Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jan 2016
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2016 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Jessica Lee

CITY OFFICIALS BACK BILL TO TEST POT-DELIVERY SERVICES

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and City Attorney Pete Holmes on Tuesday 
announced their support for legislation to create a program to test 
legal pot-delivery services.

State legislators are mulling a proposal to establish a two-year 
pilot program that would allow five licensed recreational marijuana 
stores in the state to deliver marijuana to Washington residents over 
the age of 21.

"Creating an equivalent legal form of delivery will provide a safe 
alternative for adults to use, while helping prevent those under 21 
from acquiring marijuana," says a city-sponsored bulletin.

Regulators estimate the number of illegal delivery services in 
Seattle alone has grown to 24, most through websites such as Leafly, 
Craigslist and Weedmaps, according to a city news release. Seattle 
has 19 legal recreational-pot stores.

Murray and Holmes say current illegal delivery services in Seattle 
are undermining Initiative 502, the 2012 voter-approved measure 
allowing recreational-marijuana use, the news release says.

Seattle police and the city Department of Finance and Administrative 
Services are increasing their enforcement of laws that bar such 
delivery services, according to the release.

Penalties range from civil infractions to felony charges, based on circumstance.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom