I-502 policy - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

It is important not to allow confusion to limit economic opportunity in this new industry. It must be understood that delay or restrictions beyond the stringent LCB rules on 1-502 production could be devastating to the county's ability to compete. As all 502 sales must be channeled through state licensed stores, the 1-502 production of marijuana in the county has absolutely no relevance to the availability of marijuana on the local or state level and shouldn't be a legitimate consideration. The economics of allowing 1-502 retail stores in the county is a separate issue and probably one that does not present the type of dramatic opportunities that production brings. However, as a social issue, the regulated sale of marijuana should be preferred to the alternative of continued black and grey market dominance of sales in this area. Enforcement of marijuana law has been ineffective in the past, but will be a hopeless pursuit in light of the fact that under 1-502, personal marijuana use and possession is legal for any resident of the state. The County Vote and Demographics 1n November of 2012, 1-502 lost in Kittitas County by a narrow margin of 51 to 48 percent. Statewide, the initiative won by a fairly dominant margin of 56 to 44 percent. The idea that anti 502 constituents in the county should dominate treatment of this new law is not realistic. Disrespecting state law is a serious action to take on the county level that should only be considered if an overwhelming percentage of the population voted against or serious harm would be sustained by the enaction of such measure. Neither scenario exists regarding 1-502. Further, it is likely that if the vote was taken today, 1-502 would gain the majority when considering the strong overall trend for the legalization of marijuana and the demographics of its support. Below is the polling data compiled by Gallop, one of the most respected independent polling firms in the country. It might be argued that the rapid and exponential acceleration of positive polling over the past couple years might be an anomaly, but it can't be denied that the decades long trend of acceptance for the legalization of marijuana is steadily rising and solidly in the majority. Especially notable from this graph is the crossing of trend lines in 2010 from an anti to pro marijuana majority. Americans'Views on Legah2ing Mari uanu Un You think the ice of marijuana shuuld be male legal,or nal? R•I Rl %No.not legal 73 '3 W.yes.legal %i 70 n2 �� 28 2 34 ,g 1 34 36 4.439 12 l6 25 2.; 2,1j A t§ 1969 197.1 1977 1981 1985 19R9 1993 1997 tam 2m),i 29)09 201.1 C.AL[i'P So while this data is telling, what is more important in understanding future polling is the demographics involved with the marijuana vote. The data below shows how the polling breaks down by age group: