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Marijuana decriminalised in Washington state | Marijuana decriminalised in Washington state |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Possession of marijuana is poised to become legal in the US state of Washington, a month after voters opted for decriminalisation. | Possession of marijuana is poised to become legal in the US state of Washington, a month after voters opted for decriminalisation. |
From midnight (08:00 GMT) anyone aged 21 and over will be allowed to carry up to 1oz (28.4g) of cannabis, but smoking it in public will remain illegal. | From midnight (08:00 GMT) anyone aged 21 and over will be allowed to carry up to 1oz (28.4g) of cannabis, but smoking it in public will remain illegal. |
It has been legal for medical use in the state since 1998. | It has been legal for medical use in the state since 1998. |
Washington and Colorado both voted to decriminalise the drug, which remains illegal under US federal law. | Washington and Colorado both voted to decriminalise the drug, which remains illegal under US federal law. |
However, there will also be nowhere to legally purchase marijuana in the state for at least another year, | However, there will also be nowhere to legally purchase marijuana in the state for at least another year, |
It also remains unclear how federal law enforcement agencies will deal with liberalisation of drug laws in Washington and - eventually - Colorado. | It also remains unclear how federal law enforcement agencies will deal with liberalisation of drug laws in Washington and - eventually - Colorado. |
'Uncharted water' | |
Any decision to crack down on states with liberal drug laws could affect Washington's plans to raise tax revenues from a licensed and controlled marijuana market. | Any decision to crack down on states with liberal drug laws could affect Washington's plans to raise tax revenues from a licensed and controlled marijuana market. |
"We're in uncharted water here," Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said at a press conference on Wednesday. | "We're in uncharted water here," Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said at a press conference on Wednesday. |
"We've struggled with prohibition for a century," Mr Holmes said, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. | "We've struggled with prohibition for a century," Mr Holmes said, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. |
"It's going to take some time to substitute a state licensed and regulated system." | "It's going to take some time to substitute a state licensed and regulated system." |
Backers of the Washington law insist it does not encourage or require anyone to break federal law. | Backers of the Washington law insist it does not encourage or require anyone to break federal law. |
But a regional federal prosecutor in the state, Jenny Durkan, told the Post-Intelligencer that "growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law," no matter what state law comes into effect in Washington. | |
The drug remained in the same category as cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine, she said, adding that only Congress could change that designation. | The drug remained in the same category as cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine, she said, adding that only Congress could change that designation. |