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The Seattle Times editorial board has taken its share of criticism for being to the right of some of its readership. However the state??s largest daily has just advocated a decidedly liberal move: Legalizing marijuana in Washington state.
??Marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed. The push to repeal federal prohibition should come from the states, and it should begin with the state of Washington,? The Times writes in an online editorial that will run in the Sunday paper. ??In 1998, Washington was one of the earliest to vote for medical marijuana. It was a leap of faith, and the right decision. In 2003, Seattle was one of the first places in America to vote to make simple marijuana possession the lowest police priority. That, too, was a leap of faith, and the right decision. A year ago, City Attorney Pete Holmes stopped all prosecutions for simple possession: the right decision. It is time for the next step. It is a leap, yes ?? but not such a big one, now.?
The newspaper is endorsing state House Bill 1550, a measure which would legalize pot and sell it through state liquor stores to people 21 and older.
A SurveyUSA poll last month showed that by a slim margin, people in the Evergreen State favored marijuana legalization. Also, for the second year in a row, people who want to make pot legal in Washington will try to get a statewide initiative before voters.
A similar effort last year sputtered when organizers failed to get enough signatures. This year??s attempt includes a new provision that would require the state Legislature to adopt civil regulations on marijuana use, sales and possibly taxation.
