2010 Washington Initiative 1068

Proposed ballot measure in Washington April 2012 Initiative 1068 (I-1068 or the Marijuana Reform Act) was a proposed initiative for the November 2010 Washington state general election that would have removed criminal penalties from the adult use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana in Washington. Sponsored by Vivian McPeak, Douglass Hiatt, Jeffrey Steinborn, Philip Dawdy, initiative I-1068 sought to legalize marijuana by removing marijuana offenses from the state's controlled substances act, but failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. The main proponent of I-1068 was the group Sensible Washington.Sensible Washington I-1068 http://sensiblewashington.org/ April 8, 2010 Sensible Washington The measure's co-authors included Seattle attorneys Doug Hiatt and Jeffrey Steinborn, Seattle Hempfest founder Vivian McPeak, medical marijuana patient and Cannabis Defense Coalition spokesman Ric Smith, and former Seattle Weekly contributor Philip Dawdy.http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2010/02/17/pot-legalization-backers-get-green-light-to-roll-out-initiative-petitions/ Pot legalization backers get green light to roll out initiative petitions Lewis Kamb February 17, 2010 April 12, 2010 The News Tribune The McClatchy Company https://web.archive.org/web/20100222225519/http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2010/02/17/pot-legalization-backers-get-green-light-to-roll-out-initiative-petitions/ February 22, 2010 dead Status of initiative Sensible Washington needed to present 241,153 Washington voter signatures to the Secretary of State by July 2, 2010 to get the measure on the ballot in November. As of May 20, the group had collected approximately 100,000 signatures.http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/a-statement-from-douglas-hiatt-i-1068-campaign-chairman A Statement From Douglas Hiatt, I-1068 Campaign Chairman Sensiblewashington.org May 21, 2010 August 21, 2010 August 10, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100810065945/http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/a-statement-from-douglas-hiatt-i-1068-campaign-chairman/ dead On July 1, Sensible Washington announced that enough signatures had not been collected for ballot inclusion.http://komonews.com/news/local/organizers-wash-legal-pot-measure-wont-make-ballot-11-21-2015 Organizers: Wash. legal pot measure won't make ballot KOMO News July 2, 2010 July 21, 2016 History In the United States, federal laws related to relaxing penalties related to marijuana have been discussed but not passed. Notable among these is the proposed Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act of 2008, versions of which have been discussed since 2001.April 2010 In 1998, Washington voters passed Initiative 692, removing criminal penalties for medical patients with an approved condition.http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/kir/news/85524622.html Marijuana petitioners clash with ACLU-Washington over legalization effort February 26, 2010 April 12, 2010 Andy Hobbs Kirkland Reporter https://web.archive.org/web/20100322212237/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/kir/news/85524622.html March 22, 2010 deadhttp://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.51A&full=true Chapter 69.51A RCW: Medical marijuana Washington State Legislature April 8, 2010 Ten years later, a "60-day" supply for patients was defined as 24 ounces and 15 plants. In early 2010, two bills relating to marijuana were defeated in committee by the Legislature (one proposed selling marijuana through liquor stores, the other sought decriminalize marijuana).http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/17/1174940/sign-initiative-1068-to-put-marijuana.html Sign Initiative 1068 to put marijuana legalization on fall ballot March 17, 2010 April 12, 2010 Justin Kover The Olympian The McClatchy Company Frustrated with the Legislature, Seattle activists filed I-1068 in January.Wash. activists file initiative to legalize pot Gene Johnson The Seattle Times January 11, 2010 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010767772_apwamarijuanainitiative.html The Seattle Times Company April 9, 2010 On February 10, the Attorney General's office issued a ballot title and summary for the initiative. One week later, the campaign announced they had "cleared the statutory hurdles" and would start collecting signatures for the initiative. Text of initiative The full text of the initiative is available online. I-1068 text Ballot Title Statement of Subject: Initiative Measure No. 1068 concerns marijuana. Concise Description: This measure would remove state civil and criminal penalties for persons eighteen years or older who cultivate, possess, transport, sell, or use marijuana. Restrictions and penalties for persons under eighteen would be retained.Read I-1068 http://sensiblewashington.org/read-i-1068/ April 8, 2010 Sensible Washington dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100312094332/http://sensiblewashington.org/read-i-1068/ March 12, 2010 Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No  [ ] Ballot Measure Summary This measure would remove state civil and criminal penalties for persons eighteen years or older who cultivate, possess, transport, sell, or use marijuana. Marijuana would no longer be defined as a "controlled substance." Civil and criminal penalties relating to drug paraphernalia and provisions authorizing seizure or forfeiture of property would not apply to marijuana related offenses committed by persons eighteen years or older. The measure would retain current restrictions and penalties applicable to persons under eighteen. Petition distribution and circulation Qualifying I-1068 for the November ballot is a grassroots, all-volunteer effort. In addition to traditional methods of distribution and circulation Sensible Washington has used some nontraditional methods to make petitions available to supporters. The web site has PDF