Colorado & Washington Legalise Hundreds of marijuana enthusiasts huddled near Seattle ‘s famed Space Needle tower at Midnight on December 7 with pipes, bongs and hand-rolled joints to celebrate Washington ‘s new status as the first state in the US to legalise pot for adult recreational use. The new law, passed by voters on election day, could set the state up for a showdown with the federal government. Initiative 502 removes criminal sanctions for anyone 21 or older possessing 1 ounce (28.5 grams) or less of pot for personal use. Colorado voters likewise chose to legalize pot for personal recreational use, but that measure is not due to take effect until 2013. Both states are among 18 that have already allowed for medical use of marijuana. The Washington law also legalizes possession of up to 16 ounces (0.45 kg) of solid cannabis-infused goods - such as brownies - and up to 72 ounces (2.4 kg) of weed in liquid form. But driving under the influence of cannabis or imbibing in public places, where the consumption of 28
alcohol is already banned, remain illegal. The new law ultimately will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed stores in a system to be modeled after those in many states for alcohol sales. The state Liquor Control Board, along with agriculture and public health officials, have until December 2013 to set up such a system. For now, it remains a crime to sell, cultivate or even share one’s own stash, even though the law allows individuals to purchase a limited amount for personal possession. Ironically, the first known court challenge of the law came from a medical marijuana patient in Olympia, who filed suit last week seeking to block enforcement of a new standard for marijuana impairment while driving, similar to the blood-alcohol standard for drunken driving. The plaintiff, Arthur West, says the new legal limit, 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood of THC, would unfairly subject him to prosecution for a THC level at which he routinely drives without impairment. Little if any of the law’s finer points seemed to matter to the mellow
group of about 300 people - from college-age tokers to middle-aged Baby Boomers - who assembled at the Seattle Center fountain, a short distance from the Space Needle. Convivial laughter, laid-back conversation and occasional coughing filled the air as the pungent smell of marijuana wafted through the crowd, many wearing sweatshirt hoodies to ward off the chill, on a cold, crisp evening. Carrying a sign, “marijuana is safer than alcohol,” Jared Allaway, 30, described the night as “iconic.” “Seattle’s always been friendly to cannabis,” Allaway said. “Hopefully this will spread to eastern Washington. You get outside of Seattle, it’s a different world.” Seated in a wheelchair that sported a “Goddess” sticker, medical marijuana patient Penny Simons, 52, said she traveled with friends from Renton, Washington, south of Seattle, to attend the smoke-in. “It’s history,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about the people across the country who are jailed for this. It’s nice to see things change.” - ABC news