"Come out of the closet" about marijuana use was the theme of this year's Seattle Hempfest, the fragrant annual waterfront event. And at least several of the tens of thousands of festival-goers did come out of the closet. And went into jail. While Seattle police kept a low profile and commended Hempfest sponsors for an orderly, well-organized event Saturday and yesterday, it was clear that Initiative 75 -- a top political priority of the festival's promoters -- isn't law yet, if it ever will be. [continues 734 words]
Heroin-treatment programs in King County soon might be allowed to handle more addicts, but legislation moving through the County Council would barely meet the current demand. The council's Law, Justice and Human Services Committee yesterday approved a measure that would allow 3,150 addicts into methadone treatment programs, 50 percent more than the existing 2,100 licensed treatment slots. Several hundred addicts of heroin and other opiates are on waiting lists to get into the three existing clinics that use methadone or other opiate substitutes to treat addiction, said Norma Jaeger, coordinator of the county's alcohol and substance abuse services. [continues 300 words]
