homelessness is a state-wide crisis. the state, not seattle, is the one that should be using weed revenue to help the homeless. they are the one collecting and distributing the money.

The stated intent of Initiative 502 was to create a marijuana fund. Most of the directed disbursements from the fund are to healthcare related endeavors. But, the majority of the funds are dropped into the State's general fund and can be used for whatever the State wants. Recently, there have been efforts to remove the directed healthcare disbursements and dump all the money into the general fund. The ACLU has fought this effort. Also, during the run up to the 502 vote an intent was stated to help eliminate the marijuana black market via legalization. That intent has completely been dropped, because the State just wants to tax the heck out of legal marijuana. The black market thrives because legal marijuana prices are so high.

The dedicated marijuana fund is created, consisting of all marijuana excise taxes, license fees, penalties,
forfeitures, and all other moneys, income, or revenue received by the WSLCB from marijuana-related
activities. The state treasurer is the custodian of the fund. The WSLCB or its duly authorized
representative is charged with authorizing disbursements from the fund.
Disbursements must be made every three months as follows:
 $125,000 to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for the Washington State
Healthy Youth Survey;
 $50,000 to the DSHS to contract with the Washington State Institute of Public Policy for costbenefit
evaluation of the initiative's implementation;
 $5,000 to the University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute for public education
materials regarding the health and safety risks posed by marijuana; and
 an amount not exceeding $1.25 million to the WSLCB for administration.
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Funds remaining are to be distributed as follows:
 fifteen percent to the DSHS for prevention and reduction of substance abuse among middle and
high school age students;
 ten percent to the Department of Health for marijuana education and public health programs;
 six-tenths of 1 percent to the University of Washington and four-tenths of 1 percent to the
Washington State University for research on short and long-term effects of marijuana use;
 fifty percent to the Basic Health Plan Trust Account;
 five percent to the Health Care Authority for primary health and dental care services, migrant
health services, and maternity health care services;
 three-tenths of 1 percent to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instructions for the
Building Bridges program; and
 the remainder to the general fund.