"Just Say No!" to diverting cannabis tax revenue to law enforcement

Representative Mary Dye,

You stated in a KONA radio interview recently that you would divert tax revenue from the sale of legal cannabis to increase law enforcement budgets because you believe there is an increase in crime since that necessitates it. However, since cannabis has become legal in the State of Washington, there is no evidence to support the claim that the industry has contributed to an increase in crime. In fact, many cities, such as the city of Kennewick, report crime is down, and Benton County (where Kennewick is located) cannot point to any extra enforcement actions as a result of legalization.

The will of the voters when i502 passed was clear. The revenue from cannabis taxes was intended to be used on education, healthcare, research, and substance abuse prevention, not law enforcement. Even if increased crime as a result of legalization was an issue of concern, the War on Drugs is a waste of taxpayer resources and has wreaked havoc in our communities worse than the drugs themselves.

Therefore, we petition you to not divert any cannabis tax revenue to law enforcement and request that you consider earmarking the revenue for its original purpose rather than lump it into the general fund as the Legislature has done.