King County Drops Marijuana Cases After Legalization - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

King County Drops Marijuana Cases After Legalization

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SEATTLE (AP) - The King County prosecutor has announced his office is dropping 175 misdemeanor cases of marijuana possession after Washington state voters legalized the drug.
 
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Friday "there is no point in continuing to seek criminal penalties for conduct that will be legal next month."
 
The cases affected involve individuals over 21 who possessed one ounce or less of marijuana.
 
Under Initiative 502, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is legal for people 21 years or older. The initiative overwhelmingly passed on Tuesday with 55 percent of the vote.
 
Besides de-criminalizing possession, the initiative also sets up a state-run regulatory system. However, its proponents are waiting the response from the federal government, which considers the drug illegal and could intervene in court.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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