kind or another.
If a lil ol' pint floors ya, ya need some practice.
 @donnio Well, I didn't want to say 5th... :D
ya sure go ahead that's all we need along with the drunks on the road a bunch of stoners too!! MAYBE THEY WILL KILL EACH OTHER !!!