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Ferguson said he and Inslee emphasized their deadlines to Holder, timelines that would allow the legal purchase of marijuana by the end of the year. (AP Photo/File)

AG Ferguson ready to defend Washington's pot law

BY Alyssa Kleven  on March 7, 2013 @ 10:08 am (Updated: 10:54 am - 3/7/13 )

Attorney General Eric Holder and his team have been reviewing the voter approved marijuana legalization laws in Washington and Colorado since they passed in November.

Still, despite the two states moving forward in with their processes to legalize pot and ex-DEA heads coming out of the woodwork to vocalize their dissent, the AG's office has remained quiet.

In January, Washington's Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and Governor Jay Inslee met with Holder to specifically address the future of legalized marijuana in Washington.

"It was a real conversation. He was very engaged. He asked a large number of questions about our initiative in Washington state," Ferguson told Jason Rantz on KIRO Radio's Andrew Walsh Show.

Ferguson said he and Inslee emphasized their deadlines to Holder, timelines that would allow the legal purchase of marijuana by the end of the year.

"Our goal is to meet those deadlines and that will take a lot of work. It won't be easy I just want to make sure that he knew things were going to start happening quickly here in Washington state and that's really why we want to get some feedback from the federal government on what their intentions are."

But so far - no feedback. Although Holder said their review is "winding down," no other official statement has been made.

That hasn't stopped Ferguson from preparing himself and his office in case the federal government sues.

Ferguson said they are prepared to defend the will of the voters, and at their meeting he made sure Holder understood that clearly.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (35)


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  • Kosh wrote...
    There is no defense
    March 7, 2013 11:05 am
    Federal law ALWAYS supersedes State law.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    Kosh
    March 7, 2013 12:35 pm
    Federal law is what decided that states can write their own laws to begin with, so long as they didn't oppose any constitutional laws. If constitutional law was the issue here, then the federal government would most definitely step in. Seeing as how that's not the case with marijuana, I doubt Congress is going to step in. Let each state decide how it's going to handle this issue. If you don't like the way this state handles it, then you can always go to another one. Who knows...perhaps if enough Republicans get together in one state, they can write their own marijuana laws and issue the death penalty. Perhaps they can even be ironically Biblical about the punishment and stone anyone caught with a joint to death.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    U failed history class huh?
    March 7, 2013 3:44 pm
    many examples of states' defiance to federal law leading to repeal of bad federal laws. No more booze/pot 4 U, U've lost too many brain cells already. :(
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Defend Pot smoking.
    March 7, 2013 11:09 am
    Will he defend the Second Amendment of the US bill of rights?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    Defend the 2nd Amendment but not the 10th?
    March 7, 2013 11:56 am
    So you are all for interpretation of the Constitution as long as it fits your views huh? Pretty sad. Please show me again where in the Constitution it gives the Federal Government the power to legislate a flower or any drug for that matter? I'll be waiting....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    potheads are dumb and dumber.
    March 7, 2013 12:02 pm
    they'll alow guns to be taken away and drone strikes in america before they'll vote for someone against pot. you made your bed with 0bama and now you're going to have to live with it. enjoy modern slavery.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    Don't lump me in that group irony
    March 7, 2013 1:11 pm
    Nobody is getting my guns. I just love the hypocrisy from both so called "Conservatives" and "Liberals". They both want to pick and choose what parts of the Constitution should be followed. Both want complete control of our lives, just in different portions of our lives. Republicans would do away with the Constitution and legislate people's bedrooms or what they put in their bodies. Democrats would do away with the Constitution and legislate what if any firearms we can have and say that we aren't afforded a jury trial before the President executes us with a drone strike.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    let me guess
    March 7, 2013 3:44 pm
    U'r a "christian" huh?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Its about time for Holder to grow a pair.
    March 7, 2013 11:09 am
    Knock this dope law in the head.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    'war' on drugs
    March 7, 2013 3:38 pm
    is a failed policy that is well past its time. Perhaps U should grow up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    "'war' on drugs is a failed policy that is well past its time."
    March 7, 2013 10:00 pm
    On the contrary, the war on drugs has been an unqualified success. It has created two whole government enforcement agencies with great power. It rakes in billions of dollars of taxpayer money to pay for jackbooted government minions who have unprecedented and ever increasing control over every aspect of your life, affairs, and property.

