Washington State legalizes marijuana for adults.

[thesummerqueen]

However you like, Rhythm - I'll contribute in any way possible, but mostly I learn at your feet.

[Annik]

LOL, I get pretty belligerent when people shine a flashlight in my eyes regardless of what I've been smoking or drinking that day.

Then cops will totally shine flashlights in people's eyes. Lol

[festive1]

We visit the Seattle area about once a year! Downside: It's to visit my tea-totaller in-laws who would be: if we partook of the now legal marijuana. Seriously, my 75 year-old father-in-law has never had a single alcoholic drink... Except that time in Hawaii... My niece and nephew were making virgin margaritas with a pre-made, store bought mix... Upon further investigation it did contain some alcohol, which explained my father-in-law's rather giddy behavior that evening... When we found out, everyone, my mother-in-law included, decided it best not to tell him he did in fact drink an alcoholic beverage... Which I find absolutely hillarious

[CapnAwesome]

That's my point. How are they going to tell (during a field sobriety blood test) if you've been smoking today or if you smoked last week but not today?

I guess they're going to have to come up with something new. I wonder if a cheek swab would be able to tell if the person has been recently smoking.

I took a cheek swab like marijuana test while high once. So not likely.

I don't think there is a reliable way to tell, they could just write a DUI ticket and you'd have to show up to court to fight it. They do similar things for driving while tired or under the effects of medication.

In other news, great for washington state (and colorado). I'm real curious to see how this plays out. The Obama administration has had a horrible record in interfering with state rights in Marijuana use, so I'm not expecting anything good. If this goes to the Supreme court, ironically the conservative judges are far more likely to uphold the marijuana laws based on the 10th amendment, although I wouldn't be surprised by a unanimous decision for Washington and Colorado either.

Also the tax isn't that bad, less than what they tax tobacco.

[Creed of Heresy]

I hope Obama acknowledges the groups that got him into power [with the majority of the young voters choosing him over Romney] and stops the crusade against marijuana. The man's too sensible to be pursuing prosecution of it for anything other than maintaining some goodwill with the could-vote-republican independents and now that he need not fear that and since the entire country just basically told him they want more liberal policies than conservative...who knows, he might change his tack there.

[Whateverist]

I hope Obama acknowledges the groups that got him into power [with the majority of the young voters choosing him over Romney] and stops the crusade against marijuana. The man's too sensible to be pursuing prosecution of it for anything other than maintaining some goodwill with the could-vote-republican independents and now that he need not fear that and since the entire country just basically told him they want more liberal policies than conservative...who knows, he might change his tack there.

Agreed. He no longer has to think about an additional term. But he and his advisors may consider if open support may galvanize opposition. I'd like to think the correct calculation would yield more support than opposition.

[Minimalist]

It would be a good ploy for Obama to pull just so the republicunts do their knee-jerk vote against it.

[Creed of Heresy]

What I love is how the right-wing parties, the ones who say they want less government in peoples' lives, are th same ones telling us that we can't smoke weed because "the law says it's bad." No better explanation than that is ever given. Just "the law!" What a fuckin' gaff...

[5thHorseman]

I need to move to Washington.

You'll be behind Moros in a rather large queue.

[Ben Davis]

I hope Obama acknowledges the groups that got him into power [with the majority of the young voters choosing him over Romney] and stops the crusade against marijuana. The man's too sensible to be pursuing prosecution of it for anything other than maintaining some goodwill with the could-vote-republican independents and now that he need not fear that and since the entire country just basically told him they want more liberal policies than conservative...who knows, he might change his tack there.

Problem is, the prevailing view in global politics is that drugs are bad. I think that Obama's position on the war on drugs is more to do with retaining credibility with international leaders rather than just national politics.