Homelessness, Seattle and legal marijuana

Why is there a state of emergency in King County and Seattle that’s caused officials to commit more than $7 million to fixing the problem?

KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson has one opinion: Weed.

“You have a homeless population that has exploded, and the explosion is because of legalized marijuana around here,” Monson said.

Dori admits, however, that he voted for that legalization.

“I voted for legalizing marijuana…I did it based on personal liberties and freedoms,” he said. “I’ve never smoked weed in my life. I also have no concern of someone else who wants to do that.”

But Dori also argues that despite a fair share of productive users of the recreational drug, there are also those who use it and don’t do much else. He opposes King County and Seattle using tax dollars for the issue from drug-related angles.

Dori added that local policies in Seattle, and other West Coast cities such as Portland and Los Angeles, attempt to help homeless individuals but end up making the issue worse.

“Now we’re going to take $7 million. [King County Executive Dow Constantine] says that it’s going to go to prevention, like addiction counseling. What sense does that make?” Dori said. “To be a part of the country that says, ‘come here for the weed,’ and then say, ‘we’re going to spend $7 million to help you get off the weed.'”