HuffPo - Prediction: Washington State will be first to decriminalize

[mugenbao]

From Rob Kampia, writing on Huffington Post :
Prediction: Washington State Will End Marijuana Prohibition in 26 Months

I've just returned to my home in Washington, D.C. from a trip to the "other Washington" -- specifically, Seattle. My two visits to Seattle in the past month have convinced me that Washington state will probably be one of the first two states to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol.

In mid-August, I attended Seattle's Hempfest for the sixth time in seven years. For those who don't know, Hempfest isn't your run-of-the-mill marijuana rally. In fact, if it were, I wouldn't attend. This year's Hempfest, which was the 19th in 20 years, was the largest yet, with an estimated 300,000 people visiting Myrtle Edwards Park on the waterfront over two days. Each year, Seattle Hempfest is literally the largest marijuana-related event in the world.

And bigger is better; there's safety in numbers. For two days each August, using, possessing, and transferring marijuana for no remuneration (passing a joint) is legal in the park. For a few years, this policy was an informal understanding between the Seattle police and the 100,000+ people they were serving and protecting. But, in recent years, the higher-ups in the police department have actually directed their rank-and-file not to arrest people at Hempfest for marijuana (unless someone is selling it or pushing it on children).

What events preceded this normalization of marijuana?
In 1998, 59% of Washington state voters passed a medical marijuana initiative; then, in 2007, the Washington legislature instructed the state Department of Health to define a 60-day supply of medical marijuana. In 2008, the Department of Health defined a 60-day supply as up to 24 ounces of usable marijuana and 15 plants at any stage of growth.

...snip...

And now, support for making marijuana legal has broken the 50% threshold in the state. The three most recent statewide polls show that 56% of adults support "making marijuana possession legal" (January 2010), 54% of adults support "allow[ing] state-run liquor stores to sell and tax marijuana" (January 2010), and 52% of registered voters support "removing state civil and criminal penalties for possession or use of marijuana" (May 2010).

...snip...

And this would be a particularly sweet victory, since Gil Kerlikowske, the White House drug czar, is the former police chief of ... Seattle.

Please refer to original article for the rest of the text...


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[Mr. Bongjangles]

Come on with the misleading thread title..

Article says "My two visits to Seattle in the past month have convinced me that Washington state will probably be one of the first two states to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol."

And goes on to predict they will not even get it on the ballot till 2012.

Sorry, prize is going to Cali. If not, they will likely tie with a few other states in 2012 anyways.

 

[mugenbao]

Come on with the misleading thread title..

I copied the blog title I read this at originally, except for the "in 26 months" part at the end (hate super-long forum titles). The article argues that even though it won't be until 2012, that WA might decrim first. So, if it's misleading, it's because I was quoting. Thought people would understand that...

Sorry, prize is going to Cali. If not, they will likely tie with a few other states in 2012 anyways.

I sure as hell hope *some* state decriminalizes in or by 2012! Although I live in Washington, I don't really care which state gets the "prize", so long as at least one of them does

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[Mr. Bongjangles]

I copied the HuffPo title, except for the "in 26 months" part at the end (hate super-long forum titles). The article argues that even though it won't be until 2012, that WA might decrim first. So, if it's misleading, it's because I was quoting. Thought people would understand that...


I sure as hell hope *some* state decriminalizes in or by 2012! Although I live in Washington, I don't really care which state gets the "prize", so long as at least one of them does

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The actual title is "Prediction: Washington State Will End Marijuana Prohibition in 26 Months"

It's like 2 extra words, and your alteration completely distorts what the author is actually predicting. You're putting words in this guy's mouth that he never said.

Nowhere in the article is the idea of who will do it first even discussed. I already quoted the relevant part, and its a brief mention of being one of two states to do it first, not a topic of the article or assertion by the author.

 

[mugenbao]

You're putting words in this guy's mouth that he never said.

My goodness! Well, that was never my intention, but I guess you figure everyone is dishonest by default, huh? Man, I'm sorry to hear that.

Since I can't edit the title and change it to be perfect, I hope you can find a way to make it through the day anyways. Take care, man.

Some humor to help

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[Mr. Bongjangles]

You seem to have some kind of reading comprehension problem.

Good luck with that.