Inslee, Ferguson talk state pot law with U.S. Attorney General

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson says Washington is prepared to defend its voter-approved pot law against the federal government. Ferguson and Governor Jay Inslee met Tues. with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in Washington, D.C. to discuss state plans to implement the voter-approved law.

In a conference call with reporters, Ferguson said the state wants to avoid a legal fight.

“That said, obvously I made it clear to Attorney General Holder if it comes to it, the attorney general’s office in Washington state will be prepared if we need to go to a legal fight.”

Gov. Inslee was more diplomatic in his comments, calling the meeting a “very satisfying discussion,” adding that Holder seems “very interested in making a calm, cool and collected decision.”

Inslee says Holder listened to details about Washington’s new law legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. “I think there’s reason for confidence that we will get a full, fair evaluation of this by the Attorney General,” said Inslee. But the Governor said Holder made no decision about how the Justice Department might respond.

“I went into this believing that our state should continue to move forward with our rule-making process to continue the pursuit of this initiative and nothing I heard during that discussion dissuaded me of that view,” said Inslee.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, despite the passage of Initiative 502 in Washington.

Ferguson told Attorney General Holder that there are deadlines as Washington moves ahead with implementing the law and that the state will “need some clarity from the federal government in the coming months.”