The Stranger, 08 May 2013 – It’s Historic, but a Nonissue Thanks to Legalization When Seattle cops cracked down on May Day protests last week, they formed phalanxes and blasted the crowd with pepper spray. But when demonstrators arrive downtown this Saturday-for a protest with its own civil disobedience-the city’s top cop won’t be an adversary. He’ll be the keynote speaker.

The Stranger, 08 May 2013 – And the Hippies Win-Again Breaking news, everyone: It turns out that downtown business groups and pot-smoking hippies don’t always get along. The powerful Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) sent a letter asking the city to deny Hempfest’s permit this year-it is scheduled for the third weekend in August-saying the pot festival, which boasts hundreds of thousands of attendees, has outgrown Myrtle Edwards Park.

Seattle Times, 09 May 2013 – IN their meeting last week, President Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto had a chance to consider marijuana legalization. Millions of Americans are ready for this, at least as an option for the states. Mexicans have suffered 60,000 drug-related murders in the past seven years and should be open to such a policy. But Obama and Pena Nieto made no move to consider it.

DrugSense

DrugSense

Seattle Times, 02 May 2013 – Dispensaries Located Too Close to Prohibited Areas, Agency Says Cease-and-desist letters were sent to 11 Seattle-area pot dispensaries because they are within 1,000 feet of schools or other prohibited areas, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Seattle Times, 02 May 2013 – Washington finalized swift changes to the state’s definition of marijuana Wednesday after prosecutors and crime-lab scientists expressed concern about the technical aspects of a voter approved legalization initiative. Gov. Jay Inslee approved the revision, which also was supported by the Seattle lawyer who drafted the initiative that legalized recreational marijuana last year. The bill was first submitted in the Legislature just a week ago, and lawmakers in both chambers quickly moved it to the governor’s desk.

DrugSense

Seattle Times, 02 May 2013 – OLYMPIA (AP) – The agency creating a regulated marijuana system in Washington state will lose its director, whom Gov. Jay Inslee appointed to a new job. Pat Kohler will leave the Washington State Liquor Control Board to become director of the state Department of Licensing, according to Inslee’s office.

Seattle Times, 28 Apr 2013 – WASHINGTON – The time is at hand for the Obama administration to stop dithering, to take a clear position on the rights of Washington state and Colorado – and by precedent all others – to experiment with legalized marijuana. That’s what Govs. Jay Inslee of Washington and John Hickenlooper of Colorado are asking the Justice Department to do – even though they personally opposed the marijuana legalization measures their voters approved last November.