Tagged: Marijuana

This Thursday it becomes legal under Washington state law to possess marijuana. But there’s no way to legally buy it, except for medical use. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law. A federal challenge could stall attempts to sell marijuana in state-licensed stores.

  Pot becomes legal in Washington on Thursday. But state officials have not even begun to write the complicated rules for who can grow it, process it and sell it. That year-long process begins Wednesday.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, it becomes legal in Washington state to possess small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. But until the state sets up a licensing system, there’s no place to legally buy or sell marijuana, except for medical use. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

Officials with the Washington State Patrol say they don’t expect the initiative legalizing marijuana to alter their work very much. While the law contains a new limit on marijuana in a driver’s bloodstream, state troopers will continue to look at a driver’s behavior to see who is impaired.

Two years ago, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder opposed a California initiative to legalize marijuana. But this year, the Justice Department has been silent on similar measures before voters in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. Monday, a group of former federal drug officials urged the Obama administration to weigh in.