copies of the petition for download and instructions for printing valid petitions from the PDFs.http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/print-petitions/ Print Petitions Sensiblewashington.org August 21, 2010 August 7, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100807162403/http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/print-petitions/ dead 80,000 copies of the initiative were distributed in the June 23, 2010 issue of The Stranger.http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/sign-and-return-your-petition/ Sign And Return Your Petition Sensiblewashington.org August 21, 2010 August 4, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100804045839/http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/sign-and-return-your-petition/ dead These were accompanied by a full-page advertisement explaining how to sign and collect valid signatures, return the petition and emphasizing the deadline for returning the petitions. https://web.archive.org/web/20100626062506/http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/80000-copies-of-i-1068-will-be-in-the-stranger-on-june-23/ June 26, 2010 Obstacles to qualifying I-1068 for the ballot Alleged fraud Fraudulently misrepresenting other initiatives as I-1068, the Marijuana Reform Act Initiative, has been documented.http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/paid-petitioners-dupe-citizens-into-signing-i-1107-claiming-its-the-marijuana-reform-act/comment-page-1/#comment-2028 Paid Petitioners Dupe Citizens Into Signing I-1107 Claiming It's The Marijuana Reform Act Sensiblewashington.org June 25, 2010 August 21, 2010 December 5, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241205130930/http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/paid-petitioners-dupe-citizens-into-signing-i-1107-claiming-its-the-marijuana-reform-act/comment-page-1/#comment-2028 dead Philip Dawdy, a campaign manager for I-1068, has stated his intention to file a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General's Office. Concerns have been expressed by I-1068 supporters that the initiative has not been signed by people who mistakenly believe they have already signed the Marijuana Reform initiative.http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/paid-petitioners-dupe-citizens-into-signing-i-1107-claiming-its-the-marijuana-reform-act/#comments Paid Petitioners Dupe Citizens Into Signing I-1107 Claiming It's The Marijuana Reform Act Sensiblewashington.org June 25, 2010 August 21, 2010 August 22, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100822165856/http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/paid-petitioners-dupe-citizens-into-signing-i-1107-claiming-its-the-marijuana-reform-act/#comments dead Lack of use of signature gathering firm Despite high polling numbers it is extremely rare that an initiative make it to the ballot without the use of a paid signature gathering firm. "They're pretty close to essential," says Philip Dawdy of the legalize-marijuana Initiative 1068. With less than $8,000 in contributions the campaign was unable to afford the prices charged.Clipboards for Hire – The Pacific Northwest Inlander Stance on initiative Polling results The Washington Poll, a nonpartisan academic research poll organized by the University of Washington, surveyed a random sample of 1252 registered Washington voters between May 3 and 23. Of those, 52% supported and 35% opposed "the removing of state civil and criminal penalties for possession or use of marijuana."Issues and Opinions May 2010 http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/MAY2010.pdf Barreto Matt Christopher Parker 2010 Washington Poll June 2, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160410204840/http://www.washingtonpoll.org/results/MAY2010.pdf April 10, 2016 dead Support I-1068 has been endorsed by the following entities: Norm Stamper, Seattle Chief of Police (Ret.)http://sensiblewashington.org/endorsements Endorsements Sensible Washington June 3, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100630181101/http://sensiblewashington.org/endorsements/ June 30, 2010 Jim Kenny, Democratic Party candidate, Snohomish County Prosecutor, and Assistant Seattle City Prosecuting Attorneyhttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012003673_apwaprosecutorcandidatemarijuana.html Local News | Snohomish Co. prosecutor candidate endorses I-1068 | Seattle Times Newspaper Seattletimes.nwsource.com June 1, 2010 August 21, 2010 Toby Nixon, former Washington State Rep. (R-Kirkland) Dr. Lester Grinspoon, MD, faculty emeritus, Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, and author of "Marihuana Reconsidered" Washington State Democratic Partyhttp://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/washington-state-democrats-endorse-i-1068/ Washington State Democrats Endorse I-1068 Sensiblewashington.org June 26, 2010 August 21, 2010 August 10, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100810070249/http://sensiblewashington.org/uncategorized/washington-state-democrats-endorse-i-1068/ dead August 2010 NORML – National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NORML – Washington State Chapter King County Democratic Central Committee Libertarian Party of Washington Whatcom County Democrats 23rd Legislative District Democrats 30th Legislative District Democrats 37th Legislative District Democrats 39th Legislative District Democrats 41st Legislative District Democrats Tacoma Hemp Company Pierce County WA NORML Chapter Grammas for Ganja Opposition January 2011 See also Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 (California initiative) Washington Initiative 692 (1998) 2012 Washington Initiative 502 External references Sensible Washington Approve Initiative 1068 Campaign Seattle Weekly Q&A Interview with Doug Hiatt, co-author of I-1068, about I-1068 References Category:Cannabis ballot measures in the United States Category:2010 in Washington (state) Category:Initiatives in the United States Initiative 1068