SUBHEAD: It is time we accept that marijuana should be age-regulated like cigarettes or alcohol?
By Mac Slavo on 7 December for SHTF Plan -
(http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/washington-pleads-the-10th-under-state-law-you-may-responsibly-get-baked_12072012)
Image above: The Dude Abides photo illustration from still frame of movie "The Big Lebowski". From article below.
Voters in the states of Colorado and Washington, however, have outright rejected the federal government’s 75 year prohibition on the naturally grown substance by altogether decriminalizing it.
Police in Seattle, Washington have been told to refrain from making any arrests or issuing citations for possession or use in private residences, though ‘firing one up in public’ still carries a $100 fine (something the city won’t be enforcing).
In California, where medically prescribed marijuana was legalized in 1996, a network of local growers and dispensaries has come under fire from Federal drug enforcement and tax agencies, with one of the largest shops in Los Angeles having been raided as recently as last June.
Despite decriminalization by over one third of State governments, the U.S. Department of Justice maintains that marijuana is a Schedule I narcotic similar to heroin, LSD and meth. According to federal law, marijuana has no accepted medical use in the United States and therefore cannot be legally prescribed by doctors.
This now sets the stage for a Constitutional battle between States and the Federal government. Under the 10th Amendment, any powers not delegated to the United States (as a federal entity), nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Clearly, the U.S. Constitution does not make mention of marijuana, and thus applicable laws surrounding its sale, possession and use are reserved solely for the people of each State.
Is it time we accept that it’s 4:20 in some parts of America and that marijuana should be age-regulated like cigarettes or alcohol? Or should the federal government step in?
Seattle Police goes Big Lebowski
The Seattle Police Department is really rocking this I-502 marijuana legalization thing for all its worth. In what feels like the PR equivalent of sharing a bowl with the public, the agency - via hired-pen Jonah Spangenthal-Lee - has now released two truly epic statements (each featuring at least one Lord of the Rings reference) on the state of marijuana enforcement in Seattle. You probably saw the first on the Rachel Maddow show, or just about anywhere else you looked.
*See Also: SPD's Comprehensive Guide to Smoking Hella Weed in Seattle
Spangenthal-Lee's latest gem - featuring a photo Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski - hit the SPD Blotter blog at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, less than six hours before possession of up to an ounce of processed pot was set to become legal under Washington state law for adults 21 and older.
It's fantastic -- the new marijuana law, and SPD's latest marijuana-related statement. And the latter is the kind of once unimaginable, frank pot talk from law enforcement that would seem to ensure the media attention and Maddow fist-bumps are going to keep coming for Seattle's police force. Turns out it's thrilling and fascinating and disorienting and awesome to watch the cops on the front lines of marijuana legalization act totally rad about it. And from a public relations standpoint, that's what SPD has managed to accomplish through its blog and Spangenthal-Lee's weed jokes.
"Tonight at midnight, Initiative 502 goes into effect, meaning it's no longer a violation of state law to use and possess certain quantities of marijuana in Washington. Basically, you can have pot and use pot, but you're only supposed to use it in the privacy of your own home," the statement opens.
It continues:
But Spangenthal-Lee wasn't done. Far from it ...
There's so much more ...
My guess is there's plenty more to come.
.
By Mac Slavo on 7 December for SHTF Plan -
(http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/washington-pleads-the-10th-under-state-law-you-may-responsibly-get-baked_12072012)
Image above: The Dude Abides photo illustration from still frame of movie "The Big Lebowski". From article below.
Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere.Residents of Seattle, Washington lit up publicly and without worry one minute after midnight, relieved that under State law they no longer have to concern themselves over being arrested or prosecuted for the possession and use of marijuana. As of November 2012, medically prescribed marijuana is legal in 18 U.S. states and Washington D.C.
President George Washington in a note to his gardener at Mount Vernon (1794)
Voters in the states of Colorado and Washington, however, have outright rejected the federal government’s 75 year prohibition on the naturally grown substance by altogether decriminalizing it.
Police in Seattle, Washington have been told to refrain from making any arrests or issuing citations for possession or use in private residences, though ‘firing one up in public’ still carries a $100 fine (something the city won’t be enforcing).
Tonight at midnight, Initiative 502 goes into effect, meaning it’s no longer a violation of state law to use and possess certain quantities of marijuana in Washington. Basically, you can have pot and use pot, but you’re only supposed to use it in the privacy of your own home.
“Until further notice, officers shall not take any enforcement action—other than to issue a verbal warning—for a violation of I-502.”
If you’re over 21, then starting December 6th you can use marijuana, and possess marijuana—up to an ounce of marijuana buds, 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused product, like cookies, or 72 ounces of infused liquid, like oil. But it also clearly states that you’re not supposed to use marijuana in public, and that selling it or giving it to anyone is still a felony (the state’s working on setting up a system to license growers and sellers, but it could take up to a year).SPD spokeman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee explained the position of the department and State of Washington:
Source: Seattle Police Department
“The department’s going to give you a generous grace period to help you adjust to this brave, new, and maybe kinda stoned world we live in.”
