Updated Dec 19, 2009 - 8:44 am

Mayor-elect McGinn supports legalizing marijuana

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In an interview Friday, Mayor-elect Mike Mcginn said he supports efforts to legalize marijuana in Washington State.

"We recognize that, like alcohol, it's something that should be regulated not treated as a criminal activity. And I think that's where the citizens of Seattle want us to go," said McGinn on KUOW radio.

McGinn was responding to questions about his website, ideasforseattle.com, which seeks input on making Seattle a better place to live. Of the publicly submitted ideas, 'Legalize marijuana and tax it' is the second most popular idea, expanding light rail is the top vote getter.

McGinn may not be far off if a recently submitted bill is passed. Six House Democrats, including State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson of Seattle, have pre-filed a bill to legalize marijuana for those over the age 21.

House Bill 2401 (pdf) seeks to remove all existing civil and criminal penalties for the sale, possession and use of marijuana. The bill seeks to use taxes imposed on marijuana sales to support drug education and awareness.

McGinn says he will support this proposal.

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• W900A wrote...

  Do you want the pilot flying the airliner you are in on weed?

  To my knowledge there isn't a breathalyzer for pot as of yet. People get very upset to find pilots drunk and flying, stoned and flying? How do you test for it quickly before someone walks onto a plane to take a couple hundred passengers somewhere. Point being there are a lot of jobs where any sort of substance abuse is illegal and a bad idea. Far too many people start with smoking, move to pot, move to heroin, crack, etc. But if Seattle wants to do that so be it. If I am ever running a business, it won't be tollerated. Makes people lazy and careless and leads to further problems. As for being healthier then smoking..anything you light on fire and then breath the smoke into your lungs is bad for you. I am all for legalized weed in Cali though. All you potheads can move there and have a ball.

  December 19, 2009 7:37 am

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• clb09 wrote...

  Its about time

  this is a very profitable idea. To W900A what makes you think that there are no pilots coming from California? As far as marijuana being a gateway drug that total bull, alcohol is more of a gateway drug. It lowers your inhibitions and makes a person more likely to try drugs offered to them. It does not make people lazy and careless....most lazy and careless people are simply lazy and careless they are not "potheads". Why don't you leave the state if you don't like this idea!

  December 19, 2009 8:28 am

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• mulligans wrote...

  Why just pot?

  McGinn should also legalize gambling and prostitution in order to tax them. If it feels good tax it and do it. I'm sure that the mayor has statistics showing that the healthiest and most productive people are those who smoke tobacco, pot, drink alcohol and hire hookers. Once McGinn can get all that squared away he can focus his efforts on clearing the real riff raff out of Seattle. You know, WalMart and McDonalds.

  December 19, 2009 8:28 am

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• Happy Camper wrote...

  Tree Huger

  McGinn is a tree hugger. At last, a politician that will stand up for the rights of adults.

  December 19, 2009 9:01 am

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• Happy Camper wrote...

  W900A Recites The Near Eternal Lie!

  McGinn is a tree hugger. OK, that's a truth but the Movie: Reefer Madness is a lie. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7685192415707087423# And just so you understand pilots, brain surgeons, police, school teachers and even mommies don’t take breathalyzer tests before starting their professional activities. You may find this hard to believe but there are even some bozos that don’t take a breathalyzer test before writing on this blog. When you find the study that indicates that marijuana is gateway drug please share that study with us.

  December 19, 2009 9:15 am

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• GermanGoodness wrote...

  Can any lawyers answer this question?

  If pot is legalized in WA state, then how do employment laws change? For example: my former employer is based in TX and has 1000's of employees all over the country. How would their drug testing policies apply to an employee in a state where pot is not illegal? Can the company still fire/refuse to hire someone who smokes pot in WA? I don't, but I've wondered about this since legalization has become more of a hot topic across the nation.

  December 19, 2009 9:32 am

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• Blue State wrote...

  Common sense at last!

  Alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs: There are tests for all of this stuff. And the least harmful of all (Marijuana), will fill our prisons simple possesion. HOW STUPID IS THAT!!!!

  December 19, 2009 9:36 am

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• R L M 456 wrote...

  Finally, I appaulde McGinn

  I now believe that I did not throw away my vote. Someone in Seattle has shown some backbone to curb the waste of resource on this "crime" while, the real crimes go unpunished because there is no MONEY in it for Seattle to find and punish the real criminals

  December 19, 2009 9:40 am

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• R L M 456 wrote...

  opps

  applaud nice spellcheck and NO I was NOT on Pot

  December 19, 2009 9:43 am

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• cal_hutchins wrote...

  Legalizing Marijuana

  Its about time !! - if this had been done years ago there would have been alot of avoidance of ridiculous arrests and bogging down of the court systems nationwide, not to mention globally...the day comes this entire planet wakes up to the fact marijuana is no worse than alcohol, we will be alot calmer society and the actual law enforcement of REAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY can be pursued... just like alcohol and the warnings given on the bottles and on cigarette packs...the same can be done with marijuana. Those that can use it responsibly wont be in trouble, those that cant will be punished for irresponsible use of it, but to continue for years and years making this substance a "CRIME" for Gods sake, while we allow every illegal immigrant in here, and set violent criminals free to re-offend while many sit in jails from drug arrests from this substance is absurd. I dont smoke anything, I have high blood pressure and wouldnt buy it, but I dont think the usage of this plant for smoking is any worse than the nicotine and tar from a cigarette or the leaves in a good pipe or a cigar from Havanna...if a pilot and the airline he flies for cannot refrain from substances before his duty then he should not be employed any longer, same with any profession, but a lot better country we will be when we start to understand how contradictory our own laws are for our own people, while our govt turns its head away from the allowance of illegal entry and allows it to go on while it punishes our own for trivial marijuana arrests, McGinn has my vote hands down!!!!!!!

  December 19, 2009 9:43 am

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