For those that have interest, THIS is one of the reasons I no longer have the hours to devote to being a Mod here at GP. There are battles to be fought!

Essentially (in the short form) here is what happened in WA.

Last year: The Legislature directed the Stete Dept. of Health to define what a "60 days supply" is for a patient.

(this was not defined under our current law...the current law says "patients may have a 60 day supply", but until there was a definition of that amount LEO continued arresting sick folks!)

Well, that report by the DoH was due out yesterday, and as we suspected, the true villain in this whole scenario is Governor Christine Gregoire.

This is taken from a note from Steve Sarich, the Exe. Director of CannaCare, the largest voice for MMJ users in WA State.:

(speaking of the Governor) "The current problems we have with law enforcement stem from her days as the state attorney general. She gathered law enforcement together in Olympia after I-692 passed and told them they could enforce whatever they wanted to in their counties...and that's what they've been doing ever since. The whole time she's been claiming that she "supports medical marijuana"...and I have some nice swamp land for you if you believe that one.

I've just heard that she's on Obama's short list for US Attorney General! And you think Obama will help patients if she's the AG? We really have to spend our energies getting her defeated in 2008! This has to be a priority. We can't let her get away with screwing us!

You need to call the governor's office today and voice your concerns!
Gregoire's Office 360-902-4111

Basically, the Governor took what the DoH had developed under the Rule Making directive from the Legislature (a legal process for making new laws), tossed it out because SHE didn't like the numbers, and then cut a deal in the backroom with her LEO friends so she can get their voting support when she runs for re-election this year.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!! We are going to fight her at every turn, including filing multiple lawsuits asap. Believe me, we "got the goods" and the paper trail of the entire matter, clearly showing where the Gov. has interfered in the legal Rule Making process

Here is a article from today's Seattle Times paper. Carol Ostrom is a MMJ supporter, and a strong ally. Feel free to send her an E-mail of "Thanks" for posting her article.


24-ounce limit proposed for medical marijuana

Patients authorized to possess or grow marijuana for medical reasons under Washington law would be limited to 24 ounces of harvested marijuana...

By Carol M. Ostrom
Seattle Times health reporter

Patients authorized to possess or grow marijuana for medical reasons under Washington law would be limited to 24 ounces of harvested marijuana, plus six mature plants and 18 immature plants, according to an official draft rule filed by the state Department of Health today.

The filing of the draft rule starts a rule-making process and a public-comment period. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 25 in Tumwater, Thurston County.

The draft reduces amounts earlier considered by the health department and revealed in a "talking points" memo used to brief Gov. Christine Gregoire in February. Health-department officials said in the February memo that they planned to recommend 35 ounces of harvested marijuana plus 100 square feet of plant-growing area.

Gregoire's staff told health-department officials the amount appeared to be on the high side, and that law enforcement and medical providers should be consulted. The health department convened an advisory panel that included law-enforcement officials, advocates and a single doctor — a public-health HIV/AIDS expert who does not care for patients directly.

Law-enforcement officials have said their main concern is being able to distinguish legitimate patients from those who are hiding behind the law to grow and sell large amounts of marijuana. They said they consider 3 ounces a reasonable amount for the 60-day supply specified in Washington's law, passed by voters in 1998.

That law allows patients with certain chronic, fatal or debilitating diseases to possess a 60-day supply with a doctor's authorization.

Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com

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ISO

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ISO,

myself not being a MMJ patient, just a recreational user, i can not really voice my opinion on the proper amount for medical patients. i did a quick calculation and at the rate of 24 ounces of dried and harvested bud per 60 days thats about 11 grams a day. I know there are people out there with serious illnesses that need their ganja just to make it through the day. I was interested in what you think is the proper amount for a 60 day period for a MMJ patient. good luck with your fight!

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.: Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow :.GP 4 Life

Ice: The Dept. of Health did a RIGHTEOUS study, consulting doctors and patients all around the state, and other states as well. What they (DoH) came up with was 35 ounces of usable bud, plus 100 sq. ft. of plant canopy (not 100 sq. ft. of growing space, but actual plant tops measured).

That was sufficient for most all patients. Problem is the Gov. stepped in and stopped that, deciding on her own that it was too much (based on what I'll never know...she sure as hell ain't no doctor!). She stopped the LEGAL process of the Rule Making procedure (she can't interrupt that legally) and cut a deal with LEO and her friends at the State Justice Dept. (she is NOT going to get away with this)

What they have suggested here is for all purposes the same as the law in Oregon. A TOTAL DEPARTURE from what the DoH suggested!!

What is allowed under this [proposed] rule is:

They will allow 6 "mature" plants and 12 "immature" plants.

Under their definition, a "mature" plant is one that is over 12" tall, or has even one bud developing.

There is no way any average med. user (sick person) is going to get 24 OZ from 6 plants, and be able to maintain that amount. Can't be done.

Takes 60 days (roughly) to flower, so 6 in flower means you can't have any of your other plants vegging be over 12" tall, or start to show flower in veg.!

Total BS. Med patients will be arrested right and left if this thing passes.

So, my take is 35 usable ounces of bud, plus as many plants as required to maintain that level.

You can read the BS they are suggesting HERE. If we don't stop this, it will pass into law, and we'll be screwed...again!

I have 2 friends here that are MMJ patients, and both are dying, with MMJ bringing the only relief they get. We can't stop them from dying, but we can sure make their life here more bearable. (law or not we'll make them comfortable)

It is a sad day here.

ISO

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ISO,

Wow i really did not grasp what they were trying to do over there. You are def right about the ridiculousness of how many plants you can have going. How can someone even think that you will come close to 24 ounces off 6 plants! That law will also, like you said, totally F*CK up peoples grow cycles so they will not even be able to attain that amount every 60 days.

What do you think is going to happen?

This is the kinda stuff that should open everyones eyes, Pro-MJ or not. If someone is terminally ill and gets relief from MMJ they should be able to get as much of their meds as they need....period. Especially if they are being legally perscribed...i dont understand what they are trying to accomplish. Like you said if that law gets passed the LEO will be locking up sick people left and right.

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.: Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow :.GP 4 Life

Ice,

24 Oz. from 6 plants can be done fairly simply given enough time and light. Veg for 60-90 days then flower under mega-watts of HPS. Problem is, you'll be way over the 24 oz. limit when you harvest, and like you mentioned, a rotation would be virtually impossible therefore non-existent.

Like we can control a plants hormones and make it stop flowering when it reaches its alloted 4 oz.?

ISO

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ISO,

90 days veg + 8/9 weeks flower and your looking at a 5 month cycle!

Lets say that is the way the Gov. wants MMJ patients to handle their gardening. After all that time (and im sure a buncha lumens) you're right, you will probably be looking at much more than 4 oz per plant so the LEO will be coming for you anyway.

They are not trying to give any slack on this issue at all are they? I see it as just trying to make MMJ patients suffer more and even throw them in a cell if they got the chance....very sad indeed...

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.: Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow :.GP 4 Life

I'm from the state that Chrusty Gregoire governs and just want to add that us outdoor growers have to amass until the next harvest. Another year. No way to get a years worth outta 6 plants either.

Keep a tight head