Why is marijuana legal in WA State, while online poker remains a felony? Hypocrisy?

curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
Last week I was invited on a local conservative talk radio show, with host Dori Monson, to talk about the insane felony prohibition of online poker in the State of Washington. As a conservative, Dori was fiery in his disdain (go to the 29:00 mark) for what he sees as the sleezy politics of the local gaming tribes contributing to the campaigns of legislators and the Governor, and their making felons out of citizens to protect the monopoly of these special interests, while I tried my best to remain diplomatic, (go to the 21:00 mark)and cover our efforts.

It was then carried up by a Northwest online news magazine, and then it got a very good write up by Pokernewsdaily, giving it wide coverage. While both articles do a good job of exposing the issue and of highlighting our player-driven effort to pass legislation to regulate online poker, there is more to the story, and I believe it could lead to a productive discussion.

A myth exposed

I see a lot of posts on forums by folks who believe that all we have to do is replace all the Republicans with Democrats and we'll have internet poker. This is a myth. Washington State is one of the bluest of Blue States, and this egregious law was written by, passed by, and signed by Democrats. gambling is one of those issues that straddles across both the moralists on the right, and the nanny-state leftists. But this conservative talk show host stressed the important issue at hand, FREEDOM. The truth is, we need legislators on both sides of the aisle on our side, and alienating one party over the other is counter productive.

Is it hypocrisy?

It is certainly ironic, but there is a real reason why it isn't exactly hypocrisy . . . the legislature didn't legalize marijuana in Washington State, the people did. Marijuana legalization in WA was done by an Initiative to the Legislature. This is a process by which the people can force an issue before the legislature, and if they refuse to act, or act in a different way, it is put to the voters for their approval. This process requires proponents to gather around 300K signatures from registered voters, in a time frame of about 270 days (the marijuana initiative got a late start, but still did it in only six months), or roughly 1100 signatures per day. A daunting task that requires extreme motivation, and a lot of money. This is what happened with marijuana, the legislature did not act on the measure, and it went to the voters in 2012, where it was approved. This forced the state to abide by the law. One other thing, after two years, the legislature can undo an initiative if they so choose, something they have done many times.

Why don't we do this?

We tried. I filed an initiative to the legislature last year to regulate internet poker in our state. Unfortunately, the poker playing community is not nearly as motivated as the pot heads were (tongue in cheek). We had no support from industry nor the players, and our signature drive barely got of the ground. But I haven't given up the fight just yet, and am now pursuing legislative action.

If you want something done, you gotta do it yourself

This is very true, and I am hopeful that my efforts are not only successful, but also inspire other players to take up the cause in their state. We the people only works if we the people take action. We can't sit around complaining that our government doesn't listen to us when we won't even speak up so they can.

If anyone would like help getting started taking action in their state, I'm happy to offer any guidance I can. States moving forward simultaneously is the best, quickest way to spread internet poker across the country.
 
LarkMarlow

LarkMarlow

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Total posts
14,664
Awards
1
Chips
1
An inspiring and thought-provoking post, Curtis - kudos! Do you have an ideas as to why poker players aren't as motivated as other special interest groups?
 
E

emirlidan

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Total posts
811
Awards
1
Chips
0
well you are way more motivated then I am, but for me I believe it's because I prefer to play live tournaments sadly iowa just doesn't have enough people to make it worth my time to go attend tournaments

I like online poker but it's a hobby and I feel like it's that way for a lot of people although if I was presented with a petition I would have no problem signing it
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
An inspiring and thought-provoking post, Curtis - kudos! Do you have an ideas as to why poker players aren't as motivated as other special interest groups?

thank you.

I don't know exactly why players aren't more motivated, it's probably a combination of a lot of things.

I think by and large, players feel helpless to do anything, fearing that big money interests control the government and their voices won't be heard. The problem with that kind of thinking is that if your voice is silent, for sure it won't be heard. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so we need to be that squeaky wheel. And just like a squeaky wheel, it can be and often is ignored, for a while. Eventually though, if doesn't go away it has to be dealt with. This is why it is important for us to stay on message and keep demanding action.

That nobody is going to jail over online poker, and there are still some sites out there to play on, is another point. If it was gone completely, and/or people were being punished, the outcry would be louder I suspect.
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
well you are way more motivated then I am, but for me I believe it's because I prefer to play live tournaments sadly iowa just doesn't have enough people to make it worth my time to go attend tournaments

I like online poker but it's a hobby and I feel like it's that way for a lot of people although if I was presented with a petition I would have no problem signing it

Yay Iowa

Iowa has a couple tournaments..

MSPT @ Meskwaki 2 times a year

HPT once or twice a year

but yeah 3 tourneys a year sucks... I mean yeah there are daily tournaments but they are usually around $20-$50 and the rake is ridiculous... Including Add on's that 100% goes to the dealers and none to the prize pool
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
An inspiring and thought-provoking post, Curtis - kudos! Do you have an ideas as to why poker players aren't as motivated as other special interest groups?

Well my first thought was because were lazy.. Then I realized the pot heads did it so that can't be our excuse lol

Poker just isn't nearly as wide spread as smoking pot - Everyone and their grandma smokes pot. Yes poker is becoming more acceptable but out of all the people that like poker it's divided by live and online players where live players may not care enough to do anything including complain and the online scene not having enough voices to be loud enough to matter...

