Jay Inslee on Drugs Democratic WA Governor; Former Rep/ (WA-1); withdrew from Presidential primary Aug. 2019

Rated A by NORML: expunge low-level marijuana convictions

NORML Politician Info: rated A
• Candidate: Jay Inslee (D - WA): Holds office: Governor
• Summary: LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE
• Legislation:
• Governor Inslee signed several marijuana-related bills in 2019. Specifically, Senate Bill 5605 facilitates the expungement of low-level marijuana convictions, House Bill 1094 streamlines the medical marijuana approval process, and House Bill 1095 permits qualified patients access to certain cannabis products while on school grounds.
• Gov. Inslee announced his intent to provide an expedited process for granting clemency to those with past marijuana-related convictions. (1/4/19)
• Comments:
• During his campaign for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination, Gov. Inslee said "It's time to legalize marijuana nationally."

Bar employment discrimination for off-job cannabis use

The Center Square analysis (May 25, 2023):The bill will ban most employers from discriminating against a job applicant for their cannabis use "off the job and away from the workplace." The bill will also ban most employers from declining to hire a worker if a drug test shows the presence of "nonpsychoactive cannabis metabolites." The bill only applies to pre-employment testing and does not preempt state or federal laws requiring drug testing. Employers can require drug testing, including for cannabis. This bill does not apply to jobs with a federal background check or security clearance, in airlines or aerospace, in state law enforcement, or in fire departments or emergency medical services,

Legislative outcome: Passed House 56-41-1 on Apr/18/23; passed Senate 30-18-1 on Apr/19/23; signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on May/9/23.

I pardoned thousands of people with drug crimes

INSLEE: Let me suggest that people come out to the state of Washington and see what criminal justice reform looks like, our effort to reduce racial disparity. I was the first governor to offer pardons to thousands of people with drug crimes. Now we're vacating more, tens of thousands. We've eliminated the death penalty. And when people come out of the legal system, we need to make sure they can get a job. We have banned the box so that people can actually get a job when they come out. And I've got to argue with Secretary Castro. We haven't just put forward a plan. We have adopted one of the best police accountability measures and trained police officers in de-escalation techniques.

Opposed marijuana legalization; now sees it as success

It's time for the United States to decriminalize and legalize marijuana. The drug war has been one of the elements of such racial disparities in our judicial system. That's one of the reasons I was the first governor to offer pardons to over 3,000 people with marijuana convictions because the drug war has resulted in too much racial disparity.

Prepared to defend state marijuana legalization against DOJ

"We will use every single power at our disposal to preserve and protect the mission statement Washington State voters gave us,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, at a news conference at the state capitol, noting that voters approved the initiative legalizing marijuana in Washington state.

While Ferguson said he didn't know whether Washington would take any legal steps against Sessions' action, his office has spent years preparing. "Take my word for it, but my legal team has been very focused on this issue from the day marijuana was legalized in Washington state five years ago," Ferguson said, adding later: "Our legal arguments have been crafted; we are prepared."

Pilot program for growing industrial hemp

Rated +20 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2006 NORML scores as follows:

• -30 to -10: `hard-on-drugs` stance (approx. 228 members)
• -9 to +9: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 37 members)
• +10 to +30: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 109 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law`s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called `decriminalization.`

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as `legalization.`

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.

Rated 75% by NORML, indicating a pro-legalization stance.

Scoring system for 2014: Ranges from 0% (opposes all forms of marijuana decriminalization) to 75% (supports marijuana decriminalization and legalization).

About NORML (from their website, www.norml.org):

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law`s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty. This model is called `decriminalization.`

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as `legalization.`

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.

Rated B- by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:

• C-/D/F: `hard-on-drugs` stance (approx. 243 members)
• C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
• A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law`s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called `decriminalization.`

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as `legalization.`

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.

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