Post: #1

Can I have a pack of Kush Lights and Marlboro Marijuanas please?

How soon can you start legally smoking marijuana in Washington?



Now that Washington voters have approved Initiative 502 to legalize marijuana, a lot of people are wondering when they can light up. But even though adults over 21 can possess up to an ounce of marijuana starting December 6 (or 16 ounces of pot-infused food items and 72 ounces of an infused liquid), they won't be able to legally grow, manufacture or purchase pot for the next year.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has until Dec. 1, 2013, to create the regulations that will control the production, distribution and sales of recreational marijuana products. Their role does not extend to medicinal marijuana under I-502.

"One of the first things we'll need to do is to be able to reach out to the federal government, because marijuana does remain illegal under federal law," says Brian Smith, a spokesman for the liquor board.

Rather than setting up state-run liquor stores, the language in the initiative allows for the licensing of private stores to sell pot. It would be similar to the way cigarettes and liquor are sold now, although Smith says it would not be exactly the same system.

"The initiative itself was crafted, at least loosely, around the existing state liquor laws," says Smith. "But because marijuana is an entirely different animal it's like comparing apples to oranges."

The ACLU of Washington has already announced its intention to take an integral role in implementing 502. They note that stores selling marijuana would have to be at least 1,000 feet away from schools and parks. There could also be a limit set on the number of stores allowed in a certain area.

Even after December 6, using marijuana in public will still be against the law. Rather than facing the threat of arrest, though, anyone caught will face a civil infraction similar to a traffic offense and would be required to pay a fine.

Also going into effect next month is the driving under the influence of drugs provision of I-502. Drivers, even medicinal marijuana users, can be cited for DUID if they have more than 5 nanograms of THC in their blood. That can only be determined through a blood draw, something officers can not require without probable cause.

"Washington's new law provides a safe and smart alternative to marijuana prohibition," says the ACLU's Kathleen Taylor. "It advances individual liberty and will eliminate unreasonable arrests, which have often targeted people of color."

The initiative sets up a three-tiered tax system where pot would be taxed at 25% at the production level, at the distribution level and again at the point of sale. The liquor control board will have an opportunity to take a closer look at those rates and recommend any changes to the legislature.

Following a year of rule making, private businesses should be able to set up shop by the end of 2013.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy will have to provide the legislature with recommendations on the costs and benefits of I-502, with additional evaluations required in 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2032.

Post: #2

How good that the good citizens of Colorado and Washington are adults! I hope this could be the end of every drug war, although the Feds are not going to give up that easy, and a legal and military (?) war against the good fellas of those states is on its way.

Post: #3

Obama does not want weed legal and will send his goons to intimidate shop owners. Luckily he can't make police arrest people though.

Post: #4

What happens in Colorado and Washington will be a good test case as to what will happen elsewhere.

If the feds don't bust the legalization efforts in these two states, then expect legalization of recreational use to be on the California ballot (again) and on other states ballots. Could be a game changer.

Post: #5

(11-08-2012 12:03 PM)MidniteSpecial Wrote:  Obama does not want weed legal and will send his goons to intimidate shop owners. Luckily he can't make police arrest people though.

This is probably true, but I'm hoping that everything he did and said during the first term was just so that he could get the second. He has nothing to lose now.

Post: #6

(11-08-2012 12:26 PM)teh_skeeze Wrote:  

(11-08-2012 12:03 PM)MidniteSpecial Wrote:  Obama does not want weed legal and will send his goons to intimidate shop owners. Luckily he can't make police arrest people though.

This is probably true, but I'm hoping that everything he did and said during the first term was just so that he could get the second. He has nothing to lose now.

True. Good point maybe.

http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/m...lang=en-US

Post: #7

I know jack-all about pot, so maybe somebody here can fill me in: how much is an ounce of pot? Is it a significant amount?

Post: #8

(11-11-2012 04:09 AM)Faust Wrote:  I know jack-all about pot, so maybe somebody here can fill me in: how much is an ounce of pot? Is it a significant amount?

