Posted on 11/10/2012 12:09:21 PM PST by zeestephen
Prosecutors in two of Washington state's most heavily populated counties say they will be dismissing all of their misdemeanor marijuana possession cases as a result of the passage of Initiative 502 legalizing marijuana possession of one ounce or less in the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at komonews.com ...
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg [a Republican] 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.
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.
zeestephen comments...
This brings up some interesting questions on "State's Rights."
For Democrats, State's Rights are evil when they do not allow racial quotas or do allow the arrest of illegal immigrants.
But, State's Rights are copacetic when they block enforcement of drug and immigration laws.
As a child of the 60's, I have mixed feelings about the marijuana initiative, but I did finally vote for it.
I have always been a strong supporter of State's Rights as the best antidote to the Federal Government.
But it does cut both ways, doesn't it, depending on the laws you like or don't like?
why?
those cases happened while it was still illegal didn’t they?
why?
those cases happened while it was still illegal didn’t they?
There are an increasing number of medical studies demonstrating that the use of marijuana can cause schizophrenia. My sister is borderline psychotic after nearly 40 years of using that crap.
No surprise, I did not vote for it.
My nephew told me that the day after WA voters approved the legalization, Lower Columbia College’s parking lot was populated with students lighting up weed. It stank so bad he no longer remains on campus to study, and is dropping out of school next term to go to work. Since his mother’s life and health has been ruined by drug use, I’m not surprised by his attitude.
One problem worried me about pot legalization.
Prosecutors frequently allow people to plead down to a Possession charge rather than charge them with something more serious.
That option is completely gone now.
Also, Possession is frequently used to put probation violators back in jail.
The new law actually does have some very sensible exceptions.
Driving under the influence is still illegal.
Employer drug tests are still legal.
Quite a few more.
Why? Prosecutorial discretion exercised in this case in the expectation that juries hearing the cases would have the guts to engage in jury nullification of what was always a stupid law, knowing they’ll have local public opinion at their backs if they refuse to convict.
Support for the rule of law doesn’t mean turning all prosecutors into copies of Victor Hugo’s Javert.
Let it go. Rigorously enforcing bad laws, especially when they are unpopular, leads to greater contempt for the rule of law than does prosecutorial laxity, provided the laxity does not show favoritism.
libertarians an potheads are the enemies of civilization
Are drunks also enemies of civilization, or is it only folks who mess with their brain chemistry using substances that weren’t popular in Europe in the 1700’s that are a problem?
I voted against this law and would again today, but I believe that Satterberg made the right division. It is VERY doubtful that a Seattle judge or jury would find for the state on any of these cases now. Pursuing these cases would be a waste of time and money.
The whole anti-morality of liberaltarian is the problem. I had to quit a forum I was a member of since 2003 after the election. The hatred and vulgarity being put out by liberaltarians was as ugly as I have ever seen in my life.
right division = right decision
I have never smoked dope, so perhaps that was Freudian. LOL
Can you grow it?
Their next move is to lower the age of consent.
The guys on that forum thought decriminalizing kiddie porn possession was a good idea.
nothing about minors on your list
not that potheads care about law anyways
“The new law actually does have some very sensible exceptions.
Driving under the influence is still illegal.
Employer drug tests are still legal.”
When people start losing their jobs due to testing, or being rejected as job applicants from testing, watch them to either
1. Sue using the argument that they’re being discriminated against for use of a now-legal substance, or...
2. Put up another ballot initiative that makes drug testing for marijuana illegal (at least in that state).
Only a matter of time.
Got the boot, eh?
/johnny
Nope, I quit
/johnny
That’s right!
These so-called sensible exceptions, were put in place just to get the law over the threshold.
I’m pretty sure over the course of time, these exceptions will fail in the courtroom, especially when the judge is in chambers getting his one toke over the line.
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