2003 Seattle Election Information

Primary Election Voters' Guide

Initiative 75 - Marijuana Law Enforcement

Ballot Title

"City of Seattle Initiative Measure Number 75 concerns the enforcement and prosecution of certain marijuana offenses.

The measure would require the Seattle Police and City Attorney to make cases involving marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the City's lowest law-enforcement priority. In addition, The City Council President would be required to appoint an 11-member panel to assess the measure's effects and submit a comprehensive written report to the City Council. The Seattle Police and City Attorney would be required to report marijuana arrests and prosecutions to the panel semi-annually.

Should this measure be enacted into law?"

Yes........................................
No........................................"

City Attorney's Explanatory Statement

The law as it exists now:

State law, in Chapter 69.50 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), defines and prohibits a number of drug-related crimes. Among other things, it generally outlaws the possession, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, manufacturing, or delivery of marijuana. Seattle police officers enforce these laws in the City of Seattle. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office prosecutes felony marijuana offenses occurring in Seattle. Through an arrangement with the county prosecutor's office, the Seattle City Attorney's Office prosecutes non-felony offenses involving possession of 40 grams or less of marijuana. Currently, there is no law that tells the Seattle Police Department or City Attorney's Office what priority to give the enforcement or prosecution of marijuana offenses. State law, however, does require law-enforcement officers and prosecutors to enforce RCW Chapter 69.50.

The effect of the initiative if passed:

The Seattle Police Department and City Attorney's Office would be required to make cases involving marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the City's lowest law-enforcement priority.

In addition, the Seattle City Council president would be required to appoint an eleven-member Marijuana Policy Review Panel. The panel would consist of two city council members, two citizens, one drug-abuse prevention counselor, one harm reduction advocate, one Seattle Police Department representative, two criminal defense attorneys, one representative from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and one representative of the Seattle City Attorney's Office.

Among other things, the panel would be required to submit to the City Council a comprehensive report concerning the impacts of the initiative.

In addition, the Seattle Police Department and City Attorney's Office would be required to report marijuana arrests and prosecutions to the panel semi-annually. These reports would include marijuana prosecutions undertaken by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office based on arrests made in Seattle.