He added: “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.”
The department also posted a picture of actor Jeff Bridges as the cannabis-smoking character “The Dude” from the comedy film “The Big Lebowski”.
Encouraging indoor cannabis smoking, it carried the caption: “The Dude abides, and says, ‘take it inside!”The question now becomes whether or not Federal statutes override the States.
In California, where medically prescribed marijuana was legalized in 1996, a network of local growers and dispensaries has come under fire from Federal drug enforcement and tax agencies, with one of the largest shops in Los Angeles having been raided as recently as last June.
Despite decriminalization by over one third of State governments, the U.S. Department of Justice maintains that marijuana is a Schedule I narcotic similar to heroin, LSD and meth. According to federal law, marijuana has no accepted medical use in the United States and therefore cannot be legally prescribed by doctors.
This now sets the stage for a Constitutional battle between States and the Federal government. Under the 10th Amendment, any powers not delegated to the United States (as a federal entity), nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Clearly, the U.S. Constitution does not make mention of marijuana, and thus applicable laws surrounding its sale, possession and use are reserved solely for the people of each State.
Is it time we accept that it’s 4:20 in some parts of America and that marijuana should be age-regulated like cigarettes or alcohol? Or should the federal government step in?
Seattle Police goes Big Lebowski
By Matt Driscoll on 5 December 2012 for Seattle Weekly Blog -
(http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2012/12/seattle_police_spd_marijuana_statement_i-502_legalization_jonah_spangenthal-lee_big_lebowski.php)
(http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2012/12/seattle_police_spd_marijuana_statement_i-502_legalization_jonah_spangenthal-lee_big_lebowski.php)
The Seattle Police Department is really rocking this I-502 marijuana legalization thing for all its worth. In what feels like the PR equivalent of sharing a bowl with the public, the agency - via hired-pen Jonah Spangenthal-Lee - has now released two truly epic statements (each featuring at least one Lord of the Rings reference) on the state of marijuana enforcement in Seattle. You probably saw the first on the Rachel Maddow show, or just about anywhere else you looked.
*See Also: SPD's Comprehensive Guide to Smoking Hella Weed in Seattle
Spangenthal-Lee's latest gem - featuring a photo Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski - hit the SPD Blotter blog at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night, less than six hours before possession of up to an ounce of processed pot was set to become legal under Washington state law for adults 21 and older.
It's fantastic -- the new marijuana law, and SPD's latest marijuana-related statement. And the latter is the kind of once unimaginable, frank pot talk from law enforcement that would seem to ensure the media attention and Maddow fist-bumps are going to keep coming for Seattle's police force. Turns out it's thrilling and fascinating and disorienting and awesome to watch the cops on the front lines of marijuana legalization act totally rad about it. And from a public relations standpoint, that's what SPD has managed to accomplish through its blog and Spangenthal-Lee's weed jokes.
"Tonight at midnight, Initiative 502 goes into effect, meaning it's no longer a violation of state law to use and possess certain quantities of marijuana in Washington. Basically, you can have pot and use pot, but you're only supposed to use it in the privacy of your own home," the statement opens.
It continues:
And this is what the Seattle Police Department is telling its 1300+ officers tonight via email about public marijuana use (full email posted below): "Until further notice, officers shall not take any enforcement action--other than to issue a verbal warning--for a violation of I-502."Above is the message everyone came to see. Honestly, it would have been enough. SPD could have stopped there and got plenty of props for its reaction to Washington's new stance on weed.
But Spangenthal-Lee wasn't done. Far from it ...
So why won't SPD be citing people for openly using marijuana in public? Here's where things get a bit complicated for your friendly neighborhood police department: the Seattle Police Department is in the business of law enforcement and, as of today, the Revised Code of Washington or Seattle Municipal Code don't contain anything that gives officers clear direction on how to deal with the provisions of I-502 prohibiting public use of marijuana. What's more, it could take at least another 30 days for the state or city to craft legislation which would give officers the ability to cite not-so-courteous people for lighting up in public.
In the meantime, in keeping with the spirit of I-502, the department's going to give you a generous grace period to help you adjust to this brave, new, and maybe kinda stoned world we live in.Awesome, right?
There's so much more ...
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). 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.
Also, please remember it's still not legal to drive stoned, use marijuana in a public place or anywhere else smoking a cigarette is prohibited.
If you have questions about enforcement we haven't answered here or in our Marijwhatnow FAQ, send them to us on Twitter via @SeattlePD.
And remember, folks: the dude abides, and so can you!As of last night at 10 p.m. Spangenthal-Lee's now-famous "Marijwhatnow?" post had received 37K Facebook "Likes." His latest effort, in three hours of work, had garnered 358 "Likes" and counting.
The Dude abides, and says "take it inside!"
My guess is there's plenty more to come.
.
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