Marijuana legalization decision, Washington, Colorado, Oregon

Ha Ha! I know right, and depending on what you do for a living, not only will you lose your job but you still may be arrested for showing up at work drunk.

 

first rule of being a d-boy, dont smoke your own supply.

 

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Washington state's two most populous counties plan to dismiss scores of misdemeanor marijuana possession cases following passage of a landmark voter initiative earlier this week to legalize pot for adult recreational use.

Washington and Colorado became the first U.S. states to remove criminal sanctions for personal possession of an ounce (28.5 grams) or less of marijuana as voters approved ballot measures on Tuesday to legalize recreational use of the drug, setting up a possible showdown with the federal government.



Washington state's legalization measure passed with more than 55 percent of voters supporting it and fewer than 45 percent opposed, and will take effect next month.

But prosecutors in Washington's King and Pierce counties - which contain the cities of Seattle and Tacoma - moved swiftly to announce they were dropping 225 pending possession cases currently in the pipeline.

"The people have spoken loudly in Initiative 502, and there seems to be no point in continuing to prosecute cases for conduct that's going to be legal in a couple of weeks," King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg told Reuters.

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said, "I don't believe any jury is going to convict on a simple marijuana case after this initiative has passed."

All the cases slated for dismissal represent the relative few in which marijuana possession alone is charged. Conviction for possession of an ounce or less carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, Lindquist said.

Legalization efforts put both Washington state and Colorado at odds with federal law, which classifies marijuana as an illegal narcotic. The U.S. Justice Department has yet to say what if any actions it will take in response to the votes.

Asked to comment on the charge dismissals, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for Western Washington said the Justice Department was reviewing the newly passed ballot initiatives and "has no additional comment at this time."

In addition to legalizing personal possession of marijuana, the new Washington and Colorado laws will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed stores in a system modeled on what many states have in place for alcohol sales. Those provisions will take longer to be put into effect.

Washington and Colorado already have laws on the books legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, along with 15 other states and the District of Columbia.

Federal prosecutors in some of those states have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries and greenhouses deemed to be engaged in large-scale drug trade under the pretense of supplying medical cannabis to patients.

 

SMH

 

Curious: are you SYH at the criminals taking advantage of the law, or that the law is cracking down on them?

@ the law...defining recreational users as criminals was never sane, so glad this measure passed. I know in OZ we always could have up to a certain amount before a cop could arrest you. I just hope users can now breathe (or puff) a sigh of relief...but not abuse the law, ie: spark up in inappropriate places.

 

im smh @ the feds cracking down. there are other things money and resources could be put towards but yet and still they want to go after dispensaries and greenhouses deemed to be engaged in large-scale drug trade under the pretense of supplying medical cannabis to patients.

a patna of mine had a 3k sq foot green house and selling only to dispensaries yet he was shut down.

sure there are a few bad seeds in the bunch but when you assume and shut down a company that is legit that is just wrong.

 

And I will continue to voice my opinion on this topic.

I am waiting on the first court case about a defendant who is caught smoking a joint in a State House, government contractor or a factory and it will happen.

Remember: Corporations like to cover their asses.

 

Yeah cuz u know people are drinking and popping illegals in the bathroom of work at such alarming rates

 

Keep on waiting.

It will be treated the same way as alcohol. You can't drink on those premises nor can you smoke marijuana.

 

Dudes fucking paranoid

Makes me wonder if he's high right now, son

 

There probably has been a court case on this. If not, only matter of time.

 

yep!

if your are smoking or drinking on the job, your taking the risk of loosing your job... simple as that!

 

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Unfortunately until the laws are changed at the federal level, growers and users are at risk for prosecution and peoples lives will be ruined despite the fact that they are in compliance with state laws.

 

they might as well...they legalized liqour and beer.

the minorities need to be getting ready to get in and start setting up there own so they can get in like Anheuser-Busch did

 

Which is no longer own by americans lol

 

All this mj and gay marriage coverage we've gained just shows we've been interpreting Leviticus 20:13 wrong for many centuries.

 

LOL. the irony

 

King County Bans Smoking In All Public Housing Days Before Marijuana Becomes Legal

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for people renting THIS is a problem. I can understand the risks of second hand smoke to non smokers yes however putting in restrictions for say a birthday party with cigars on your own balcony is not the biz (my last place the new lease says no bbqing or smoking on my own balcony). The common areas as well? damn!

 

No bbqing

Haha you got sonned