Kitsap County to drop marijuana possession cases
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) - The Kitsap County prosecutor is the latest law official to drop cases against defendants charged solely with marijuana possession.
Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge says he doesn't believe juries will convict pot possession defendants after voters approved initiative 502, which will legalize up to an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older on Dec. 6.
Hauge estimates that between 20 and 100 cases will be dropped, some of them in the form of arrest warrants for those who failed to show up for court on charges. But he says people charged with crimes beyond marijuana possession will still face prosecution.
The Kitsap Sun reports prosecutors in other counties in Washington - including King, Pierce and Clark - have decided to dump misdemeanor marijuana cases recently.
Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge says he doesn't believe juries will convict pot possession defendants after voters approved initiative 502, which will legalize up to an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older on Dec. 6.
Hauge estimates that between 20 and 100 cases will be dropped, some of them in the form of arrest warrants for those who failed to show up for court on charges. But he says people charged with crimes beyond marijuana possession will still face prosecution.
The Kitsap Sun reports prosecutors in other counties in Washington - including King, Pierce and Clark - have decided to dump misdemeanor marijuana cases recently.
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"The Kitsap County prosecutor is the latest law official to drop cases against defendants charged solely with marijuana possession." Does that include cases involving more than the once ounce of marijuana made legal by I-502? What if someone had been caught with 10 pounds of marijuana, would charges be dropped?
 @JAP506 No, from what I understand they are only dropping charges that would be legal under 502. Since no one has a distribution or grow license under the law........anything over an ounce is still illegal.
The red counties are still going to huff and puff about the new law and make examples out of everyone they still possibly can, I imagine.
OK, now go after the drunk drivers.
Stupid move. Don't copy King and Pierce counties. It won't make you look good in the end. Federal Law trumps State law every time.
 @DDG They would just get thrown out anyway. If the Feds choose to prosecute, they can certainly pick it up and do so.
Why was Kitsap County every prosecuting people for posession of small amounts in the first place? Do they prosecute jaywalkers and people who spit on the street over there too?
 @Superman_1967 The implication is that these charges are from infractions that occurred before 502 passed.
God but please forgive us all for being such idiots.
 @bille57182 I'm sure even he/she has better things to do than worry about a couple of pot smokers.Â
Juries didn't need to convict people before the change either - they always choose for themselves, as intended by the Founding spirit of our forefathers, that a jury can both determine the evidence and the appropriateness of the law. Â Just because a person did something unlawful or illegal is not the sole director of a jurists choice.
I agree with the prosecutor - a jury of their peers isn't going to convict on something so trivial. It's great seeing the system finally acknowledging the fact that the war on weed is over.
One good thing, look how many lawyers he put out of work. Sad thing they will get that work back with the  upcoming DUI cases. Be sober when you drive.