Marijuana Initiative Passes in Washington

Washington Initiative 502

Washington Initiative 502 passed last night with overwhelming support. The new law will allow people 21 years and older to legally carry up to an ounce of marijuana and it will establish a system of regulated and licensed businesses that can legally sell marijuana.

Supporters of the law argue that marijuana laws need to be revised to deal with the unintended consequences of marijuana prohibition. Black market sale of marijuana has fueled violent and extremely lucrative criminal enterprises. Regulating and taxing marijuana will put more control back into the hands of the government, provide additional revenue while removing a major revenue source for organized crime.

What is unclear is how the federal government will react. Marijuana possession and sale is still a federal crime. California has seen DEA agents close down their marijuana dispensaries, which were private businesses whose legal status was not clearly defined. Hopefully, the Obama administration will allow Washington to experiment with its own law and see if abuses in the system that were pervasive in California can be avoided.

Locally, the defense bar is waiting to hear how prosecutors will handle pending marijuana charges. Currently, marijuana possession less than 40 grams is a misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum jail sentence of one day and a $250 fine.

A similar initiative was rejected by Oregon voters. Most analysts predict that this issue will be brought again to the voters on the next ballot and will likely be crafted closer to the Washington law.

Results

How We Achieved Dismissal in a Complex Assault 4 Domestic Violence Case

Introduction Navigating a domestic violence charge can be daunting, especially when the accusations are unfounded. Our recent victory in an Assault 4 Domestic Violence case showcases the importance of a robust defense strategy and thorough investigation. Here’s how we turned a challenging situation into a successful dismissal. The Case Our ... Read more

Assault 3 Domestic Violence – Felony – Dismissed

Client was charged with felony assault domestic violence when his truck ran over his girlfriend’s leg during an argument in a parking lot. The girlfriend was badly injured and had to be taken to the hospital. The girlfriend wanted charges filed and was cooperating with police and the prosecutors. After ... Read more

Feb 29, 2024

by GC on Kris Carrasco Attorney at Law

Out of State Restraining Order

I was in a horrible situation where the mother of my son had me arrested on false claims so she could kidnap our son and move to Washington from California. She filed a restraining order when she got to Washington, listing our son as a protected party and claimed I had been abusive to her and him, writing a statement filled with lies and stories going back many years. She went so far as to have her family members, whom had never left Washington submit statements as well. The whole thing was disturbing and as a result I wasn't able to see my son for months. Kris didn't get dragged into arguing the meritless claims she made but instead focused on the actual law. Washington did not have jurisdiction over me and as a result a restraining order was not legal. A temp judge granted the restraining order and Kris made the judge explain on the stand multiple times how Washington had jurisdiction. She could not. He filed a motion for reconsideration shortly after outlining case law and making it clear that the temp judge had made a mistake. A commissioner reviewed and granted the motion for reconsideration. As a result, I was able to be reunited with my son, 102 days later. Kris is an amazing lawyer and I can't thank him enough for what he did for me and my son. Don't hesitate to hire him.

Marijuana Initiative Passes in Washington

Washington Initiative 502

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