Seattle City Council Unanimously Votes to Support Marijuana Decriminalization

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 11:05 AM

Subject: Seattle City Council Unanimously Votes to Support Marijuana Decriminalization

Yesterday, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to pass Resolution 31174, which sets the 2010 state legislative agenda for the city. The agenda includes support of SB 5615 and HB 1177, the bills introduced by Sen.
Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Dave Upthegrove that would reclassify adult possession of marijuana from a crime carrying mandatory jail time to a civil infraction imposing a $100 fine payable by mail, similar to a parking
ticket:

"In addition, we support reclassifying possession of small amounts of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction."

The full text of the resolution can be viewed here:
<http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=&s3=31174&s2=&s4=&Sec
t4=AND&l=20&Sect2=THESON&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=RESN1&Sect6=HITOFF&d=RES3&p=1&u=
%2F~public%2Fresn1.htm&r=1&f=G>. The relevant language appears in the "Law & Criminal Justice" section.

The video of yesterday's Full Council meeting can be viewed here:
<http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2020949>. The discussion of Resolution 31174 begins at 66:08; the vote takes place at 75:53.

Alison Holcomb
Drug Policy Director

ACLU OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
705 2ND AVENUE, 3RD FL.
SEATTLE, WA 98104
T/206.624.2184 ext. 294
holcomb@aclu-wa.org
www.aclu-wa.org