In 2003, Seattle voters passed initiative I-75, which directed police to make marijuana possession it's lowest

Question

enforcement priority. The initiative passed- 58%. Opponents of this initiative feared that public marijuana consumption would go up. However, this seems not to be what is happening. Arrests are down, money is being saved, and it doesn't appear that more people are now smoking pot. Washington's changes are now being viewed with seriousness and the door is opening wider to the discussion of the failures of the War on Drugs. What are your views on I-75?

http://www.sensibleseattle.org/why.php

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=25507

Since the passing of this initiative, what have been the benefits/harm?

Answer 1

i'm glad it passed and i commend the people of washington. marijuana possession should be legal, but if it's going to remain illegal anyway then "lowest priority" would be a good place for this "crime" to be. i'm not surprised that arrests are down, money is being saved, and the difference in the percentage of the population smoking pot is negligable, but i would not expect the drug nazis to accept defeat without a dirty fight first. they will probably manipulate some stats and try to use them to their favor, lie and say this reduced enforcement of marijuana laws has lead to rampant crime, bring up "the children" in some way, and kick and scream from the rooftops how it's such an injustice that the government isn't using more of it's muscle to throw people behind bars, break up families, put police officer's lives in danger for a stupid reason, and take people's money all for taking a flame to a weed. it would make more sense for the government to try to eradicate poison ivy if you ask me.

Answer 2

Personally I've never understood why we have any laws created to deter the consumption of anything. If you want to hurt your body isn't that your right? However, there does need to be laws that prevent those who use drugs from driving. I think this law is great our jails are overflowing, and jailing drug dealers only holds them long enough to learn how to avoid getting caught when they're back out on the street.