502 From The 4Evergreen Group

What every patient NEEDS to know.
For months we have been on the line, waiting to see whether or not I-502 passes. Now that we know the outcome, here are some things that we want everyone to be aware of. There is a lot of misinformation going around about people’s (and more specifically, medical marijuana patient's) rights now that 502 has passed. We want to clear up any misunderstanding and give you the correct verbiage to use when confronted with this law.

The people of Washington have voted to approve the recreational use of marijuana. Which means a person is able to use and posses up to an ounce of marijuana. Legally, a person is only allowed to purchase marijuana from a state licensed store - This does NOT include MMJ co-ops or collective gardens. Collective gardens and co-ops are NOT state operated or licensed; they are patient outlets for medical marijuana purposes. Only patients who posses medical marijuana authorizations are allowed to obtain marijuana from those outlets in the form of donations.

It must also be known that under I-502, there are no home grows allowed for recreational purposes. Authorized medical marijuana patients are the only people who will be allowed to legally grow their own marijuana. It will be illegal if someone is caught growing marijuana without a state licensed manufacturers license OR a valid medical marijuana authorization hanging on the wall.

With that said, state licensed stores will not come into play until sometime next year, making it impossible to legally obtain marijuana without a MMJ authorization. If I-502 is not stopped by federal injunction, decriminalization of possession of less than an ounce and the DUI provision won't come into effect for 30 days. After that it will still be a crime to buy or sell until a new retail system is in place. Being a patient is not just the only legal way to obtain cannabis, but is also a person’s only defense in the case of a >5ng/ml active THC metabolite DUID charge. Imagine being caught driving under the influence of prescription pills. If you have a prescription, you get off with a slap on the wrist. If you illegally took those drugs without a prescription and were caught driving under the influence, you'd be in deep trouble. Also, once the retail system is in place it will be required that a person provides proof that it was purchased from a state regulated store if they are not patients. So for everyone who tries to go to the black market to purchase marijuana, they will be at risk of increased prosecution because they illegally obtained (bought) marijuana.

The law states a person MUST be 21 or older to be able to posses, smoke and buy marijuana. For those under 21, there is a “Zero Tolerance” policy. If an individual under the age of 21 were to be caught driving under the influence of marijuana, they will lose their driving privileges for a number of years. It is in every eligible patients best interest to remain a patient and continue to posses a medical marijuana authorization - it is the only way they can be protected.

We all want to be on the same page when discussing these issues with existing and new patients. The medical marijuana industry is still strong and a better option for people who want to stay protected within the law. Please let us know if there are any additional questions or concerns regarding these issues so we get off to the right start with this new initiative. Call us at 1.800.414.2202., message us on Facebook, or @ Us on Twitter. We have staff available 24/7 answering your questions. Patient rights and safety are always chief priorities for us, we are happy to help put any fears at bay.

Thank You,
4Evergreen Group

Could not have said it better myself.

do the clinics have to pay the 25% b&o too? i thought this was a bad bill bad bill. i voted no. that bill was a wolf in sheep's clothing in my opinion. i honestly don't think most people took the time to read the actual bill before voting. people were just like "hell yeah legal weed!" but at what cost? with it being taxed 25% plus each time it changes hands (3x according to the state). weed is at rock bottom prices because of a green rush right now. i wouldn't be surprised to see these places selling weed at $60 per 1/8 or a huge decrease in quality. finding weed has never been an issue for me in Seattle even before the clinic craze nor have i had any issues with cops regarding weed. i was talking to a Seattle cop last night and it really hasn't changed much for them, but now the sate will be making money from it. and even though your required to carry a label as proof where you got it and purchased it legally whose to say you can't just hold on to the tag and buy black market weed and pretend its still the same stuff to the law. it being illegal didn't stop the black market this surely wont in fact i predict a surge. i read the bill my self and it was pretty crappy.

Once again. Someone who thinks like I do. I could not have said that better myself.

hmmm..... a broke liquor board will get a huge shot of $$$ in the arm with the approval of 502 ....hmmm we have to hire now insted of disbanding the board

they lost almost all income from alcohol.... cause we finally broke up the monopoly the state of washington has had on alcohol since the end of prohibition...now they have a new source of unlimited income

The initiative will allow Washingtonians to possess an ounce of “usable marijuana” beginning on December 6.

However, the LCB has a year to devise a full licensing program, which includes a $250 application fee and a $1,000 annual renewal fee.

It could also been a boon for the department which nearly went bust due to the liquor privatization initiative last year.

“We will have to hire people. There will be staff expansion. How much we don’t know. We don’t know what the market will look like,” says Mikhail Carpenter, of the Liquor Control Board.

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It will be interesting to see what happens

I think the bill is bogus too. Just a way for the state to recoup all their lost revenue from the privatization of the liquor industry. That being said it is going to ruin the lives of many young kids who get caught behind the wheel with a .5 NG test which BTW is totally wrong! I was almost killed in 93 by a drunk driver who was twice the legal limit and am now a medical marijuana patient from the injuries that accident caused. I'd much rather be hit by someone high on marijuana driving 10mph under the speed, then someone twice the legal limit on alcohol! I-502 isn't legalization. It's more like legalized marijuana prostitution.

I dont no about u guys but here in Ireland things are very bad not only is it hard to get weed but if u get it the stuff might b contaminated with fibre glass stuff they spray on it. Im currently waiting on a court date over simple possession of just under a gram of weed . This will b my tenth time in court for possession iv never once used a lawyer Ive always represented myself and everytime i just have to give a donation to a local charity which i dont mind 2 much but to date they have gotten over 2000euro from me and all the weed i got caught with wouldnt value more than 200euro . As soon as im finished college ill be makin the big more to America or Canada.

Well soon they will call it the medical black market and no patiant will be allowed to grow there own. Medical grade buds will be $600+ if they even alow high % THC so this should be interesting.

I voted against 502 but i am having second thoughts now. I grow my own 15 plants and I have more than I need, so I share to fellow patients on CL. I am NO fan of dispenceries at all I see OZ's hitting 5 - $600.00 real soon.

slk said:

I voted against 502 but i am having second thoughts now. I grow my own 15 plants and I have more than I need, so I share to fellow patients on CL. I am NO fan of dispenceries at all I see OZ's hitting 5 - $600.00 real soon.

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I hope so.

Not to sound like a total idiot tool... but why is everyone so convinced that prices will be that much higher, and quality that much lower?

In order to supply as much weed as the state is going to need to keep 100's of state run stores open there are going to have to be many many very large (1000 plant grows) and the only reason someone would grow like this is for MONEY, not the love of plant. The mega growers are not going be able to take the time to love the plants, they will be cash cropping and the over all quality will suffer because of it.


But what the hell do I know I am just a stoner....