The drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. In 2008, there were 847,863 marijuana arrests in the U.S., almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not necessarily lower rates of use. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization is a long overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and meth. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition. Robert Sharpe Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Bremerton [end]
POULSBO - For Paul Bellesen, marijuana legalization isn't a clear cut question. "The verdict is out on it," said Bellesen, 50, of Poulsbo. "I can see where legalizing would get rid of some of the crime, but it's a complicated question." Still, Bellesen leans against completely abandoning the generations-old drug policy. "I just want to know more information about the pros and cons," he said of a Statehouse proposal to legalize marijuana co-sponsored by state Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo. "I'm probably against it at this point in time." [continues 589 words]
State Rep. Sherry Appleton is right, it's time to have a conversation about pot. Not the conversation parents have with their kids about illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, tobacco and other perils of adulthood. The Poulsbo Democrat wants a public debate over ending a prohibition on a plant, arguably no more harmful than Coors Light, which has its own booming production industry and culture of ever more mainstream books, music and film. Marijuana can be addictive. It can impair drivers. It can have a deleterious effect on the health of families. It can lead a person down a path toward harder drugs. It has the potential, like alcohol, tobacco and gambling, to ruin a person's life. It's also been used as a political tool, its dangers have been comically exaggerated and eradication measures have failed. Despite the many valid concerns of those satisfied with the current laws, it's time for the U.S. to consider legalizing the manufacture, distribution and use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Legalization would create new social challenges, and it's reasonable to imagine the disaster that could follow. [continues 124 words]
Kitsap County has reimbursed a medical marijuana patient for confiscated property that was destroyed before an innocent verdict was rendered. The county was reluctant to publicize the agreement, however, because it set a possible precedent. Olalla resident Bruce Olson was arrested in May 2007 on a criminal warrant that accused him of distributing marijuana from his underground grow operation. He was found not guilty of criminal charges on March 24. Olson was given a check for $2,000 to reimburse him for lights and other equipment that was destroyed before the trial. Kitsap County Sheriff's spokesman Deputy Scott Wilson said the money was drawn from the risk management fund, which exists in order to satisfy legal claims against the county. [continues 193 words]
A pair of medical marijuana cases were heard in Kitsap County Superior Court this week, both concerning patients taking the controlled substance for pain management under a doctor's supervision. Pamela Olson of Ollala, who was arrested last May, and Robert of Bremerton, face prosecution for their use of the drug, for which they received doctor's approval. Robert's lawyer Douglas Hiatt requested that Robert's full name not be published, as it could endanger his employment. Kitsap County prosecutors, who have turned a blind eye to several medical cases over the last several years, are pursuing these particular cases because, according to Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Kelly, "We have evidence in both cases that they were dealing." [continues 553 words]
Kitsap County law enforcement officials are cautiously cheered by recent battles in the war on methamphetamine use. Meth, or "crank," is a highly addictive drug which, when shot in the veins, quickly rots users' teeth, scabs their skin, and works as an accelerated balding device. Those are only side effects. Meth users commit many types of crime to get their drug of choice. "Meth use drives our other crimes, especially violent crimes," Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer said. Recent statistics seem to suggest the state and Kitsap County are, if not winning the war, starting to win several battles. [continues 532 words]
The state Department of Ecology cleaned up 11 percent fewer methamphetamine labs across the state last year, signaling the first decrease in calls for spill response since 1995. Meanwhile, in Kitsap County, local law enforcement officials have seen a rise in meth lab cases over the last seven years, although the number of incidents have reached a plateau. While DOE officials saw the biggest drop in meth cleanup calls in Pierce County last year -- from 589 in 2001 to 438 in 2002 -- the department warns the state's meth epidemic is far from over. [continues 628 words]
The overall number of criminal cases referred to the Kitsap County Prosecutor's Office decreased by 5 percent last year. But some case types are on the rise - including drug crimes, domestic violence incidents and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUIs). The most violent crime of all - murder - saw only six cases in 2001, down from 14 in 2000. Those revelations and more were detailed in the 2001 annual report released this week by Kitsap County Prosecutor Russ Hauge. "We weren't surprised to see the number of domestic violence and drug cases increase, but the increase in DUI cases wasn't expected," Hauge said. Hauge said the rise in domestic violence referrals can be attributed to increased awareness among law enforcement officers. [continues 249 words]
