By Steve Elliott of Toke of the Town
Two volunteers from marijuana legalization group Sensible Washington have been driving an RV dubbed “the CannaBus” across the state this week to gather signatures and rally support for I-1149, a ballot initiative that would remove all criminal penalties for adult cannabis offenses.
From Thursday, May 19 through Sunday morning, May 22, volunteers Mimi Meiwes and Tricia Rogers, along with the CannaBus, will be in Spokane, where new raids this week by Spokane Police and federal agents have left even more medical cannabis patients without safe access to the medicine their doctors have authorized.
Protests started Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at the offices of raided dispensary Medical Herb Providers at 306 North Freya Street in Spokane, with the protest continuing later at the downtown federal offices of U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby at 920 West Riverside Avenue.
“The continuing raids in Spokane highlight the need for I-1149, which is written in language that makes it impossible for the federal government to overturn the voters’ will in this state merely by applying pressure on Olympia,” Sensible Washington said in a statement on Thursday.
“It leaves our lawmakers with only one option — to regulate the sale of cannabis to responsible adult users, enact sensible regulations to allow for environmentally safe cannabis and hemp farming, and establish age restrictions so that it’s no longer widely available to persons under 18,” the group said.
On Friday evening, May 20, the CannaBus will be at Spokane Arena before the Shock vs. Tampa Bay Storm game from 5 to 7 p.m. to collect signatures and motivate volunteers.
Sensible Washington this week launched an interactive map of signature gathering sites designed to streamline its statewide volunteer effort.
Article From Toke of the Town and republished with special permission.
