Medical Marijuana: A Community of Voices – WA Event 12/21/13

An indoor rally is planned on December 21, 2013 in Seattle to draw the cannabis community together, as we gear up for a battle which will determine the fate of medical marijuana in Washington, and likely elsewhere given the potential global ramifications of decisions made here.

Most inside the community agree: recreational marijuana legalization should not mean patient’s rights are removed nor the thriving medical industry destroyed. But rather than rally together to stop the state from taking a gigantic step backwards, the cannabis community in Washington is busy fighting amongst itself about the best path forward. State legislators are expected to take action on this contentious issue during the 60-day legislative session in 2014.

Before then, medical marijuana stakeholders will come together at Town Hall on 8th and Seneca in Seattle to share their perspectives with each other and, hopefully, the community at large if the press accepts their warm invitations. The event is being hosted by Seattle Events, the non-profit organization which produces Seattle Hempfest each summer.

A variety of stakeholders – dispensary owners, medical patients, activists, doctors, parents of patients, and even politicians – are slated to speak on this important issue just days before Christmas.

Event organizers hope the community comes together in the warm, giving spirit of the Holiday Season with open hearts, leaving their hostility and aggravation at home. This is not an attempt to preach about nor try to reach an agreement on the best path forward, but rather to cultivate respect for our peers and hope in our ability to affect this important legal battle at a time when we need each other the most.