State Dems back marijuana-legalization initiative

The Seattle Times (US)
Monday, September 19, 2011

The Washington State Democratic Central Committee threw its support behind a marijuana legalization initiative this weekend, calling the continuing prohibition against the state's second-biggest cash crop a waste of public money. The Democrats cited law enforcement costs -- "simple marijuana possession charges now account for fully half of all drug arrests in Washington" -- and the potential to raise $215 million in new tax revenue each year if Initiative 502 passes, among other things.