Edmonds Legislator Supports Legalization of Marijuana

Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, has joined 15 other Washington state legislators—all Democrats—in support of Initiative 502, which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana for adults 21 and over.

I-502 will appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

“Initiative 502 will free up law enforcement resources needed to combat violent crime,” said Rep. Luis Moscoso in a news release from New Approach Washington, which supports the initiative.

Moscoso serves as vice-chair of the House General Government Appropriations & Oversight Committee and a is member of the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

“A tightly-regulated system for marijuana will allow our police and prosecutors to focus on more important public safety priorities,” Moscoso said.

“The hundreds of millions of Washington dollars currently flowing to the marijuana black market each year should be redirected to legitimate businesses and taxed to support vital government services,” said Rep. Dickerson, who introduced legalization bills in the legislature in 2010 and 2011.

Dickerson co-sponsored I-502 with nine other community leaders, and Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. 

Here is the list:

• Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-23) 
• Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36)
• Sen. Maralyn Chase (D-32)
• Rep. Luis Moscoso (D-1)
• Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36)                  
• Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-34)
• Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-44)                            
• Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-43)
• Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34)                           
• Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11)
• Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45)                        
• Rep. Chris Reykdal (D-22)
• Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D-11)                           
• Rep. Mary Helen Roberts (D-21)
• Sen. Adam Kline (D-37)                                
• Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-32)