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Interim Seattle police chief headlines marijuana rally

SEATTLE — Marijuana supporters made their way to downtown Seattle on Saturday afternoon for a rally headlined by the interim Seattle Police Chief Jim Pugel.

The Cannabis Freedom March is an annual event and started from Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park.

This year marked the first walk since the passage of Initiative 502, which legalized recreational marijuana in the state, and also the first time where the headline speaker was a police chief.

Pugel addressed the crowd and made it clear that voters have spoken.

“Let’s all respect the vote and by respecting the vote, I mean, let’s all do this according to what the initiative and the law is. Let’s make sure it doesn’t get into the hands of minors, let’s make sure it’s only used as the ordinance, said it should be, purchase as it should be and please respect your police officers and don’t use it in front of them,” Pugel said.

Seattle police said they are informing the public about the law and haven’t started citing people, but plan to in the future.

Before I-502 passed, Seattle police made marijuana possession their lowest law enforcement priority.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is writing laws to implement I-502.

On Saturday, the head of the board announced that the draft rules will be announced this Thursday.