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Letter: Protect original intent for revenue

The Columbian
Published: April 29, 2015, 5:00pm

Important drug abuse prevention money approved by voters is currently endangered, and it is important to contact our state legislators.

In 2012, the voters of Washington state passed Initiative 502 to legalize marijuana, with a clear goal to decrease criminal costs and to improve public health. Based on the state’s successful treatment of alcohol after prohibition, I-502 included several key provisions for public health, which are now threatened.

I-502 earmarked taxes on marijuana for public health issues such as research, addiction treatment and prevention programs aimed to educate children against marijuana use. Shortsighted Senate bills 6062 and 5077 would divert this funding, as would House Bills 2136 and 1106, all of which should be stopped.

Like alcohol, marijuana is a controlled substance with serious health risks that deserve respect and mitigation. These public health measures were explicitly approved by voters and should not be taken for legislative convenience. Doing so hurts youth in our state and creates much greater problems later.

I urge everyone to tell their legislators not to take away these important public health funds. SB 6062, SB 5077, HB 2136 and HB 1106 should all be voted down.

Rory Bowman

Vancouver

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