About 28 grams of the stuff...

It can last a heavy user a couple of days, or a casual smoker weeks or even months. It's a significant amount, but it's not an amount that's particularly uncommon to have, especially among heavier users.


This is interesting news, especially since Australia likes to copy America no matter what they do. Could mean the implementation of similar laws here soon.

Post: #9

(11-11-2012 04:09 AM)Faust Wrote:  I know jack-all about pot, so maybe somebody here can fill me in: how much is an ounce of pot? Is it a significant amount?

28 grams to an ounce and 2-3 joints per gram.
So if you use 2.5 joints as a reference it's about 70 joints to an ounce.

Post: #10

Im waiting for all the marijuana tourism places to pop up here in Washington State.

Anyone think people will come here just to smoke pot?

Post: #11

Well... I've known people that have moved to California for the pot, as well as people that have moved to Colorado for the pot.

So, yeah, I'm sure you'll get a bunch in your state, too.

Post: #12

(11-11-2012 11:35 AM)murrb Wrote:  Im waiting for all the marijuana tourism places to pop up here in Washington State.

Anyone think people will come here just to smoke pot?

Unless people want to smoke while walking in the street, which I don't think will happen in those places ; no.
In order to have marijuana tourists you need extreme good weed, that cannot be easier to find or cheaper in Callifornia, amsterdam etc. Or you offer a unique atmosphere to the visitors, so basically you might not get tourists.

Post: #13

I want to know how much 5 nanograms is and if they can see how long its been in youtr system.

Post: #14

(11-11-2012 10:18 PM)houston Wrote:  I want to know how much 5 nanograms is and if they can see how long its been in youtr system.

Thats the funny part. A regular smoker could go a few days and still have that amount in his system from what I was reading. So this is going to really screw some people!

All of the pot heads I know were totally against this because of that.

Post: #15

5ng/ml is fucking absurd. Most drug tests set a limit of 25-50ng/ml as failure. For example, I lost a job a few years back because I took two hits of some decent shit and pissed a 781 the next day.

Post: #16

LOL that's exactly what me and OGNorCal were saying in the other thread. Here it is:
/thread-17565.html

I knew they would do something like this which is why I've always been against legalization. I'm sure they'll pull some other shit to keep making money off everyone. It's funny how I've managed to avoid getting in trouble for weed in 10 years, but would probably get tickets and thrown in jail if I was in Washington.

Post: #17

I'm sure it wouldn't take much to find 5ng in your blood.

I'm with you, houston & OGnorcal, on why I've never been too keen on legalization and the regulation that comes with it.

One nanogram (1 ng) is just one billionth of a gram!

Post: #18

Yeah, I always figured legalization would be great without really thinking about it until I talked to my uncle about it one day. He said it needs to be decriminalized and have everyything under an ounce or 2, or qp, or half pound hehe, legal. The government doesn't need to set up shops, hand out DUI's, tax it or anything like that. Let the current growers keep doing what they do but set a personal amount you can carry around. It's retarded to bust grow houses and fields and all this other bullshit.

Post: #19

(11-11-2012 04:31 PM)le prince perdu Wrote:  In order to have marijuana tourists you need extreme good weed, that cannot be easier to find or cheaper in Callifornia, amsterdam etc.

Just for the record, comparing to California weed in Amsterdam just sucks. At least the one they sell in coffee shops. And they tend to mix it with tobacco, which sucks.

Going to AMS for weed if you're in States makes absolutely no sense.

Post: #20

(11-12-2012 03:05 AM)oldnemesis Wrote:  

(11-11-2012 04:31 PM)le prince perdu Wrote:  In order to have marijuana tourists you need extreme good weed, that cannot be easier to find or cheaper in Callifornia, amsterdam etc.

Just for the record, comparing to California weed in Amsterdam just sucks. At least the one they sell in coffee shops. And they tend to mix it with tobacco, which sucks.

Going to AMS for weed if you're in States makes absolutely no sense.

Who is this "they"? You are ripping yourself off if you are buying shake or anything pre-rolled.