On Monday, January 11, 2010, a group of activists called "Sensible Washington" filed an initiative to legalize marijuana in the State of Washington.
The group has until July 2 to turn in 241,153 valid signatures in order to qualify for the ballot. The group's web site is a bit sparse at the moment, and spokesman Philip Dawdy says they will make the initiative text available in a few weeks, "as soon as it is approved by the Secretary of State and state Attorney General."
Unable to wait to see this proposed legislation, we obtained a copy of the initiative text and the five sponsor affidavits filed with the Secretary of State on Monday. We are making the initiative text available online in searchable PDF format, and below that, in plain text. According to the Secretary of State, "this is a preliminary draft of the initiative as originally submitted by the sponsor."
Text of Initiative 1068 as filed February 3, 2010, PDF
Draft legalization initiative text, PDF
Draft legalization initiative text, plain text
AN INITIATIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
1. Whereas the State of Washington wastes tens of millions of dollars a year in taxpayer funds senselessly prosecuting responsible citizens of Washington State for use, possession and cultivation of marijuana, a benign therapeutic substance, and whereas citizens of the state face arrest, prosecution and loss of rights including property, employment and education for use of marijuana; and,
2. Whereas the State of Washington's medical marijuana law, enacted by the People in 1998, has proven ineffective at protecting the rights of citizens of Washington State; and,
3. Whereas Washington State farmers and landowners are prohibited from growing industrial hemp on their land, denying them the ability to grow a valuable, environmentally friendly crop; and,
4. Whereas the State Legislature has proven ineffective at offering appropriate legal remedies to the citizens of the State of Washington:
The People of the State of Washington hereby repeal any and all criminal penalties for the adult use, possession, possession with intent to deliver, delivery and manufacture/cultivation of marijuana.
The intended effect is to remove all criminal penalties relating to the above~enumerated crimes and their penalties.
Specifically. the People of the State of Washington call for the following changes to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW):
Repeal and delete RCW 69.50.4014.
Amend RCW 69.50.401 (2)(c) to specifically exclude marijuana.
Amend RCW 69.50.4013 to specifically exclude marijuana.
Amend RCW 9.94A.5l7 to specifically exclude marijuana from the drug offense sentencing grid (Table 3).
Amend RCW 9.94A.5l8 to specifically exclude marijuana from the drug offenses seriousness level (Table 4).
Submitted January 11, 2010.
