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Dave Ross say even though it's now legal to possess pot in Washington, law abiding citizens like himself are facing a quandry since it's still illegal to buy or sell the stuff.

Seattle gets even mellower

BY Dave Ross  on December 6, 2012 @ 8:47 am (Updated: 10:18 am - 12/6/12 )

In the State of Washington, weed is officially legal as of today, and a heavy aroma spread from the base of the Space Needle, where a midnight celebration broke out.

But the question is will law-abiding residents, such as myself, really feel free to to boot the gong? Fire up the Sweet Lucy?

Because you see, even though the cops won't arrest you anymore for possession of an ounce or less of pure pot, or 72 ounces or less of marijuana-infused cooking oil, unless you're a medical marijuana patient, there's no legal way right now to get that stuff.

Your rights under Washington's new marijuana laws

If you're caught buying it, selling it, or growing it, you still can get arrested. According to the city attorney, if the police see you passing a joint to a friend, it's still illegal.

Which means rule-bound people like me will not be adding "Everybody Must Get Stoned" to the iPod anytime soon:

In fact, based on my analysis, until the state completes its year-long rulemaking process, the only way to legally get marijuana would be if a drug smuggling plane loses its cargo over my house. Or if I invite a medical marijuana patient to dinner, and inhale his second hand smoke. But I could not touch his brownies. I would have to cook my own, using the perfectly legal 72 ounces of marijuana-infused oil that also happened to land in my yard.

In the meantime we wait, while the feds figure out how to bust the whole state.

If they're smart, they'll legalize and tax it, too.

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Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (12)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Lovely this was all thought out when the initiative was written.
    December 6, 2012 8:12 am
    Well, maybe? Or was it? Or why can't anyone remember ?

    Oh, well. This was the State gets to define all the rules for maximum taxes and minimum common sense.

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  • TheKingBoar wrote...
    It was thought out
    December 6, 2012 2:22 pm
    Part of the point of the initiative was to create this confrontation between the state and the feds. The people behind the initiative expect the state sales part to be challenged. It is a method to get it before the Supreme Court. No matter what happens with that though, the feds cannot over turn the individual legalization in this state. Since the Feds are unlikely to bust the random smoker, it is in essence total legalization.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Rainy Day Women, #12 & 35, on Daves iPod.
    December 6, 2012 8:47 am
    Fear not, Dave.

    That 6/8 march by Zimmy ain't so much about getting stoned (as in high) as it is about getting punished or persecuted.

    When performed back in the late 60's, the audience would hoot and holler every time the lyrics marched back around to "everybody must get stoned." Never let it be said that Bob Dylan wasn't willing to let his audience be the butt of a self-imposed joke.

    The 100% predictable reaction is a fabulous example of a generation that thought we were so with it, so hip, so clued in to the secrets of the cosmos...but weren't we eventually proven as clueless as the parents we (then) disdained and as clueless as our own offspring who (for a while) disdained us in turn?

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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Thank you
    December 6, 2012 9:36 am
    Now legalize Internet Poker and Prostitution......Look at all the revenue.
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  • shark75 wrote...
    Its Midnight on a week night and these people are sitting around getting stoned
    December 6, 2012 9:51 am
    Lovely. It really is no surprise. They dont have jobs they need to wake up to in the morning anyway...
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  • BeenThere wrote...
    I wonder how they got home?
    December 6, 2012 9:00 pm
    They probably drove, stoned.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    The PC crowd now says....smoking pot is good, but smoking cigarettes is bad
    December 6, 2012 10:48 am
    Go figure, their hypocrisy is unrelenting and knows no bounds.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    the PC crowd is too young to remember
    December 6, 2012 11:02 am
    Paraquat.
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    From the video I saw of last night's festivities...
    December 6, 2012 3:26 pm
    ...I would gladly wager that at least 90% of those in attendance are on some form of government assistance.
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  • rational wrote...
    A few points...
    December 6, 2012 5:06 pm
    Firstly, you referred to an "aroma"...stench is a more accurate word choice. I don't know anyone who likes the smell of burning pot.

    Secondly, one could potentially be arrested as pot is still illegal under federal law. Ironic that the left all of a sudden has discovered the concept of states rights when they want the fed to back off thier personal predilictions. Too bad you aren't consistent and value individual rights in other areas.

    And lastly, I read an article earlier today that said something about taxing at 25% at each step in the process.

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  • BeenThere wrote...
    Rational....Yes, 25% for growing, 25% distributing and 25% tax on sales per gram.
    December 7, 2012 9:25 pm
    So of course everybody is going to switch from their NO tax dealer to voluntarily paying a 75% tax. Washington has proved if they want to kill a revenue source, charge crazy amounts in tax. The inmates are running the asylum.
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