220,000 thousand signatures is a lot... I would imagine the number would be different per state since each state has a different population... Can't remember if OP said the % of the POP but I forgot...

We couldn't get 220,000 signatures spread across the world here on Cardschat filled with online poker lovers... Mostly because CC doesn't have 220k members
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
And its 300,000 signatures I don't know where I got 220,000 from... I'll have to re-read the OP again I'm a little sleepy lol
 
Carl Trooper

Carl Trooper

Degenerate Idiot
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Total posts
3,381
Awards
6
Chips
0
More people smoke then play poker. It has been more of a mainstream topic than poker and probably will always be (until its legal on a federal level).
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
And its 300,000 signatures I don't know where I got 220,000 from... I'll have to re-read the OP again I'm a little sleepy lol

The actual signature requirement is 8% of the total votes cast in the most recent (2012) Gubernatorial race. In that particular race, there were 3,071,047 votes cast, putting the minimum signatures needed at 245,684.

You need to build a cushion, however, to assure that you have enough allowed signatures. They do not count and verify every single signature, they sample and calculate a margin of error and apply to the total number submitted.
 
L

losties

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 3, 2013
Total posts
180
Chips
0
I think according to them marijuanna is a drug that helps people. Where as they just see poker as a entertainment that causes trouble.
 
T

Teofealter

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Total posts
55
Chips
0
The lobby just wasn't that big..ahmm.. convincing, compared to these drug lords.
 
J

jimmy62

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Total posts
59
Chips
0
Because the legislators and gaming commission reps. are too stoned to count the votes correctly.
 
Leo 50

Leo 50

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Total posts
1,285
Awards
1
Chips
0
Well done Curtis and honestly why aren't both legal throughout the US?
 
T-Dubs82

T-Dubs82

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Total posts
1,289
Awards
1
Chips
0
this is BS.....poker IS medicinal
 
A2345Razz

A2345Razz

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Total posts
1,190
Chips
0
A better question would be why is cannabis illegal anywhere booze and cigarettes are legal?

$$$ talks in our system thanks to the republicans blocking any attempts to limit cash flowing into politics. People like ALEC are now writing laws and delivering them to GOP pawns to put into effect.

Unfortunately with no option to unilaterally disarm, the Dems play/are forced to play the game as well.


GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.
 
curtinsea

curtinsea

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Total posts
495
Awards
1
Chips
2
A better question would be why is cannabis illegal anywhere booze and cigarettes are legal?

$$$ talks in our system thanks to the republicans blocking any attempts to limit cash flowing into politics. People like ALEC are now writing laws and delivering them to GOP pawns to put into effect.

Unfortunately with no option to unilaterally disarm, the Dems play/are forced to play the game as well.


GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.

I guess that sounds good if you are a democrat, but I'm guessing you didn't actually read the OP. Tribal money going to democrats is how we got a felony prohibition of online poker in WA State. It wasn't money spent to counter republican money at all.

The partisan cries about money in politics are always limited to outrage over the other guy's money. It's funny to hear democrats talk like everyone agrees with them and it's just a few well heeled republicans ruining America. The fact is the country is pretty evenly divided along party lines, and just because you don't agree with the other side does not invalidate their point of view. You must counter with sound arguments and not argumentum ad hominem if you are to be heard.

And to get representatives who share your philosophy and point of view elected costs money. And to inform representatives of an issue and have them take it seriously requires support from many, and a concerted lobbying effort, which is something that online poker players seem unwilling to do.

It's pretty easy to make comments on a message board and attack 'the other side' but none of it is productive. If players spent the same amount of effort working towards legislation as they do complaining on forums about the status quo, we would have made much more significant progress.

Focus in productive directions, and if you don't know which direction is productive, reach out to those who are working at if for help.
 
BiliousBetil

BiliousBetil

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 3, 2014
Total posts
1,666
Awards
5
Chips
53
It's pretty easy to make comments on a message board and attack 'the other side' but none of it is productive. If players spent the same amount of effort working towards legislation as they do complaining on forums about the status quo, we would have made much more significant progress.

Careful, you're getting dangerously close to 'a voice in the wilderness' territory here.
 
D

Dmitri13121

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Total posts
5
Chips
0
to be surprised, this is america
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
It's simple

America isn't a country - It's a business
 
Z

Zin

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Total posts
395
Chips
0
Drug addicts out number poker players...to many pot smokers in America its sad but the truth.
 
TakinOver

TakinOver

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Total posts
413
Chips
0
Drug addicts out number poker players...to many pot smokers in America its sad but the truth.

It takes brains to win at poker and none to smoke.... :stickyman :listen: :icon_bril Takes more brains to be a ninja...
 
Y

YouPay4MyCrack

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Total posts
81
Chips
0
Drug addicts out number poker players...to many pot smokers in America its sad but the truth.

Lol.. Do you mean "Too many"? Most of the people on US poker sites are pot smokers. Hell, I was in the top ten percent of online players in 2012 and I have a medical card. Pot has nothing to do with poker, and visa versa. Hypocrisy? You must be smoking something too huh? :p
 
Top