Winning the battle to preserve Washington’s medical marijuana industry is critical. Politicians want to effectively destroy it completely, claiming patients can buy their medication from recreational shops, a faulty assumption for more reasons but that is a topic for another post.

As a leader in the cannabis revolution, decisions made in Washington have global ramifications.

If regulators have their way, it will send a decisive message to the entire world that marijuana is first and foremost a recreational drug. This will contradict the message cannabis activists have been spreading for decades that cannabis has vast medical applications and untapped potential. Not only would this affect public opinion about and support for medical marijuana programs in other states, but it will complicate, if not outright stall, the process of incorporating the herb into our healthcare system.

Sadly, the medical community seems to only agree on one thing: the rules drafted by the Liquor Control Board just won’t cut it. Such contentious fighting within the community is sure to weaken our stance in this ongoing struggle, a weakness we cannot afford if we are to win this critical battle. Likewise, we cannot afford for the majority of the community to sit back on the sidelines, watching the raging battle without joining in on the fight.

Our opponents have united against a shared vision of destroying the medical industry, and have power and legal authority on their side. And time is short. The most recent Department of Justice memo contained a dire warning for industries without stringent regulations, and jurisdictions across the state are already banning medical marijuana facilities. Many of the state’s most prominent medical marijuana activists and professionals believe the only chance we have to protect the medical industry is getting a bill passed in the next legislative session which begins January 13, 2014 and lasts only 60 days.

If everyone who cared about protecting patients and the cannabis movement dedicated whatever time they could spare – whether hours a day or just mere minutes – to furthering the cause, this battle will be won.

Here are some ideas on how to help protect medicinal cannabis in Washington state: