They gathered at the Space Needle, in downtown Tacoma and in cloudy living rooms across the state. Pot smokers, once the scourge of law enforcement and scare films such as "Reefer Madness" became legit Thursday in Washington State.
"It means I don't have to worry," said Marty Johnson of Seattle, who stood with friends near the Space Needle to celebrate the first legal pot day in state history. "We've waited. It took more time than it should have but now it's legal."
Well, almost. While the November passage of I-502 made personal use amounts of marijuana legal in the state, it didn't change federal law -- a fact the Western District U.S. Attorney's office was quick to point out.
"Regardless of any changes in state law, including the change that will go into effect on December 6th in Washington State, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law," U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan wrote in a statement released Wednesday.
However, the Seattle Police Department Blotter had a decidedly more casual take on the new law:
"Does this mean you should flagrantly roll up a mega-spliff and light up in the middle of the street? No. If you’re smoking pot in public, officers will be giving helpful reminders to folks about the rules and regulations under I-502 (like not smoking pot in public)," the SPD Blotter posted on Dec. 5.
"But the police department believes that, under state law, you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a Lord of the Rings marathon in the privacy of your own home, if you want to."
Even so, the state is trying to move ahead with additional specific regulations. And local entrepreneurs are following right behind. My Northwest reports that "potpreneurs" are springing up with cookbooks and classes for marijuana edibles.
But how to regulate the sales? The state is looking to pot industry experts for advice, according to the Associated Press. But officials still don't know exactly what to do in the short-term, KOMO news reports.
Currently, it's legal to possess it but not to grow or buy pot.
"We are in uncharted territory," Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, told KOMO.
Marijuana is safer than alcohol. I'm glad we have the option now. Really, no one has ever od'ed from pot.
Here in Washington, it is no different. I think with the new liquor laws that went into effect this past summer, the state was looking for some new revenue. The politicians were approached to create more state jobs. To help the cause, the I-502 ad that was run on TV was well done and there was no opposition to it. Also seeing how the proponents of I-502 had millions to spend while the opposition had nothing, it ran unopposed making people I think that would have voted against it vote for it.
While much of what you speak is true, please make no mistake that for some this has been a lifelong crusade and we are far more informed then you might think. For me it is all about personal freedom, the obscene waste of public funds, and the ruination of innocent lives needlessly. Furthermore, much of what you present in regards to the economics of the movement, can be flipped and presented as why the US Government is opposed to legalization ie; exclusive licensing agreements with Eli Lilly for the distribution of synthetic Marionol, or the protection of law enforcement's gravy train pig trough.
I am the biggest fan of sarcasm in the world, however there are too many ignorant folks posting here that your comment blended right in with their sentiments and lost its effectiveness.
Look what I found (among others): http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/pot_driving.htm http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana-abuse/does-marijuana-use-affect-driving So it seems that there is variety of opinions on this topic. You, and Donna's hero's, are of the opinion that people under the influence of marijuana drive as well as, or better than, people who are sober. Anyone who has been under the influence of marijuana or who has observed the behavior of those significantly under the influence would understand that this statement is obviously false unless you have no understanding of the physiological changes and/or you have no understanding about how they affect driving skills For a more medical/sterile description of the effects of marijuana, you can look at: http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/m/marijuana/symptoms.htm If you look at the realistic list of symptoms and characteristics, can you tell me that none of them are likely to negatively impact driving performance? Why is it that so many are willing to disregard scientific evidence merely to justify their position on legalization of a particular drug? Dangerous tunnel vision.
I presume you were referring to me when you said "Donna's hero" but I don't recall ever saying that people under the influence of cannabis are better drivers. I said that some studies show that hemp users are better drivers which is not the same thing at all. It could be that hemp users are better drivers when they are not under the influence which I explained in a previous posting. If you were not referring to me, then accept my apologies.
Retroactive change due to hundreds to thousands of innocent people that died in these car accidents...what a terrible logic pattern. You probably voted for Obama too and think socialized communist healthcare will solve all your problems. Glad you aren't in charge of policy/law making....pro-active change and prevention is what we are going for here...not "lets let the world go to hell..then see if we can salvage it"
LOL, pretty sure your credibility just fell 25 stories from the truth tower. I love how passionate you are about expanding the campaign of illegal drugs.....I wish people could be as passionate about ending world hunger, or homelessness...or solving real world problems...not adding to them...but then again...you are a liberal democrat that thinks Obamacare will be the answer to American's healthcare...
