People in CO, WA State still confused over pot laws

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – As the debate heats up over whether pot should be decriminalized in Canada, confusion is growing over what’s allowed and what isn’t in the two US states that legalized the drug last year.

Colorado and Washington States passed laws that make it legal to buy small amounts of marijuana, but it’s still considered a crime under federal law.

Steve Graham, a defence lawyer in Spokane, says they’re in a state of limbo and that was made clear last week, when at least five medical marijuana dispensaries were raided by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

“I think purgatory would be a good term for it,” Graham tells us.

“You have federal authorities that have no tolerance for any marijuana possession and then you have the state, which has moved to legalization at the will of the voters. Everyone is scratching their heads right now about where that leaves everyone.”

People living in BC could also be confused in the near future

The green light has been given to a group called Sensible BC to begin collecting names for a petition in September to decriminalize the drug in British Columbia. The Harper government has repeatedly said it has no interest in having a decriminalization debate.

Graham says if the petition drive is successful, that could create the same kind of grey area between provincial and federal law they’re seeing in Washington State.

“It’s really been a mess for the dispensaries, the citizens of Washington and all of the government officials for that matter,” he tells us.

“This stalemate isn’t going to last forever, though. We’re going to have to see some kind progress because Washington is going to start opening licenced and regulated marijuana stores and it’s going to be time for the federal government to put up or shush up. Will the feds tolerate it or shut it down? We’ll see.”

The leader of Canada’s Liberal Party sparked the pot debate in Vancouver last week when he said he supports legalization. Justin Trudeau says taxing and regulating the industry would help keep the drug out of the hands of minors.

The Harper government isn’t interested in changing its stance on pot and slammed Trudeau for raising the issue. The NDP is accusing Trudeau of playing politics.

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