Chatting with the Governor

Governor Gregoire showed up to Drinking Liberally tonight. Thankfully, she remembered her ID.

After taking a few questions from the crowd, she hung out for a bit, and I got a chance to ask her about the medical marijuana limits. I asked her what she'd do if patients are still getting arrested after the limits are finalized. She said that she'd evaluate the effectiveness of the limits after a year. I asked again if she'd take some more direct action if patients were arrested, and she said that she would work with the police chiefs involved.

If nothing else, I hope the Governor was reminded that people care about this issue and are watching how she handles it. The first answer she gave was the answer of a bureaucrat. I asked a follow-up because I wanted her to acknowledge that the lives of Washingtonians are on the line here, some of whom could be in jail (and very ill) before the state figures out that the limits might not be adequately protecting patients. We'll see at the Tumwater meeting on the 25th how much interest there is in making sure that it doesn't come to that.