Washington is trying to shut down the MMJ industry by eliminating the customers. Colorado is trying it by shutting down the suppliers, the “caregivers”. Either way might work as both are comfortable models for lawmakers: Arrest and jail those that grow or sell marijuana without a state tax license.
Which needs to be contrasted to the previous prohibition laws in those states that arrested and jailed those that grew, sold, or used marijuana.
But there’s even more irony. Some states are just now implementing their new MMJ laws, and others will be legalizing them in the next couple of years. While those programs are starting up, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska will be eliminating them. Meanwhile it will remain a felony crime in other states. What’s a law-abiding pot-head to do?