Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Government Accountability & Oversight Committee |
HB 1597
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Making marijuana law technical corrections.
Sponsors: Representatives Goodman and Ryu.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/7/13
Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).
Background:
Initiative 502 (I-502) was a ballot measure approved by Washington voters in November of 2012. The passage of the initiative legalized the recreational use of marijuana and created a comprehensive regulatory scheme that includes provisions regarding the following:
legalizing marijuana and related products for personal use;
licensing and regulating marijuana production and distribution;
implementation of excise taxes on marijuana production, distribution, and sales;
creation of a dedicated marijuana fund for the collection and distribution of marijuana-related tax revenues;
deletion of statutory provisions containing criminal and/or civil penalties for activities authorized by I-502; and
revision of drunk driving laws to include specific provisions pertaining to driving under the influence of marijuana.
The scope of the initiative was quite broad and included the creation of many new statutory sections as well as the amendment of fourteen existing statutes.
The last section of I-502 directed the Office of the Code Reviser to prepare a technical bill for the 2013 legislative session for the purpose of correcting statutory references in the Revised Code of Washington in order to make them consistent with the statutory changes brought about by the act.
Summary of Bill:
The act makes several purely technical changes to the Revised Code of Washington in order to correct statutory citations and make them consistent with the statutory changes brought about by I-502.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.