Hello and greetings Senators and Representatives, my name is Jeremy Robbins and I am here to talk about the cannabis excise tax, particularly for medical patients. I am a long time medical card holder in WA state for over 12 years and I use cannabis liberally.
I broke my neck and became an incomplete quadriplegic 24 years or half my life ago (I just
turned 48) and I will never walk again. It is a permanent and debilitating condition that requires a lot of strength and fortitude. I have found ways to maximize my quality of life although it is compromised. That is okay with me as I find great meaning in advocating for the disabled community.
As part of my disability, I have to manage chronic pain and spasms that are quite debilitating and constant. I have always used cannabis medicine in conjunction with traditional pharmaceutical products to maximize my productivity. Eventually thought the pills became more problematic than helpful and so I started titration off of 45 (15 types 3 x a day) for a couple months.
I was able to eliminate everything but a bladder pill, blood thinner and Tylenol because I used many cannabis products: flowers, concentrates, edible oil and transdermal patches. Most of these products I had to purchase through the I502 system and it was very expensive at about $350.00 per month out of pocket.
I live on a fixed income that is very modest from Social Security, a little more than a thousand
dollars a month so the cost of my cannabis medication was about a THIRD of my total income.
More than rent and transportation and the only medication I have been required to pay for out of pocket. Most medications are covered by insurance. That is why an excise tax, especially for medical patients is absurd.
Math tells me that I was paying $130.00 a month in just EXISE TAX to the state that has already taxed me to be a part of their legal and regulated medical cannabis program. It’s clear that the med program here is drowning after a decade of recreational legalization. And the state of WA loves the tax dollars. So how come they continue to penalize and discriminate against the disabled, low income and sick folks that can not afford their medical needs?
I started a nonprofit where we give away cannabis medicine to qualified patients because the 502 system is dirty, dishonest and poor quality. I give out whatever is needed on a monthly basis free of charge. And I know every detail about my medicine because I do it all alone from seed to gifting it and it helps many patients that would otherwise have been forgotten. This is what the old cannabis community was like.
In conclusion, I humbly ask that you vote in favor to eliminate the excise tax so that those
registered patients can have better access to affordable and clean medicine. This is a huge step forward and tells patients and consumers that their personhood comes before tax dollars and will help their quality of life. I thank you for your time and support.
-Jeremy Robbins, MS. Cofounder of Cannabis Patients PNW
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