Nancy Reagan's "War Against Drugs" is still wheezing on in Washington State. One of the latest, and bordering on damn nasty, conflicts occurred in a city council meeting in Federal Way on 21 April.
Statewide, courtesy of I-502, Washington is pro-marijuana, medicinal and recreational. Numerous municipalities beg to disagree, whining about "gateway" drugs, "stepping stone drugs," corrupting kids, the stupid fact that marijuana (and, even more stupidly, hemp), are Class 1 drugs federally, makes regulating pot iffy, as well as crippling the cannabis industry economically because of banking industry fears.
Last week’s council meeting turned out to be one of the most contentious meetings in the last decade as city leaders’ passionate political views and questionable behavior overwhelmed the usually staid and dignified council chambers.
The topic was council bill No. 672, which would ban recreational marijuana-related businesses. Since the legislation was supported on a 5-2 vote at first reading, it was expected to pass with the same margin.
More below.
Many marijuana partisans were present at the meeting to protest the Council stance.
... Some anticipated the council vote for the ban would be followed by the city’s and Mayor Jim Ferrell’s first veto. Since five votes are needed to override the mayor’s veto, some also expected the following council meeting would yield the first veto override in city history. Pot supporters believed the council majority was using the regulatory system as a way to overturn the voters will.
But, with the embarrassing prospect of the council overriding his veto, Ferrell proposed substitute bill No. 678, which would continue the current moratorium on marijuana-related businesses but also call for a public vote...
Now the real reason for the council wrestling meet. There is a very important vote in November for a very important state representative seat now held by a Democrat, Carol Gregory, temporary appointment by Democratic Governor Jay Islee. Republicans desperately want to topple her and gain a Republican majority in both Washington State legislative bodies (they presently hold the Senate because of
Democratic turncoats to Republican, BAD!).
Frankly, Washington State needs a new party, the Turncoat Party. Jim Ferrell is a former Republican turned Democrat, GOOD! Ferrell wants to boost Democratic turnout in November for Gregory with a marijuana vote. Republican council member Kelley Maloney offered an amendment to hold the marijuana vote in the August primary in order to damage Gregory with a lagging Democratic vote in November to help Republican candidate Teri Hickel. Two other Republican council members (Bob Celski and notable Turncoat Martin Moore -- Democrat to Republican, BAD!) sided with Maloney.
It looks like a spirited race for control of the Washington State House is on for this November. Grover Norquist's people have already raised their anti-tax standard against Gregory:
The recent ad in the Mirror, “Thank you Rep. Carol Gregory” funded by Washington United for Fair Revenue is a classic, albeit simplistic, example of the politics of obfuscation and division. Allow me to provide a translation of key terms in the ad.
Fair revenue: “Revenue” is a fancy word that means taxes. The word taxes does not play well with voters, so the less-objectionable word revenue is substituted for the well-understood word taxes.
“Fair” is an obfuscation for as much taxes as we can soak the taxpayer, be it individuals or corporations. Fair share is never quantified because whatever it is today is never enough tomorrow.
Last word: Democrats need to get off their asses and start voting in off-year and local elections. ALEC loves fatass Democrats who don't vote!