Without trying to insult you, you seem to be on a bad LSD trip or something like that. Let’s examine what you wrote. You said: “Retroactive change due to hundreds to thousands of innocent people that died in these car accidents …” Where did you get those numbers? Did you just make them up in your head? Is there a voice in your head telling you those numbers? You also wrote: “You probably voted for Obama too and think socialized communist healthcare will solve all your problems.” Did your Rice Crispies tell you to write that? So you believe that the probability is greater that I voted for Obama than not. Humm! Where did you derive that statistical conclusion, a Magic Eight Ball? Do you want me to put forth “arguments” saying: “You are most likely a battered masturbator and have a hate-on for anyone who doesn’t believe exactly like you do, therefore you are stupid?” Is that the way you think debating should go? If so, please go to some other site and stop pretending like you have anything worthwhile to contribute.
"An estimated 10839 people in the United States died in 2009 in drunk driving crashes last year, accounting for 32% of total traffic deaths." Century Council Statistics You clearly have a liberal mindset, and since this is not my first ride around the block, I can smell one a mile off. It's not hard to draw conclusions from your narrow-minded agenda. It's odd you told me that I don't contribute to the forum, and your entire last post was devoted to things I didn't say. Liberals are always so ironic and hypocritical...always so entertaining.
When I mentioned LSD I was trying to be polite. Obviously you are not intellectually equipped to understand that so I'll put it in basic terms. I think you are either mentally ill or a fourth grader who has unsupervised access to your parent's computer. Whenever I encounter simpletons using terms like "liberal" or "conservative" I immediately know that their understanding of politics is of a meager and unsatisfactory nature. If by "liberal" you mean I think liberty is a good thing, then yes, you are correct. You will never in your life come across a person who detests big intrusive socialist government more than I do. It is clear that so far on this thread that the majority of what you posted been incorrect, sophomoric, or stupid. Have you no shame at all? YOU are the one who worships big government for you want it to control our lives and tell us what we can and cannot ingest. Once you get into middle school and high school, I'm hoping that you will not sleep through your civics class and may someday come to understand the core values our Founding Fathers enshrined in the US constitution. Until then, please go back to playing Wii and leave adult discussions to the adults.
Were you not the person who first brought up Mr. Phelp's apology? If so, why did you think it was important to mention?
Nancy: You wrote: "Mark...why do your comments have to include a personal reference or attack on another poster? It detracts from your point." Why don't you ask that question of Joshua B.? I have put forth rock solid logical evidence and you and Joshua are obviously totally immune to such. Reason, truth and logic have no effect on you and you assign zero value to them. Trying to use logic, facts and reason with you and JB is like trying to teach my dog differential equations. She is simply not intellectually equipped to fathom mathematics just as you and Joshua B are incapable of logical argument. However I’ll give it one more try.
Cannabis use was legal in the USA until 1937. Forty years of motor vehicle use and cannabis use did not see to produce the pile of carnage you two are so confident will be forthcoming to Washington State. The reason cannabis was essentially outlawed was because in 1937 Harry J. Anslinger, director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics testified before congress stating: "Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankind." "Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes." The movie Reefer Madness was funded by the distilled spirits industry in an effort to eliminate competition and the result is the millions of Americans killed on the roads from drunk drivers. Is this sinking in yet? It is the hemp prohibitionists who are to no small degree responsible for the alcohol related deaths on America’s roads. Thank goodness that there are enough mature voters in Washington to shake-off the old racist, troglodyte mind-set which caused so much misery for our nation. I'm through with you and your oppressive, government-worshiping mindset. You have repeatedly proven that nothing you are capable of posting here is worthy of a response. Good day.
And Mr Phelps still plays for the MJ team...
http://www.wakingtimes.com/2012/12/10/cannabidiols-offer-boost-towards-a-healthy-cancer-free-body/ It is almost enough to entice a fellow to start smoking the stuff.