Washington DAs Begin Dropping Marijuana Possession Cases

[DreamSmoker]

Some Washington state prosecutors have begun dismissing pending marijuana possession cases in the wake of last week's vote to legalize marijuana in the state. King County (Seattle) prosecutors have dismissed 175 cases involving adults 21 or over, while Pierce County (Tacoma) prosecutors have dropped about 50 more.

I-502 makes the possession of up to an ounce legal under state law and directs the state to come up with a system of state-owned marijuana stores. The possession provision doesn't come into effect until December 6, but some prosecutors have decided to apply the new law retroactively.

"Although the effective date of I-502 is not until December 6, there is no point in continuing to seek criminal penalties for conduct that will be legal next month," King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said in a statement Friday.

http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2012/11/13/Washington-DAs-Begin-Dropping-Marijuana-Possession-Cases

[Vincardog]

1. Why not make it retroactive and release everyone jailed "for conduct that will be legal next month"?

[jody]

2. Agree with Vincardog. nt

[Salviati]

3. Agreed, if it's just for posession, there should be no question.

It should be retroactive, and expunged from their records as well.

[eggplant]

4. Because that's not up to the DA. n/t

[grahamhgreen]

6. And expunge all previous records

[ilikemaps]

8. reason

You don't want to put those prison guards out of work, do you?

[Upton]

5. Clark County now too...

The Clark County prosecutor is joining other prosecutors around the state in dropping misdemeanor marijuana possession cases in the wake of voters legalizing the recreational use of the drug.

Prosecutor Tony Golik says his office will dismiss all cases that fit the requirements of the new law - those where the defendants are at least age 21 and the quantity of marijuana was less than 1 ounce.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019671011_apwalegalmarijuanacases.html

[UnrepentantLiberal]

7. Has anyone figured out how much money this will save?