City attorney Pete Holmes issued a sweeping policy proposal on Monday that affects both the recreational and medical marijuana industry. Of course, this is just a proposal and not set in stone, but there are some things that doesn’t too much sense too us and may need revising.
1) Marijuana Use Lounges
So proper sounding compared to ‘coffee shops,’ the casual phrase Amsterdam uses, ‘marijuana use lounges’ will allow adults to enter the premises and consume cannabis. But here’s the catch: you may only consume pot-infused edibles or use a vaporizer. No smoking a joint, using a pipe, or using a bong because of the “Smoking in Public Places” law (RCW 70.160) which went into effect in 2005. Only eating and vaping.
So if vaping is okay, and isn’t affected by the ‘Smoking in Public Places’ law, do we even need a policy to allow us to open or use a marijuana use lounge? Maybe we could even just visit the nearest bar or coffeeshop and smoke our vapes there, as long as the owner is okay with it. A lot of people do like vaping more these days though, although they don’t give you the high cannabis would they come with some amazing flavours like the ones from www.gourmeteliquid.co.uk. They’re also a lot less damaging to your health compared to cigarettes, so I don’t really see why most places won’t let people vape but I suppose that’s up to them.
But let’s go back to the part of the policy that doesn’t allow smoking a joint, a pipe, or a bong. By disallowing smoking of marijuana because of the ‘Smoking in Public Places’ law, doesn’t that put marijuana in the same category as tobacco. And we all know tobacco, and tobacco smoke is much more harmful.
In addition, think about who will be visiting a ‘marijuana use lounge.’ Don’t you think it would be difficult to find an individual, who is a user of marijuana, that would get uptight and throw a hissy fit because someone is smoking a joint? It’s a ‘marijuana use lounge!’ People who visit ‘get’ marijuana. Let it be a ‘marijuana use lounge!’ Let them take the products they buy from Piff and enjoy themselves!
Instead of applying ‘marijuana use lounges’ to a vague law that was introduced 9 years ago, why not change the “Smoking in Public Places” law to “No smoking tobacco in Public places except for marijuana in designated areas only?”
1) Medical Marijuana
I think Mayor Ed Murray said it best:
“Shutting down all collective gardens is not the right solution because it leaves our patients out in the cold. Hundreds of patients fighting chronic, debilitating diseases or terminal illnesses need access to safe, medical-grade cannabis. We have the responsibility to ensure the safety of patients and the character of our neighborhoods. People need medical marijuana to help them with any ailments that they might have. Medical marijuana is legal in many places such as Ohio, so if you are interested in getting medical marijuana from Ohio, then you can learn more here.
While integrating the medical marijuana industry into the regulated I-502 is debatable, if it’s going to happen, their needs to be a clearer structure and better framework. Especially because we are not just dealing with people and their luxury of smoking cannabis in the recreational marijuana industry, we are dealing with people who are patients who suffer from ailments and diseases, therefore use devices such as the PAX 3 who are using the plant as medicine. This needs to be respected. If you are planning to regulate medical marijuana under I-502 regulations, you are wrong to go into this without a more detailed and efficient plan for everyone involved. It’s dangerous.
What are your thoughts about Pete Holmes’ policy proposal? What would you like to see revised in the proposal? What would you like to see added?