    You probably made the common mistake of thinking the war on drugs was about stopping drug use. (Like that's gonna happen, lol.) Nah, it's just another power play and money grab. That's always easier to accomplish when you can get the sheep to bleat for someone to protect them from (drugs, radical muslims, rogue states, cyber bogymen, hate speech, etc, etc.)

    “This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.” -Plato.

    Still true...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    EXACTLY roomtemp!!!
    March 8, 2013 9:30 am
    It has also created a Black Market that politically connected families have exploited to become staggering wealthy. Just like the Kennedy Patriarch made millions off of running booze during Prohibition, the Bush's and Clinton's among lots of others have made millions of Fiat Federal Reserve Notes from running drugs. Don't forget all the banks that never really get in trouble who launder all that money. Oh, don't forget the Criminals Eric Holder and Barry Obama. They were trading weapons for information and gave the Cartel a monopoly with a direct pipeline into Chicago with Fast & Furious (also had the added bonus of demonizing our 2nd Amendment Rights).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jabailo wrote...
    2/3rds Majority
    March 7, 2013 11:30 am
    Great...so he's going to defend the 2/3rd majority on tax increases? Let me know when the amica curious is filed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sohojo wrote...
    Sell it, Smoke it, Tax it
    March 7, 2013 11:30 am
    Is is the will of the majority in Washington State. The Feds will not fight this, they will watch and adapt the same positions if the tax revenue is significant.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • guest32 wrote...
    "will of the magority"
    March 7, 2013 2:10 pm
    I would recheck the voter turnout, based on the information from the State Election results there ar 6.5 million people in Washington State, 65% of them voted, of that 56% percent wanted legalization, if my high school math is corect that means that 27% of the state apporved this measure... not the majority in any math book
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    potheads have ruined this state
    March 7, 2013 12:01 pm
    next thing they'll want is gov't paid for or employers offering it as a benefit. they'll be too stonned to defend themselves. when the one world gov't progresses from patriot act to drone strikes and further, they won't care cause they'll be too stoned and we'll have to suffer under their choice of ruler.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ronzilla wrote...
    irony: The state has been run by Dem. governors for 28 years.
    March 7, 2013 2:25 pm
    Were they potheads? I only ask because they have enormous influence over the state.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Are you paid to be such an idiot CldWtrSrf????
    March 7, 2013 12:10 pm
    All I posted is that would he defend the Second Amendment with the same fervor? Nothing more!

    Stop adding your own moronic interpretations to others posts. That is what you always do!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    Funny...
    March 7, 2013 12:14 pm
    ... I can think of at least a few occasions where people have simply asked you to stop adding your moronic posts, yet you persist... There's something rather ironic about the "pot" calling the kettle black on this topic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    I was asking if that is correct.
    March 7, 2013 1:14 pm
    Not saying that that was what you believed. Should the whole Constitution be defended or only parts that a politician or anybody else wants?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    And it was supposed to be directed at irony...
    March 7, 2013 1:47 pm
    but I guess I messed up and hit reply to It's me. WOOPS!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    If that was directed at someone else cldwtrsrf
    March 7, 2013 1:50 pm
    then you have my sincere apologies!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ It's me! Ha ha!
    March 7, 2013 8:01 pm
    Nope.

    CldWtrSrf directed his comment at you.

    Time stamp and content make it obvious.

    Why the 2 of you pretend otherwise is comical...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Funny there's no mention above about what the U.N. is also saying
    March 7, 2013 2:00 pm
    The liberal progressives in America love the U.N. account of it's anti-American positions. So guess what ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ronzilla wrote...
    Alyssa Kleven is sooo HAWT!
    March 7, 2013 2:03 pm
    I wonder if she puffs the magic dragon? :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    I wonder if she puffs the magic dragon? :)
    March 7, 2013 3:46 pm
    come over and puff my magic dragon? :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }