Here's video of discussion of Resolution 31174, which set the 2010 state legislative agenda for the city. Under "Session Priorities, Law & Criminal Justice" the resolution states, "In addition, we support reclassifying possession of small amounts of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction. We also support immunity from prosecution for illegal drug possession for persons who witness or experience drug overdoses and call for medical assistance."
I am shocked, just shocked, that Stranger readers support the legalization of marijuana. Horrified might even be a better word for it. Yes. Horrified. F'reals. Horrified, yo. Just horrified.
Decriminalization is not the same legalization. Parking in a metered zone without paying, driving 10 miles over the speed limit and not picking up your dog's shit are all illegal but those are not crimes. They're infractions, which means you need to pay but there's no criminal record, no potential of jail time, no jury trial, etc.
The quotes in this post from Harrell don't appear to support legalization but in fact decriminalization and even then only of possession of small amounts. It says nothing about large sales or grow operations. Also, nothing about federal law. None of this means "legal pot". It just means reducing penalties for personal possession so that they don't totally fuck up somebody's life.
Just emailed Frock re his out of touch opinion on legalization. david.frockt@leg.wa.gov
I just read in the Stranger that you are not in favor of legalizing marijuana. You represent Seattle! Every Seattle city council person is in favor of legalization. You are not representing your constituents! I am a member of Sensible WA, NORMAL, ACLU, Cannabis Defense Coalition. Our members are large, our voices are strong. We will get you voted out of office if you don't support this.
And by "shocking," I mean "predictable."
Call me cray, but this idea is so cray, it just might work! Cray, right?
Technically, we CAN pass legislation removing any and all city-level enforcement. Why don't we?
Regulated it becomes just another lobbyist political breaucratic clusterfuck.
The best part of what @13 says is this cuts out all the middlemen and increases State Tax Revenues and Profits.
Burn it by the bushel and pump the smoke through the DBT vents.
http://www.votehemp.com/
Not that I didn't expect it, but it's still funny to see.
The quotes in this post from Harrell don't appear to support legalization but in fact decriminalization and even then only of possession of small amounts. It says nothing about large sales or grow operations. Also, nothing about federal law. None of this means "legal pot". It just means reducing penalties for personal possession so that they don't totally fuck up somebody's life.
I just read in the Stranger that you are not in favor of legalizing marijuana. You represent Seattle! Every Seattle city council person is in favor of legalization. You are not representing your constituents! I am a member of Sensible WA, NORMAL, ACLU, Cannabis Defense Coalition. Our members are large, our voices are strong. We will get you voted out of office if you don't support this.