Seattle prosecutor dismissing all misdemeanor pot cases
SEATTLE - The King County Prosecutor’s Office says it will be dismissing all of its misdemeanor marijuana possession cases as a result of the passage of Initiative 502 legalizing marijuana possession of one ounce or less in Washington state.
The decision will impact 175 King County cases involving individuals age 21 and older accused of possessing one ounce or less of marijuana, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office.
With the passage of I-502, marijuana possession of one ounce or less by individuals age 21 and older will become legal in the state on Dec. 6.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said that dismissing these cases is the right thing to do in light of Tuesday’s vote.
“Although the effective date of I-502 is not until Dec. 6, there is no point in continuing to seek criminal penalties for conduct that will be legal next month,” Satterberg said.
The prosecutor's decision is the latest signal that law enforcement authorities are taking a very different approach to marijuana cases.
Cosmopolis Police Chief Casey Stratton says his department has suspended its work on an investigation that would have been considered a large marijuana bust, prior to the passage of Initiative 502.
Stratton said he's asking the Grays Harbor County prosecutor for guidance and waiting for more federal response to the law decriminalizing the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.
In addition, Seattle police said Friday they will no longer assist federal authorities in investigations of marijuana users or marijuana-related businesses that are legal, at the state level, under I-502.
The decision will impact 175 King County cases involving individuals age 21 and older accused of possessing one ounce or less of marijuana, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office.
With the passage of I-502, marijuana possession of one ounce or less by individuals age 21 and older will become legal in the state on Dec. 6.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said that dismissing these cases is the right thing to do in light of Tuesday’s vote.
“Although the effective date of I-502 is not until Dec. 6, there is no point in continuing to seek criminal penalties for conduct that will be legal next month,” Satterberg said.
The prosecutor's decision is the latest signal that law enforcement authorities are taking a very different approach to marijuana cases.
Cosmopolis Police Chief Casey Stratton says his department has suspended its work on an investigation that would have been considered a large marijuana bust, prior to the passage of Initiative 502.
Stratton said he's asking the Grays Harbor County prosecutor for guidance and waiting for more federal response to the law decriminalizing the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.
In addition, Seattle police said Friday they will no longer assist federal authorities in investigations of marijuana users or marijuana-related businesses that are legal, at the state level, under I-502.
Good move just saved allot of tax dollars from being wasted. The new lack of law is already saving money. Just wait until the black market leaves your community. I know everyone who sales pot in Oregon was glad it stayed illegal. As soon as it is legalized the price drops like a rock. No profit no interest.
END PROHIBITION NOW
Â
Don't smoke and I don't wanna smoke.  But I vote yes on legalization for 21 and over every time it comes around. Keeping it illegal only serves to continue two purposes - keeping the cartels flush with cash and keeping the idiot War on Drugs employees flush with federal cash.
Â
Meanwhile the taxpayer flushes a lot of cash over ridiculous drug policy.
 @OregonOrator Preaching the truth for sure. Time t terminate the DEA. Another waste of tax dollars. We pay them to bust us?????????
The RAND Corp. did a study that shows 60% of those arrested for various crimes tested positive for marijauna in the U.S, England and Australia.
The biggest laboratory experiment...Amsterdam, is now ranked as one of Europes most violent cities. The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport have expressed concern about the drug's impact and social consequences which range from poor school and job performance, to mental impairment and brain damage.
In California, Los Angeles police have seen a TRIPLING in the number of robberies around marijuana outlets, a 57% increase in aggravated assault, and a 131% jump in robberies from cars.
The Federal government will still sweep in and shut down shops in Washington and Colorado just as they have in California. The DOJ has already shuttered the doors of 600 "medical" pot shops, and are moving on others even today...taking their assets as they go.
Federal Banks and Institutions cannot, by law, lend or handle payroll from any company in the marijuana business because it violates federal drug-money laundering laws.
It's too simple minded to think that because of a public vote, you're free to run the streets with an ounce of weed in your pocket and the world is suddenly rainbows/peace/love/hand holding.
You must be half baked to be that simple.
@flor3nc3
The crime and violence will be the same as with alcohol when legal. Actually far less. As a group pot smokers don't rob and steal or get violent. Most people who smoke work and raise kids like everyone else.
 And most of all it is none of the federal  governments business. Their job is to keep us safe, protect our borders ,and guarantee commerce. THAT IS ALL!!! The feds do everything except their job.
Â
 @flor3nc3 None of the negatives (or positives) of marijuana change the rightful role of our government. And it has no business telling adults what they can and cannot put in their own body. Of course there is going to be a fight with the federal level over state marijuana laws... but it will be won eventually.Â
 @PleaseBeSmartÂ
So the crime and violence in association with the drug(s) are of no consideration? I was led to believe one of the roles of government was to protect the individual from harm. If, as the statistics show, crime and violence go up with legalization, what would you suggest? Ignore the problem and see if it goes away? It doesn't.
So then what?Â
 @flor3nc3 There are many, many factors that go into crime and there are plenty of statistics to be spouted off on either side of the argument. Correlation is not causation though, and that's never been how are legal system is supposed to work anyway. For instance, the thousands of people killed by drunk driving, the billions of public dollars used to prosecute alcohol-related crimes, the thousands of lives wasted to alcohol-related sickness and death, and all the pain and problems that are associated with alcohol is NOT a legitimate reason for the government to step in and tell an adult they're not allowed to consume alcohol. Things should be banned or allowed on their own right... not because A, B, and C might happen as a result. And the proper role of government is to protect our nation from outside threats, to protect our Constitution, and to protect the rights of the individual. You have the right to not be assaulted, to not be hit by a drunk driver, to not be robbed... those things are already protected rights. That doesn't mean our government has the right to seek out all the possible causes of those things and ban those things because they might lead to a violation of rights. Guess what? They might not. The government has no more business meddling in marijuana than it does in alcohol or tobacco. And my suggestion is to try to deal with the problems and attempt to fix them as the come. Not to allow our government to step on the rights of the individual trying to make us do what they think is good for us. THAT is not what our nation is about.Â
The citizens(of Washington) win one against the police state.
Good, have all the pot heads move to Washington
 @gatorade No they will just buy it in WA instead of OR. Just like an Oregon voter and or Oregon politician. Vote for the opposite of what is good for the economy and society.
this is sweet music to my ears. it is indeed sad oregon didnt have the smarts to follow along
They just save a butt load of taxes right there by suspending all those charges. to bad oregon voters didn't think of that when they voted no for ours.