Amidst the climate of opposition surrounding state marijuana legislation from the Trump administration, and with Attorney General Jeff Sessions leading the debate, lawmakers in Washington state are standing united.
With the potential reversal of former president Barack Obama’s policy of non-intervention towards state cannabis laws, lawmakers in the states where marijuana currently is legalized are beginning to speak up vehemently against the Trump-era desire for a crackdown.
Many lawmakers in these states feel that the current administration is committed to undermining state government by implementing ever harsher regulations and policies that would allow federal prosecutors in states where cannabis is legal to choose just how much to enforce federal law against it.
Those in positions of political power in Washington state are very vocal in their opposition, citing the tax revenue from sales and the overwhelming support of its residents.
At the end of the 2017 fiscal year, legal marijuana sales in Washington state amounted to more than $1.3 billion, with approximately $319 million collected in excise taxes, including income and license fees. In addition to these figures, almost six months into the current 2018 fiscal year, sales are already more than $500 million, with over $100 million of that generated in tax revenue.
Whether Washington state legislators initially supported legalization, they know that the generation of tax revenue is beneficial for both the state and its inhabitants. Revenue generated allows the state to fund much-needed programs for education, homelessness, mental health, and addiction.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said that while it is too early in the game to know how any new federal interference could affect marijuana businesses, he and the governor vowed to allocate no resources toward any federal support of enforcement or cooperation.
Last year, both Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee wrote a letter to Sessions asking that the Department of Justice respect the marijuana laws in the state of Washington. To the surprise of no one, the state did not receive a satisfactory response.
“We should not be intimidated on this issue by the Trump administration,” Inslee said. He also went on to state that he believes that the sentiment and dedication of a democratically inspired and politically active community can defeat this current administration.
