Police release guide to legal marijuana use in Seattle

SEATTLE — After Washington state voters legalized marijuana during Tuesday’s election, the Seattle Police Department highlighted a guide to the use of pot in the city.

Starting Dec. 6, adults over the age of 21 can legally possess up to an ounce or less of marijuana for personal use.

The police department released a guide that answers any questions about marijuana use in Seattle.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter John Knicely broke down a few of the questions highlighted in the guide.

One question asked if a person can legally carry around marijuana. A person can possess a bag of marijuana in public, but can’t open it.

Another highlight is that a person cannot grow and sell marijuana unless the person is a licensed grower or seller.

Another question asks if a person can smoke marijuana outside of a home. The use of pot will be treated like having an open container of alcohol in public. A person would get a ticket, but will not be arrested.

According to the Seattle Police Department, if a person is sober, but a K-9 smells the ounce of marijuana in the vehicle, officers would have to obtain a search warrant in order to find the pot.

One other highlight is if marijuana is confiscated from a person by police, it will not be returned to the owner.

On Friday, King County Prosecutor Office officials announced they are dismissing all misdemeanor marijuana possession cases within just King County.

The Seattle Police Department warns that people can still be prosecuted before the law goes into effect, and it is up to each city prosecutor to decide if cases will be dropped.

To read more on the guide, click here: spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/marijwhatnow-a-guide-to-legal-marijuana-use-in-seattle/

KIRO