Seattle police tell pot dealers to ‘cease and desist’

Instead of facing criminal charges upon arrest, pot dealers are being served with cease and desist letters.

Seattle police call it an “innovative approach” taken in the spirit of I-502, which legalized recreational use of marijuana in Washington state. The initiative does not allow for selling and distribution.

Police say the idea came after undercover narcotics detectives were conducting a sweep of drug dealers in Seattle’s University District last week.

Community complaints about the eroding quality of life in the area prompted police to conduct a six month operation aimed at identifying the most prolific drug dealers. Instead of “hard” drugs like crystal meth, cocaine, and heroin, detectives found that most dealers were selling marijuana.

Rather than face charges, dealers have been informed of the trouble they would be in if caught engaging in any criminal activity on The Ave.

“Taking the admonishment approach may allow for these marijuana cases to be more favorably received in Superior Court,” said Narcotics Lieutenant Mike Kebba. “The offender will have been shown to have been warned about marijuana sales, and that they still returned, despite our attempt at gaining their cooperation. The admonishment letter is reasonable because we are not restricting their freedom to go anywhere.”

Kebba added that the letter respects due process rights and doesn’t circumvent the courts. It applies to all neighborhoods in Seattle, not just the University District.